DirectX 11.2 Exclusive to Windows 8.1 and Xbox One

[btarunr]

Our recent editorial on adoption of Windows 8.1 by PC enthusiasts concluded saying "...and Microsoft isn't stopping with its innovations that will get increasingly out of reach for Windows 7 users." It looks like the first of such innovations is DirectX 11.2. Microsoft revealed that the latest version of its multimedia API will require Windows 8.1 on the PC, and comes built into its next-generation Xbox One console. With this, Microsoft established that you will need Windows 8.1 or later, to access future versions of DirectX.

Microsoft has often used the tactic of limiting DirectX versions to certain versions of Windows, often citing driver-model changes, to force PC enthusiasts to either upgrade, or lag behind in PC technology, and in the past it worked. Windows XP capped out at DirectX 9.0c, forcing gamers to upgrade to Windows Vista, to experience cutting-edge games of the time, such as "Crysis," with new visual effects that DirectX 10 brought to the scene. DirectX 11.0 had the unique distinction of spanning across Windows Vista and Windows 7. DirectX 11.1 was exclusive to Windows 8 and above, as it required WDDM 1.2 (Windows display driver model). The Direct3D component of the API didn't bring anything substantial to the scene. With Windows 8.1, Microsoft is introducing DirectX 11.2, it requires WDDM 1.3, which the operating system introduces. Since Windows 8.1 will be offered as a free upgrade to current Windows 8 users, it's effectively the Windows 7 user-base, that's being asked to take a hike.

DirectX 11.2 introduces a few new Direct3D features that could matter to games. The "D3D tiled resources" feature is analogous to OpenGL MegaTexture, implemented on id Software's "Rage." The feature offers a better alternative to the current model of streaming textures as a 3D scene is being rendered; by letting developers use larger textures that are fewer in number. Portions of these giant monolithic textures would be accessed by an application, as they become relevant to the scene being rendered. The complete texture needn't be loaded to the memory. In essence, mega-textures heralds a sort of virtual memory system to GPUs, and shifts the focus from increasingly larger video memory to faster memory.

With Windows 7 user-base being cut out from DirectX 11.2, game developers may think twice before spending time to implement D3D tiled resources, but there's also Xbox One to consider. DirectX 11.2 is at the heart of the console, and Microsoft could recommend developers to take advantage of tiled resources, to optimally use the console's limited hardware resources. That could hasten the adoption of DirectX 11.2 by developers, on the PC front.

Among the features DirectX 11.2 introduces are:

• HLSL shader linking
• Inbox HLSL compiler
• GPU overlay support
• DirectX tiled resources
• Direct3D low-latency presentation API
• DXGI Trim API and map default buffer
• Frame buffer scaling
• Multithreading with SurfaceImageSource
• Interactive Microsoft DirectX composition of XAML visual elements
• Direct2D batching with SurfaceImageSource

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[raptori]

Good joke micro$oft.

 

[cheesy999]

I remember this being news somewhere a while ago

What's changed from something like this --> http://vr-zone.com/articles/directx...es-to-windows-8-1-and-the-xbox-one/41876.html ? (googled direct x11.2)

 

[progste]

It would be so cool if OpenGl became the standard for any new game so we could leave microsoft and their exclusive bull****

 

[scoutingwraith]

Honestly why am i not surprised here. I actually expected them to this sooner to be honest. Anyway on topic. I cant remember but i was reading that people without Windows 8.1 will be able to utilize some of the features but it wont be in full effect. (meaning software mode of some kind)

 

[btarunr]

What's changed from something like this

That users of older Windows versions are cut out.

 

[erocker]

Sorry if I missed it, but is there any official date for the launch of 8.1?

 

[btarunr]

Sorry if I missed it, but is there any official date for the launch of 8.1?

Some say October 23, others "late 2013."

 

[Easy Rhino]

gamers should be using linux. it is time for the devs to move over to the open platform and work with opengl. let the consumer have a real say and not let microsoft push people around.

 

[PLAfiller]

Same thing with DirectX 10.1 - I didn't even know it existed for a while. As if 11.2 is gonna rock the "experience". Nothing to worry about in my opinion.

 

[btarunr]

Same thing with DirectX 10.1 - I didn't even know it existed for a while. As if 11.2 is gonna rock the "experience". Nothing to worry about in my opinion.

That's what Windows 98 users said about DirectX 9.0c.

 

[newtekie1]

So DX11.2 will be totaly irrelevant and devs won't use it, got it.

gamers should be using linux. it is time for the devs to move over to the open platform and work with opengl. let the consumer have a real say and not let microsoft push people around.

