Microsoft releases extension for AV1 video codec in Windows 10

Microsoft has released an extension that gives Windows 10 support for the AV1 video codec. This is a test version and Microsoft warns that it may still have some performance problems.

Microsoft has released the beta of the AV1 Video Extension into its software store. It is a 3.65MB extension that works with Windows 10 version 17763.0 or later. That’s the Windows 10 October 2018 Update, which Microsoft still hasn’t re-released after issues with its release.

Once installed, AV1 videos can be played in the Movies & TV app and Edge. With 1080p video, the Movies & TV app still falters, but Microsoft promises to continue tinkering with the extension to avoid performance issues.

AV1 is a video codec from the Alliance for Open Media, which makes the standard available royalty-free. In addition to Microsoft, the alliance includes Google, Netflix, Apple, Facebook and Amazon. The video codec was mainly developed as a more efficient successor to VP9 for streaming video in particular. Chrome and Firefox already have experimental support for AV1, as well as tools like VLC, Media Player Classic, and MKVToolNix.