Microsoft confirms DirectX 12

[Desmond]

Microsoft Confirms DirectX 12 Lives, Will Showcase Technology At GDC

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Buzz has been building for the last week that Microsoft would soon unveil the next version of DirectX at the upcoming Games Developer Conference (GDC). Microsoft has now confirmed that its discussion forums at the show won't just be to discuss updates to DX11, but that it's putting a full court press behind the DirectX 12 brand and concept.

This is something of a reversal for Microsoft, which has previously been mum on its plans for the API. It responded sharply over a year ago, when an AMD executive claimed that future versions of the API were essentially dead, but it's been over four years since DX11 debuted. Since then, we've seen point updates released and attached to Windows 8... and that's about it.

Given that Microsoft has refused to port these updates back to previous versions of Windows and Windows 8's total market share is just 10.68%, the chances that developers will start taking major leaps to introduce new DX11.2 features into modern games is... well, infinitesimal. One could fairly argue that DirectX 12, which will likely debut with Windows 9 in 2015, is a desperate move by Microsoft to create an API that might actually drive people to upgrade.

To date, Microsoft has only revealed a few details of the next-generation API. Like Mantle, it will focus on giving developers "close-to-metal" access and reducing CPU overhead. Like Mantle, the goal of DirectX 12 is to give programmers more control over performance tuning, with an eye towards better multi-threading and multi-GPU scaling. Unlike Mantle, DirectX 12 will undoubtedly support a full range of GPUs from AMD, Intel, and Nvidia

As for whether or not this announcement is a "win" or a "loss" for AMD, we'd suggest not viewing the issue as a zero-sum game. Even if DX12 implements all of Mantle's features, AMD has a working software solution today, not coming at a later date. It can also claim its own work on Mantle was the impetus for these announcements -- while there's no hard proof of such statements at the moment, it's certainly true that Microsoft hadn't breathed a word about Mantle-like features before AMD started talking about its own API.

Alternately, what we're seeing here may be the result of Ballmer's departure. Satya Nadella has been CEO of Microsoft since February 4 -- just long enough to make some executive decisions about the future of the company's flagship 3D API and to decide on a GDC launch window. AMD maintains that it's devoted to the long-term success of Mantle and has plans to launch the API on Linux and OS X (something Microsoft presumably isn't willing to do with DirectX).

Source : Microsoft Confirms DirectX 12 Lives, Will Showcase Technology At GDC - HotHardware

 

[gameranand]

Seriously MS, we have hardly scrached the surface of DX11 till and DX12 already ?? This is why I hate them and never buy their OS or Office suite even though I use them.

 

[Pasapa]

You're criticizing them for bringing something new? DX 11 was introduced in 2009 , so we had plenty of time to scratch its surface.

 

[Nerevarine]

At this point of time, all i care about is optimizations..
Dont need eye candy, just give me the damn optimizations

 

[Desmond]

You're criticizing them for bringing something new? DX 11 was introduced in 2009 , so we had plenty of time to scratch its surface.

DirectX 11.2 has never been fully utilized since it is only available with Windows 8.1, which less than 10% people use.

 

[kg11sgbg]

^May be with increase in Windows based Tablets,that %(of usage) might increase a little,certainly never to surpass Android or iOS.

 

[Zangetsu]

Damn then we will need new graphics card for DX12

 

[Desmond]

So, Microsoft reveals DirecX 12.

GDC: Microsoft Reveals DirectX 12, Xbox One Improvements - IGN

Support for existing seems too uncertain at the moment.

Microsoft wants DirectX 12 to exist as a "console-like" API, making it easier for developers to work with higher consistency and predictability. Direct3D 12 will apparently spread performance across multiple cores, lowering overall strain on hardware, and creating an environment where your rig--or PC rig--will have more headroom for running high-end graphics. Microsoft says 40 percent of all DirectX 11 hardware will be ready for DirectX 12 on day one.

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While GPU manufacturer AMD was present at the presentation--and were adamant DirectX 12 would offer improvements to performance--it's still a bit unclear as to what extent existing AMD graphics cards will take full advantage of DirectX 12. AMD did say its existing customers will "benefit."

Intel vice president Eric Mintzer said 4th-gen Core processors will be ready for DirectX 12 at launch, and the "most important" improvements may affect lower-power Intel CPUs, thanks to improved power management. Additionally, DirectX 12 will be supported on Fermi, Kepler, Maxwell, and future Nvidia architectures, said Nvidia's senior vice president Tony Tomasi.

"Epic will be working closely with NVIDIA and Microsoft to create a world-class implementation of DX12 in Unreal Engine 4," said Epic Games' Tim Sweeney. "DirectX12 is a great step forward, exposing low-level hardware functionality through an industry standard API to give developers more control and efficiency than ever before."

As far as compatibility across Windows operating systems, Microsoft was a bit coy. While DirectX 12 will not support Windows XP, Windows 7 support is also a little unclear, with Microsoft only saying they weren't "discussing Windows 7 support today." Moreover, Microsoft stated 50 percent of all PC game rigs will be DirectX 12 compatible at launch. A preview of DirectX 12 is due out later this year.

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Interestingly, Qualcomm also gave a presentation extolling the virtues of DirectX 12 for mobile. According to company vice president of engineering Eric Demers, DirectX 12 could be the missing link between console and mobile. “We’re excited to see Xbox and PC titles move into mobile," said Demers.