DirectX 11.2 Revealed, Exclusive to Windows 8 and Xbox One

Dunno if this has already been posted, but Microsoft is pulling another DX10.  Sorry, Windows 7 users, potential PS4 owners, and, uh, Wii U owners. 

Five key features of DX11.2: 

 

- Hardware overlay support (Similar to Durangos display panes, allows the developer to render the 3d graphics of the app at lower than native resolution, while keeping 2d ui at native res composing the final frame at a native resolution). Developers can also target a framerate and let the gpu dynamically scales the 3d graphics to try to meet that criteria (basically dynamic resolution changing is now fully supported by the api)

- HSL shader linking. W8.1 store apps can compile shaders in runtime, so the behavior of the shaders can be dynamic. However compiling is slow, so this feature allows you to pre-compile shaders at build time and link them at runtime, this way you can create new dynamic shaders without the performance hit. Dynamics shaders could be used for instance for a game to test the performance of the device its going to run and modify to a simpler or a more complex version of the shader to maintain the best visual quality while maintaining the target framerate. Its also useful for building shader library dlls that can be shared among different projects and each app decides how to build their shaders from this library.

- Mappeable gpu buffers. This is great for compute scenarios with collaboration of the cpu and gpu. They provide api support for the cpu directly access the gpu memory without needing to copy the buffer back and forth. For 11.2 its going to be onlye for compute so its only buffers, not graphical objects.

- Low latency present API. Basically api support for the system to tell the app when its the best time to start rendering and showing the content on screen, to allow the shortest latency possible. By using this api they were able to reduce latency from 3 frames (at 60fps) to less than 1.

- Tiled Resources which is api support for hardware accelerated virtual texturing. Its basically hardware support for mega texturing.

Still not downgraing to Windows 8

Dunno if this has already been posted, but Microsoft is pulling another DX10.  Sorry, Windows 7 users, potential PS4 owners, and, uh, Wii U owners. 

Five key features of DX11.2: 

 

- Hardware overlay support (Similar to Durangos display panes, allows the developer to render the 3d graphics of the app at lower than native resolution, while keeping 2d ui at native res composing the final frame at a native resolution). Developers can also target a framerate and let the gpu dynamically scales the 3d graphics to try to meet that criteria (basically dynamic resolution changing is now fully supported by the api)

- HSL shader linking. W8.1 store apps can compile shaders in runtime, so the behavior of the shaders can be dynamic. However compiling is slow, so this feature allows you to pre-compile shaders at build time and link them at runtime, this way you can create new dynamic shaders without the performance hit. Dynamics shaders could be used for instance for a game to test the performance of the device its going to run and modify to a simpler or a more complex version of the shader to maintain the best visual quality while maintaining the target framerate. Its also useful for building shader library dlls that can be shared among different projects and each app decides how to build their shaders from this library.

- Mappeable gpu buffers. This is great for compute scenarios with collaboration of the cpu and gpu. They provide api support for the cpu directly access the gpu memory without needing to copy the buffer back and forth. For 11.2 its going to be onlye for compute so its only buffers, not graphical objects.

- Low latency present API. Basically api support for the system to tell the app when its the best time to start rendering and showing the content on screen, to allow the shortest latency possible. By using this api they were able to reduce latency from 3 frames (at 60fps) to less than 1.

- Tiled Resources which is api support for hardware accelerated virtual texturing. Its basically hardware support for mega texturing.

princeofshapeir

. XBOX ONE FTW! 

well look for this to be a trend, 11.3 dx will be exclusive to the 8 x1 combo.    MSFT locking out the market, PS4 a generation behind.

well look for this to be a trend, 11.3 dx will be exclusive to the 8 x1 combo.    MSFT locking out the market, PS4 a generation behind.

Mr720fan

PS3 NUTHUGGERS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-I5TEpAnuEg     

DirectX 11.2 - Xbox One & Windows 8.1 

looks good! 

still sticking with win 7

Good. Now if most PC games would actually utilize DX11 I might care about this...xsubtownerx

Yea, tis a shame.

well look for this to be a trend, 11.3 dx will be exclusive to the 8 x1 combo.    MSFT locking out the market, PS4 a generation behind.

