DirectX 12 is coming (in July!) and will bring significant benefits to PC games, as the API allows developers to get closer to the hardware. It also brings changes to how the Xbox One’s eSRAM is used – which could herald a performance increase in games on Microsoft’s admittedly weaker console. For whatever reasons, Microsoft’s mum on what sort of performance increase we might see in future games on the system. Why is that? According to Stardock’s Brad Wardell, it’s because people don’t really know yet.
Speaking to Gamingbolt on his own game, Ashes of Singularity, Wardell says that there’s a 70% increase in performance comparing the DX11 and DX12 versions of the game side by side. However, on console it’s all theoretical; with there being no DX12 Xbox One games yet, it’s hard to even guess what sort of increase there might be –if any.
“With the Xbox One we’re being pretty speculative right because there isn’t a game that’s using DirectX 12 on the console at this point in time, so I can’t even do a side by side comparison,” he said. “Whereas on the PC we have Ashes of the Singularity. It is a game that’s been optimized for DirectX 11 and updated for DirectX 12, and you can run them side by side on the same hardware and get a 70% boost on DirectX 12 over DirectX 11.”
“So it’s pretty easy for me to say yes you’ll get a huge impact on PC, but on the console it’s all a theory. They have nothing, they don’t even know. I mean I’ve talked to the development team there on this subject for a while and it basically boils down to, we don’t know how much of an effect it will have because so much of it is in the hands of the developer.”
“I mean that’s the thing I like about being able to make a prediction, is that something that’s on a visual medium like this is that we’ll be able to revisit this discussion a year from now and it will be pretty obvious. You’ll see the games that run on DirectX 12 and you’ll be able to compare them with games that run on DirectX11 on the Xbox One and you’ll be like ‘Oh, yeah there’s quite a difference’.”
I’m sure impending games from Microsoft’s first party at least will utilise the API’s newer SDK to great effect, and games like Halo 5 and Gears of War will impress. Until then though? It’s all just theory.
My own predictions? It won’t as great an effect as people would hope. While it may help the Xbox One achieve better frame rates and resolutions, it’s not the speed of the eSRAM that’s holding the system back, but rather the amount of it – at a paltry 32MB, it’s just not enough. Of course, it’s all about games, not frame rates and resolutions. Right? Right…guys?
Last Updated: April 23, 2015
Lord Chaos
April 23, 2015 at 09:01
DX12 is coming
Support Steam
Admiral Chief asked for this
April 23, 2015 at 09:03
^This
GalacticLordCaptainAwesomeness
April 23, 2015 at 11:18
Speaking of DRM
If you purchase the Witcher 3 physical copies ( to support your local BT Games) , you will notice a nice little sentence at the end of the Product Page
REQUIRES INTERNET CONNECTION AND FREE STEAM ACCOUNT TO ACTIVATE
http://www.btgames.co.za/po/poinfo.asp?A14922
Go Go GabeN POWA
Admiral Chief asked for this
April 23, 2015 at 11:30
Awwwwjisssssss
Pariah
April 23, 2015 at 09:08
I think you just won Thursday.
Hammersteyn
April 23, 2015 at 09:10
gog for me thanks
Admiral Chief asked for this
April 23, 2015 at 09:03
https://kidsroomzoom.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/cumulusklein.jpg
Pariah
April 23, 2015 at 09:08
Where’s the mirrors?
Hammersteyn
April 23, 2015 at 09:10
They used a Kinect
Hammersteyn
April 23, 2015 at 09:05
They should combine the cloud with DX12.
Jonah Cash
April 23, 2015 at 09:11
I was thinking exactly the same thing!! Maybe they learnt a lesson with the cloud. They were singing its praises all over the place and making very bold statements as to its benefits and now very quiet. So yeah maybe they will wait for proof this time around 🙂
Brian
April 29, 2015 at 19:04
The problem with the cloud, isn’t how well it works, the issue is nobody wants to use it.
Why make a slightly better game that is exclusive to Xbox, when you can write cross platform and make truck loads of cash.
If the destruction demo they showed is truly crackdown, then the entire world will be destructible, which would make for an amazing game.
Neel Gupta
April 23, 2015 at 12:35
Vulkans will probably be living in the Cloud already.
Hint: OpenGL 5
Pieter Kruger
April 23, 2015 at 09:08
Wont Fable be running on DX12? So many games incoming for Xbox with more to be announced at E3, getting very excited! Also, why is Goat Simulator so damn addictive, it’s the crappiest game ever!!!??????????
Hammersteyn
April 23, 2015 at 09:15
Well then Goat Simulator is tight where it belongs 😛
Ir0nseraph
April 23, 2015 at 09:17
Tight you say
Hammersteyn
April 23, 2015 at 09:17
*right
MOAR COFFEE!
Ir0nseraph
April 23, 2015 at 09:20
XD.
Hell I didn’t even no the goat was loose on the xbox till now, I might need to start playing games on my Xbox soon , just waiting for some exclusives.
Blood Emperor Trevor
April 23, 2015 at 09:22
yoh.
Pieter Kruger
April 23, 2015 at 09:24
PC & Xbox? Also not into the snizzle my nizzle slang really but I guess you can call it “tight”?????
