Microsoft first announced the then-next generation graphics API to much fanfare back at GDC 2014, with the initial iteration shipping as part of Windows 10 a year later. Be sure to check out our guide of the best graphics cards for upgrade options and more information.To many out there it may seem like DirectX 12 is still a brand-new technology – and in some ways it still is – but in fact we’ve now been talking about the graphics API for the better part of half a decade. It is already rolling out to NVIDIA's GeForce RTX series video cards, and Microsoft says the tech will be on 'millions' of video cards before its console rolls around later this year.

While it is exciting to see DirectX 12 Ultimate debut on the Xbox Series X, it is coming to Windows PCs first. You also get features like Sampler Feedback that increase texture quality while utilizing fewer resources, and overall you get a suite of changes that should make next-gen games run smoother.Įssentially, DirectX 12 Ultimate facilitates game makers to deliver more immersive games with higher-quality textures and life-like lighting, and with these features baked into Windows, you'll immediately start seeing a difference provided you have a video card that works with the latest version of DirectX. First and foremost is DirectX Raytracing 1.1 with more and more games picking up ray tracing, DirectX 12 Ultimate natively integrates the feature into Windows as well as Microsoft's upcoming console, the Xbox Series X.ĭirectX 12 Ultimate will make next-gen games look incredible.ĭirectX 12 Ultimate also has variable rate shading, allowing a GPU to utilize its resources more effectively for rendering in-focus objects, leading to better frame rates and more fidelity.

DirectX 12 Ultimate uses the DirectX 12 foundation and includes a few new features that have emerged over the last two years.

Directx software