Mr720fan

finally gamers have reason to upgrade to windows 8

Welp I'm getting a HTPC anyway, I'm gonna shift all my games to that so I can use my current PC for game development and video editing

well look for this to be a trend, 11.3 dx will be exclusive to the 8 x1 combo. MSFT locking out the market, PS4 a generation behind.

Mr720fan

No ones going to use it if its just Xbox One and Windows 8. 

I'll believe it when I see a visible difference. A lot of jargon is not going to make me upgrade. clyde46

By keeping it Windows 8 only they ensure pretty much no pc games will be using it, thus giving no reason for upgrade even for people who are willing to do it for those new features

Looks like it's an upgrade from level 1.1 feature set...I'm not sure. Windows 8 as an OS is completely fine for me, I've even used it on my friend's laptop. Seriously though, this won't enough to convince me into buying Windows 8 as of right now.

I'm thinking they're going to limit some graphical features. (Which would still be possible on previous DXLevel APIs) Much like how Crysis did it in 2007. It wasn't anything worth, it was all some post processing effects.

By keeping it Windows 8 only they ensure pretty much no pc games will be using it, thus giving no reason for upgrade even for people who are willing to do it for those new features

AdrianWerner

Well, I suppose they could try to pay off a few devs to make their games Win 8 exclusive, but I hope it doesn't get to that, it'd be a disaster like Halo 2 on Vista, they'd severely limit the install base, not many people would go so far to change an OS over a single game...

Game dev tools environment is windows 7. What measures has MS taken so devs can use dx11.2 features in the X1 while development is made on win7?

Announcing things alone is not enough...

Still not downgraing to Windows 8

BPoole96

Game dev tools environment is windows 7. What measures has MS taken so devs can use dx11.2 features in the X1 while development is made on win7?

Announcing things alone is not enough...

ManatuBeard

And yes, there were some games that were - categorically, without a shadow of a doubt - running on Xbox One hardware. It'll come as little surprise to learn that first party software was more likely to be showcased running on the new console, with Turn 10's Forza Motorsport 5 the most high profile title we saw that was visibly operating on the actual unit.

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-hands-on-with-xbox-one

Another reason X1 looks to be the better console. Of the games shown X1 looks to be best, it is the console with the most features by far,this new DirectX 11.2.CanYouDiglt

 I agree, the more time that passes by the more it becomes clear that PS4 is PS3 1.5 + PAY TO PLAY. 

[QUOTE="ManatuBeard"]

Game dev tools environment is windows 7. What measures has MS taken so devs can use dx11.2 features in the X1 while development is made on win7?

Announcing things alone is not enough...

ronvalencia

And yes, there were some games that were - categorically, without a shadow of a doubt - running on Xbox One hardware. It'll come as little surprise to learn that first party software was more likely to be showcased running on the new console, with Turn 10's Forza Motorsport 5 the most high profile title we saw that was visibly operating on the actual unit.

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-hands-on-with-xbox-one

Windows 8...

Still not downgraing to Windows 8

BPoole96

We seriously need a competitor to DirectX. It's not right that Microsoft can strangle an entire industry by making it exclusive to their Windows 8 store.

I'm not turning my PC into a tablet, I already have one.

finally gamers have reason to upgrade to windows 8

nyzma23

Still not downgraing to Windows 8

BPoole96

[QUOTE="BPoole96"]

Still not downgraing to Windows 8

cain006

[QUOTE="cain006"]

[QUOTE="BPoole96"]

Still not downgraing to Windows 8

parkurtommo

Oh hey look! DX 10's back you guys!

If windows 8 is worth the upgrade (this new version). I will be pirating it. As i mentioned many times before, i will not support microsoft and their daylight robbery tactics of overcharging for operating systems...       Microsoft is the sole reason why PC gaming almost died a couple years back. They have done nothing but hurt the scene . If not for Gabe leaving the sinister microsoft and starting his own company Valve , we pc gamers would have been left to ROT and DIE off. Its thanks to valve and steam other companies are also trying to follow suit in the pc space with similar digitial clients. Thus pc gaming is bouncing back to its former glory.        Microsoft gave us the middle fingur when they should have been leading in the pc gaming space.       The fact that there isnt even a windows "gaming edition" thats cheap to help bring in more gamers for the pc scene to lower the cost of entry shows to me they want pc gaming to struggle and hope you go to Xbox. 