Hammersteyn
April 23, 2015 at 09:27
LOL you said it’s the crappiest game ever. My spelling isn’t right nor tight at the moment. Well now it is. Thanks to the rejuvenating powers of caffeine
Pieter Kruger
April 23, 2015 at 09:28
It IS! But I can’t stop playing that piece of crap!!!????????????
Hammersteyn
April 23, 2015 at 09:30
XD
FoxOneZA
April 23, 2015 at 09:33
Whatevs float your goats 😛
Ir0nseraph
April 23, 2015 at 09:33
LoL
Pariah
April 23, 2015 at 09:34
XD
FoxOneZA
April 23, 2015 at 09:11
You know nothing Jon DX12 Snow
Mossel
April 23, 2015 at 09:15
We need Windows 10 for DX12, right?
Pariah
April 23, 2015 at 09:17
It’s free for the first year if you own Win 7 or 8, so it’s not a restrictive requirement, tbh.
Hammersteyn
April 23, 2015 at 09:18
Nice way to get everyone to upgrade, they must have something sinister planned
Pariah
April 23, 2015 at 09:19
Or you know, optionally sinister. I reserve judgement until they’ve showed their cards.
Brady miaau
April 23, 2015 at 09:25
not everything is a conspiracy theory, you know.
But…….. Windows Store being pumped?
Blood Emperor Trevor
April 23, 2015 at 09:26
That’s just what they want you to think.
Neel Gupta
April 23, 2015 at 12:47
Microsoft is loosing market share to Android, iOS, Mac OS, & Chrome OS.
Microsoft used to own 95% of the computing market, but now…
Apple online users ~ 20% and going up
(includes OS X, iOS)
Linux Kernel online users ~ 20% and going up
(includes Android, Chrome OS)
Microsoft windows online users ~ 60% and going down
(includes RT, WP, NT)
Guest
April 23, 2015 at 15:00
Really
Masyer
April 23, 2015 at 15:02
Really don’t lie
Neel Gupta
May 8, 2015 at 07:56
Your stats don’t have Android or iOS.
So obviously you don’t get the big picture, get it from StatCounter.
Neel Gupta
May 8, 2015 at 07:56
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-QST22mGWPjY3c0b2dOVHhYNEU/view?usp=sharing
Lrapsody Jay
June 23, 2015 at 12:02
Haha over 85% market share… Powerrrrrr
Ir0nseraph
April 23, 2015 at 09:23
I am actually excited for the upgrade must be because it’s free.
Pariah
April 23, 2015 at 09:27
I’m excited because of DX12. Not much else. I’ll be getting it day 1 because it’s free though.
Mossel
April 23, 2015 at 09:48
Yar, me never said it be difficult to get!
GalacticLordCaptainAwesomeness
April 23, 2015 at 11:06
whether you have a legit copy of Win 7/8/8.1 or not, you can upgrade for free for the first year after launch… so @Mossel89:disqus no need for otherrrr ways matey
Geoffrey Tim
April 23, 2015 at 11:07
that’s not true; while you’ll be able to upgrade an eyepatch version, it wont be licenced.
GalacticLordCaptainAwesomeness
April 23, 2015 at 11:13
ahh damnit, but lets see what they do closer to the time.
otherwise, those of you who have a trusty MS friend can get a legit copy of win for suppaa cheap
Pariah
April 23, 2015 at 11:07
If I remember correctly, the pirated thing only applies to China.
Umar
April 23, 2015 at 09:21
Honestly though….I’m all for better framerate. Seriously, 60fps is where it’s at.
Blood Emperor Trevor
April 23, 2015 at 09:22
You’d be right Geoff… if this was still early 2013. I remember those days fondly.
Console gamers were all blah blah it’s only about games blah blah PC gamers are mean blah blah our games don’t need patches blah blah graphics don’t matter blah blah. How things change. tee hee. 😀
Ir0nseraph
April 23, 2015 at 09:24
Changed how PC gamers are still mean , and console still has the best exclusives 😛
Blood Emperor Trevor
April 23, 2015 at 09:25
GOT ONE! I’m glad my effort wasn’t wasted.
Matthew Holliday
April 23, 2015 at 09:32
console doesnt have dota 2, what you talking about?
cant tell if that proves my point, or yours :S
Lord Chaos
April 23, 2015 at 09:33
What’s a dota?
HotS FTW
Matthew Holliday
April 23, 2015 at 09:37
whats HotS? oh you mean that “MOBA” that has no moba mechanics?
Lord Chaos
April 23, 2015 at 09:38
Must be why I like it… 😛
Brady miaau
April 23, 2015 at 11:17
Yeah, listen to Mr Chaos. What is Moba Mechanics?
Ir0nseraph
April 23, 2015 at 09:33
And that’s why I choose console
Pariah
April 23, 2015 at 09:34
So you can pay R900 for a 6 hour exclusive, instead of a 2000+ hour free game?
Ir0nseraph
April 23, 2015 at 09:35
Not all exclusives last 6 hours , and we aren’t forced to play each exclusives that’s launched.
