DirectX 12 announced, targeting PC, mobile, and console

DirectX 12 is coming, but more details are due at Game Developer's Conference this month.

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Microsoft first unveiled DirectX 11 in 2008. Since then, the graphics API has been updated to 11.1 with the introduction of Windows 8, and updated once again to 11.2 with Windows 8.1. However, Microsoft is finally ready to introduce the next big update to its DirectX platform.

DirectX 12 is coming, but more details are due at Game Developer's Conference this month.

Windows graphics development manager Anuj Gosalia will be speaking at the event to reveal first details on the new API. "You asked us to bring you even closer to the metal and to do so on an unparalleled assortment of hardware," the event description reads. By going "closer to the metal," the new architecture promises to offer more console-like performance out of hardware. AMD's Mantle tech promises to do the same, but its adoption is unlikely to match DX12.

"You also asked us for better tools so that you can squeeze every last drop of performance out of your PC, tablet, phone and console," the description adds.

Andrew Yoon was previously a games journalist creating content at Shacknews.

From The Chatty
  • reply
    March 6, 2014 9:30 AM

    Andrew Yoon posted a new article, DirectX 12 announced, targeting PC, mobile, and console.

    DirectX 12 is coming, but more details are due at Game Developer's Conference this month.

    • reply
      March 6, 2014 10:08 AM

      I wonder if it will require win8.1 or not. And if it does I wonder if they'll get the mouse issues fixed across the board if they haven't already.

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        March 6, 2014 10:54 AM

        Ugh.. That's a good question. There's probably no technical reason to do it, but the marketing side, to push more people to Win8.x, is pretty obvious.

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          March 6, 2014 11:12 AM

          Christ. Will they allow hardware to catch up?

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        March 6, 2014 11:32 AM

        Come this October 22, windows 7 will be 5 years old. Normally, I would get Microsoft shit about doing this, but windows 7 is already "old."

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          March 6, 2014 11:32 AM

          *give*

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          March 6, 2014 12:23 PM

          I was more wondering if it'd work with win or if you would need 8.1.

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            March 6, 2014 1:35 PM

            Damn auto correct...meant to type "win8" not "win"

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        March 6, 2014 11:41 AM

        The mouse issues are fixed... running 1000Hz without issue now.

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          March 6, 2014 12:32 PM

          I can upgrade now.......this was actually me reason for holding out.

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          March 6, 2014 1:38 PM

          I knew they'd fixed it for some games back in November...but I didn't realize they had fixed it across the board. I may eventually update in that case (I'd probably want to do a clean install and I'm not in a rush to do that until I have to...so I'll stick to Windows 8 for now).

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        March 6, 2014 12:02 PM

        This was my question. Especially after those rumors that there was going to be a version of Windows 8 released for free, or on the cheap.

        What better way to get (push) people over to a new OS than by doting about the new bells and whistles with a new DX.

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        March 6, 2014 3:42 PM

        It will be win9 only, hah!

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          March 6, 2014 8:07 PM

          Microsoft has played the "new OS exclusivity" card since DirectX 10. Remember back when Microsoft said that Halo 2 wouldn't be able to run on Windows XP due to DirectX 10, and then people hacked Halo 2 to run on XP?

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          March 7, 2014 8:27 AM

          If it is, I'll probably just skip Win 8.1 (since I should probably do a clean install and I'm in no hurry to do that since I just got my new PC back in November).

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      March 6, 2014 11:39 AM

      The fact that its targeting console as well as PC might mean that it will not require new graphics hardware and instead be an answer to Mantle by giving devs closer access to current hardware.

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      March 6, 2014 2:25 PM

      Sweet, we can expect 50 or so titles in 6 years to maybe use it wooo!

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        March 6, 2014 11:41 PM

        It all depends on the windows it "needs" *cough* to run at.
        If it needs windows 8 or 8.1 then it won't even reach 10 xD.
        If it needs windows 9... it depends if they make it a real desktop OS or they keep the playskool things as an important part of the OS.

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