You go look at all those asain pc bangs, or anywhere across the world, Does microsoft really think pc gaming would be viable with such blatantly overpriced operating system ?  i see on amazon 200 dollars for ultimate edition, and 100 for regular 64 bit edition that every pc gamer would need today.  They really think 100 in an operating system is justified.  They all pirate the windows cause thats the only way it will remain viable. 

You mean to tell me , microsoft cant release a 64bit dx 11 bare bones edition, without explorer/word/notepad/crapMSfreegames/outlookexpress.. .All of them are junk and have better free alternates, Such as Chrome for surfing, Thunderbird for outlook express.. The most i'd pay for an Operating system is $5 dollars. 

 

Nothing from me microsoft. If your new piece of crap is good for gaming i will get a fresh precracked copy of TPB.

lunar1122

[QUOTE="lunar1122"]

If windows 8 is worth the upgrade (this new version). I will be pirating it. As i mentioned many times before, i will not support microsoft and their daylight robbery tactics of overcharging for operating systems...       Microsoft is the sole reason why PC gaming almost died a couple years back. They have done nothing but hurt the scene . If not for Gabe leaving the sinister microsoft and starting his own company Valve , we pc gamers would have been left to ROT and DIE off. Its thanks to valve and steam other companies are also trying to follow suit in the pc space with similar digitial clients. Thus pc gaming is bouncing back to its former glory.        Microsoft gave us the middle fingur when they should have been leading in the pc gaming space.       The fact that there isnt even a windows "gaming edition" thats cheap to help bring in more gamers for the pc scene to lower the cost of entry shows to me they want pc gaming to struggle and hope you go to Xbox. 

You go look at all those asain pc bangs, or anywhere across the world, Does microsoft really think pc gaming would be viable with such blatantly overpriced operating system ?  i see on amazon 200 dollars for ultimate edition, and 100 for regular 64 bit edition that every pc gamer would need today.  They really think 100 in an operating system is justified.  They all pirate the windows cause thats the only way it will remain viable. 

You mean to tell me , microsoft cant release a 64bit dx 11 bare bones edition, without explorer/word/notepad/crapMSfreegames/outlookexpress.. .All of them are junk and have better free alternates, Such as Chrome for surfing, Thunderbird for outlook express.. The most i'd pay for an Operating system is $5 dollars. 

 

Nothing from me microsoft. If your new piece of crap is good for gaming i will get a fresh precracked copy of TPB.

lowe0

If windows 8 is worth the upgrade (this new version). I will be pirating it. As i mentioned many times before, i will not support microsoft and their daylight robbery tactics of overcharging for operating systems...       Microsoft is the sole reason why PC gaming almost died a couple years back. They have done nothing but hurt the scene . If not for Gabe leaving the sinister microsoft and starting his own company Valve , we pc gamers would have been left to ROT and DIE off. Its thanks to valve and steam other companies are also trying to follow suit in the pc space with similar digitial clients. Thus pc gaming is bouncing back to its former glory.        Microsoft gave us the middle fingur when they should have been leading in the pc gaming space.       The fact that there isnt even a windows "gaming edition" thats cheap to help bring in more gamers for the pc scene to lower the cost of entry shows to me they want pc gaming to struggle and hope you go to Xbox. 

You go look at all those asain pc bangs, or anywhere across the world, Does microsoft really think pc gaming would be viable with such blatantly overpriced operating system ?  i see on amazon 200 dollars for ultimate edition, and 100 for regular 64 bit edition that every pc gamer would need today.  They really think 100 in an operating system is justified.  They all pirate the windows cause thats the only way it will remain viable. 

You mean to tell me , microsoft cant release a 64bit dx 11 bare bones edition, without explorer/word/notepad/crapMSfreegames/outlookexpress.. .All of them are junk and have better free alternates, Such as Chrome for surfing, Thunderbird for outlook express.. The most i'd pay for an Operating system is $5 dollars. 

 

Nothing from me microsoft. If your new piece of crap is good for gaming i will get a fresh precracked copy of TPB.

lunar1122