Lord Chaos
April 23, 2015 at 09:36
Yea, some of them are only 5 hours. 😛
Pariah
April 23, 2015 at 09:36
lol XD
Ir0nseraph
April 23, 2015 at 09:41
DLC , can extend my game’s length by at least 30 mins.:)
Blood Emperor Trevor
April 23, 2015 at 09:42
I need some of that. Er… for a friend. Who asked.
Pariah
April 23, 2015 at 09:44
First one’s free eh?
Matthew Holliday
April 23, 2015 at 09:37
to be fair, thats 2000+ hours less of pure hatred for them.
was on a 7 game win streak, joined some friends, now suddenly im on a 6 game loss streak.
this stuff is contagious, i feel like Ive dropped into the 3k bracket.
Pariah
April 23, 2015 at 09:38
I haven’t played dota properly in a couple months. Needed the break. I’ll start again when a new patch is released though. Still, there’s both frustration and joy in dota, and that’s part of the attraction. Every game is different, even with the same heroes.
Matthew Holliday
April 23, 2015 at 09:42
its not joy or frustration, its a game that focuses on extremes. depression and euphoria would be more accurate.
Blood Emperor Trevor
April 23, 2015 at 09:34
I choose life!
Ir0nseraph
April 23, 2015 at 09:36
You win
Umar
April 23, 2015 at 09:36
Don’t cop out, you started this lol
Blood Emperor Trevor
April 23, 2015 at 09:37
I know 😀
Blood Emperor Trevor
April 23, 2015 at 09:35
Why did you have to mention DOTA? Now I can’t make a snarky comment about it without undercutting my own position. 😉
Ir0nseraph
April 23, 2015 at 09:36
XD
Alan Jones
April 23, 2015 at 09:36
I am current running the tech preview and it has been working well. Some
problems but that is to be expected. It is very similar windows 7 in
look and feel. The little bit I played with DirectX 12 seam to give very
good results. From my experience with Mantle don’t expect massive increase in max frame rate but rather huge increase in min frame rate.
Brady miaau
April 23, 2015 at 10:30
good to know, thanks.
As a general OS, is it stable and ok to use everyday?
Alan Jones
April 23, 2015 at 10:40
I dont you it as my daily OS, still running windows 7 for that but it seams good. I would not install it as my only OS unless it was on a spare computer. That said I run my as a dual boot and Microsoft has made it a dream to dual boot.
Brady miaau
April 23, 2015 at 11:16
yeah I hear you. got the tech preview a while back, but finding the time to run it? Sigh.
I tend to use virtual machines rather than dual boot, find it easier to manage. Last dual booted in probably 2006
Alan Jones
April 23, 2015 at 11:20
I wanted to use it to test out some gaming and VMs use to much resource for gaming at least if you want to push it. I also have bad memories of VMs from varsity, no fun when you are building a huge project file.
Brady miaau
April 23, 2015 at 11:44
true, if you want to play games, a VM is not your friend.
I like my Windows 8 though, as it gives me VM’s I can play with, then easily send to the main server for the rest of my dev team to use for something.
Alan Jones
April 23, 2015 at 11:47
They do have there uses.
GalacticLordCaptainAwesomeness
April 23, 2015 at 13:03
we have been using it at work for the last 2+ months, (first Tech Preview 1, then now the latest build), and I am happy with it.
VPN etc all works,
and as a normal PC at home, it has been behaving as well.
Steam etc all work
oVg
April 23, 2015 at 10:21
1080p is comming to next gen bitches 😉
WitWolfy
April 23, 2015 at 10:33
‘Cause we all know DX12 wont do SHIT for MS console… It’s just another gimmick like cloud processing fooling people to think it will make the console 15 times better than what it was, when in fact it doesnt change a darn thing!
Brady miaau
April 23, 2015 at 11:18
Or they are silent because it will make a big impact as a surprise?
James
April 23, 2015 at 10:47
When I play current games now in DX11, I like to look at my CPU usage. The 1st and 2nd core is usually overused and every core after that is just less usage to the previous core (no game can even recognize over 6 cores in DX11). I think the most embarrasing thing is that Microsoft will indirectly acknowledge that the multicore hardware we’ve owned this ENTIRE TIME is underutilized, which is why they are modest about it.
DX12 Features:
Lower API Overhead = increased draw calls/batches (more objects and lower performance penalty)
ExecuteIndirect = perform multiple draw calls on a single API call
Asynchronous Shading = multithread shading tasks on the GPU, as opposed to serialized (physics/tesselation/lighting etc. get a huge performance increase from this – up to 46%)
Mixed Vendor SLI = AMD Radeon + Nvidia GeForce GPU’s working parallel
We should keep in mind, every demo or test showing DirectX 12, there is NO OPTIMIZATION and I think this matters alot. This implies that with Level of Detail systems, the quality of course goes down, but the tradeoff is greater framerate and we havent seen this yet…
DrKiller
April 23, 2015 at 11:59
I can see a few 40GB patches coming out
This Guy
April 23, 2015 at 20:51
They’re not silent. Ages ago Phil Spencer said it wouldn’t really help the Xbox One. Everyone else saying the complete opposite is what’s ruining it.