People don't need to use Linux to get OpenGL...

 

[crazyeyesreaper]

lets see Direct X 11 launched in October 2009

first games to truly use DX11 came out in March with the majority releasing in September 2010

so thats 5 months till the first title and 11 months for the first wave of titles

nothings used DX11.1
nothing really used 10.1

DX 11.2 being Windows 8 exclusive and being an OS with only 5% of the market means no developer will make use of it since Windows 7 still holds 44% and climbing.

So in reality no developer will use DX11.2 because it makes the user base so tiny as to make the game a straight up failure. So theres no reason to even worry about it as it stands lol.

 

[MxPhenom 216]

lets see Direct X 11 launched in October 2009

first games to truly use DX11 came out in March with the majority releasing in September 2010

so thats 5 months till the first title and 11 months for the first wave of titles

nothings used DX11.1
nothing really used 10.1

DX 11.2 being Windows 8 exclusive and being an OS with only 5% of the market means no developer will make use of it since Windows 7 still holds 44% and climbing.

So in reality no developer will use DX11.2 because it makes the user base so tiny as to make the game a straight up failure. So theres no reason to even worry about it as it stands lol.

But its required for next gen consoles, since the GPU and CPU are pulling memory from the same pool. That's really all 11.2 does. Allows CPU and GPU to have access to the same memory.

gamers should be using linux. it is time for the devs to move over to the open platform and work with opengl. let the consumer have a real say and not let microsoft push people around.

All I can say to this is...

 

[FordGT90Concept]

Don't underestimate the power of Xbone. Because developers have to code for 11.2 means they have no reason not to use 11.2 for Windows titles as well. Of course, they'll have to put some backwards compatibility in the Windows release but there should be strong support for 11.2 on Windows soon after Xbone launches.

 

[birdie]

Ah, journalism.

Crysis 1 had no extra effects in DirectX 10 mode - via a special hack all those things were made available in DX9.0c.

 

[newtekie1]

But its required for next gen consoles, since the GPU and CPU are pulling memory from the same pool. That's really all 11.2 does. Allows CPU and GPU to have access to the same memory.

It isn't required, it is optional. In fact since none of the dev units support DX11.2, I can almost guarantee that none of the launch titles will use DX11.2.

Don't underestimate the power of Xbone. Because developers have to code for 11.2 means they have no reason not to use 11.2 for Windows titles as well. Of course, they'll have to put some backwards compatibility in the Windows release but there should be strong support for 11.2 on Windows soon after Xbone launches.

Who says they have to code for DX 11.2? The console will still support DX11/11.1, developers don't have to use 11.2.

 

[Easy Rhino]

So DX11.2 will be totaly irrelevant and devs won't use it, got it.



People don't need to use Linux to get OpenGL...

true, but they can only use opengl if they are using linux. and since we wont see real opengl development so long as microsoft keeps forcing directx on people then there is no choice but to ditch windows all together. people who game on windows are as bad as console gamers in my opinion when it comes to being all high and mighty.

 

[MxPhenom 216]

Ah, journalism.

Crysis 1 had no extra effects in DirectX 10 mode - via a special hack all those things were made available in DX9.0c.

Yeah, you had to use a HACK to get those effects for DX9.0c.

 

[crazyeyesreaper]

As a member of the Glorious PC Gaming Master Race I say your comment is rubbish!

 

[Easy Rhino]

As a member of the Glorious PC Gaming Master Race I say your comment is rubbish!

lol! windows is becoming as closed as consoles. microsoft is certainly leading things in that direction. walled gardens are terrible for gamers because it forces devs into a box. if you want a wide variety of games available the open platform is all you really have.

 

[newtekie1]

true, but they can only use opengl if they are using linux. and since we wont see real opengl development so long as microsoft keeps forcing directx on people then there is no choice but to ditch windows all together. people who game on windows are as bad as console gamers in my opinion when it comes to being all high and mighty.

I run OpenGL games on Windows every day. So, no, you don't have to be using linux to use OpenGL.

 

[crazyeyesreaper]

Keep on trolling Rhino eventually they will listen

 

[birdie]

Yeah, you had to use a HACK to get those effects for DX9.0c.

Ah, trolls.

That wasn't really a hack. That tiny utility just changed a few undocumented parameters in the configuration file if I remember correctly.

Crysis was mainly coded in DX9.0c and limited some features only if it ran under Windows XP.

 

[Easy Rhino]

I run OpenGL games on Windows every day. So, no, you don't have to be using linux to use OpenGL.

you missed my point. if devs want an open environment they should do it on linux. linux only has opengl not directx. get gamers to switch to linux and you get better opengl development.