New Graphics Cards Not Essential for DirectX 12

Direct X 12, the next graphics API for Windows devices, will not require a new GPU card for its basic functions to work on PC, Microsoft has said.

However, in a statement issued to the press following some confusion on the matter, Microsoft did add that graphics cards purpose-built for Direct X 12 would be required to make the most of the new API.

"Microsoft's recent demonstration of a few new Windows 10 game experiences powered by DirectX12 has led some people to ask what specific hardware will be supported by the DirectX 12 API," Microsoft's statement began.

"While we are not yet ready to detail everything related to DirectX 12, we can share that we are working closely with all of our hardware partners to help ensure that most modern PC gaming hardware will work well with DirectX 12, including; NVIDIA's Maxwell, Kepler and Fermi-based GPUs, Intel's 4th generation (and newer) Core processors and AMD's Graphics Core Next (GCN) based GPUs."

More details will be disclosed in March during the Games Developers Conference, Microsoft added.

Debate and confusion over DirectX 12's compatibility with existing graphics cards had emerged on Wednesday, when Microsoft hosted its Windows 10 press conference. In a press conference arranged after the event, Xbox executive Mike Ybarra said that new cards would be fairly important for the next-gen API.

He was quoted by Polygon assaying: "There will be DX 11.1 cards that take advantage of a lot of the driver and software tech that we're bringing in Windows 10, but if you want the full benefits of DX12, you're going to need a DX12 card."

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