Despite my personal admiration for the operating system, Windows 8 hasn’t been a massive winner for Microsoft. The adoption rate is still depressingly lower than they would’ve liked, but they’re directly combating this issue with Windows 10. You’ll have a full year to snag it for free, and that could be kicking off as early as July.
Windows 10 has been in technical preview for a while, but that’s still a far cry from a stable, commercial release. It’s expected to land this year, but it could be far sooner than I’m sure anyone expected if AMD is to be believed. During a recent earnings call, AMD CEO Lisa Su expressed her excitement for the launch of the DirectX 12 API, which he expects as early as July.
“What we also are factoring in is, with the Windows 10 launch at the end of July, we are watching the impact of that on the back-to-school season, and expect that it might have a bit of a delay to the normal back-to-school season inventory buildup,”
That’s extremely early, especially since Microsoft has yet to officially confirm anything of their own. I’m sure AMD, and Nvidia alike are anticipating the launch of the OS and new, low-level API, as it will became a major selling point for their new cards. DirectX 12 is the crowning feature of the new operating system, giving developers more unrestricted access to graphical hardware – in turn allowing them to create more visually stunning, efficient games.
Although that will only start happening a few months after Windows 10 launches, as most studios are only really starting to push the API as a future, supported feature. Windows hopes that it will transform gaming on both PC and Xbox One, so right now the earlier the better in their view. Still, I think we might be waiting a bit longer than just three months.
Last Updated: April 20, 2015
Admiral Chief asked for this
April 20, 2015 at 14:36
Awesome, DX12 here we come!
Blood Emperor Trevor
April 20, 2015 at 14:39
I’m actually looking forward to an OS. What an odd feeling.
Admiral Chief asked for this
April 20, 2015 at 14:42
Indeed, strange times. “WHAT YEAR IS IT?” comes to mind
Pariah
April 20, 2015 at 14:44
I share this sentiment. It is certainly odd.
Hammersteyn
April 20, 2015 at 14:46
http://lygodc.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/andy-kaufman-straightjacket-close-up.png
Ranting Raptor
April 20, 2015 at 14:48
Yeah, have to agree. It’s really sad. How far has the gaming industry fallen that I am more hyped for an OS than for any game supposed to be releasing this year?
Admiral Chief asked for this
April 20, 2015 at 15:04
Don’t believe the OS hype, something 3 is coming?
Pariah
April 20, 2015 at 15:36
Borderlands 3. HYPE!
Admiral Chief asked for this
April 20, 2015 at 16:08
Awwwjissss
Frost
April 20, 2015 at 18:15
Half-Life 3 confirmed!!
Brady miaau
April 20, 2015 at 15:50
for the first time since Windows 95. Yeah, me too.
Ryanza
April 20, 2015 at 14:46
I don’t trust Windows 10. Microsoft saying that the pirates can even upgrade to Windows 10. Windows 10 for everyone whether you paid for it or not. Microsoft has something nasty planned with Windows 10.
I would only use Windows 10 on a gaming system next to the tv that is far away from the internet plug.
Don’t Support DRM.
Ghost In The Rift
April 20, 2015 at 14:50
Its free, then pirate it, only for a year, wont hurt anybody and you don’t have to go online to upgrade.
Ryanza
April 20, 2015 at 14:52
I don’t support the pirates. And I don’t trust big corporations welcoming pirates with open arms. Something dirty is going to happen.
Ghost In The Rift
April 20, 2015 at 15:00
You dare suggest some nasty Windows DRM?!?!
That indeed would be sneaky and dirty, filthy Hobbitses*runs*
Uberutang
April 20, 2015 at 15:01
What they said was that everybody can update to Win10. This includes all authenticate and all non authentic copies of Windows. After update the authentic copies will still be authentic, and the non authentic copies will still not be authentic.
So there is no ‘free’ copies coming. If you own Win7 or Win8 you can legally update to 10. If you run a pirate copy of Win7 or 8 you can still update, but it will remain a pirate copy. (and the ‘hack’ that made it work will probably be patch, rendering your pirate copy useless to some degree).
Microsoft wants more people exposed to their store. It will net them clients and thus money in the long run.
Kromas,powered by windows 10.
April 20, 2015 at 15:02
It is a market share thing. Similar to the freemium model. They wanna cash in on apps. It will be big money but they won’t get it from gamers as we rarely buy stupid apps (I hope).
Uberutang
April 20, 2015 at 15:03
I am warming to the app idea since I also have a windows phone now. Buy once play on any windows device. I like that.
Kromas,powered by windows 10.
April 20, 2015 at 15:05
Still won’t buy into most apps but yeah they have a great idea there. Apple released their revenue a while back and it came out in 2013 half of it was made up from just app sales. That is majorly impressive.
Uberutang
April 20, 2015 at 15:33
Yeah I am currently playing the 2 halo games on ,my phone. I can also play the same 2 games with the same Xbox live id and save games on any pc I log into. Pretty neat.
Xzibit
April 20, 2015 at 15:49
http://cdn.meme.am/instances/500x/24021945.jpg
Tulipdame
April 22, 2015 at 06:18
I cannot help but feel the same. It does look like Microsoft is planning some nasty catch for pirates. Don’t get me wrong, I am all for legitimacy. But I still smell a rotting fish. And just because of that, I won’t buy into it soon. What if NSA starts spying on us too?
Mark Treloar
April 22, 2015 at 07:23
Microsoft already told everyone what the catch was, or were you not paying attention? Non legitimate copies will have limited usability, for example Windows shutting down after 60 minutes like they did with the Windows 8 RTM.
Tulipdame
April 22, 2015 at 07:45
I am so sorry for not reading every tid-bit of information on Windows. Sorry, I missed that. No need to be nasty.
HvR
April 20, 2015 at 14:53
Yeah, can not wait to get rid of the pseudo-stable POS 8
Kromas,powered by windows 10.
April 20, 2015 at 15:06
Already using the latest update and it is as stable as can be. Have some codec issues and ofc no standard norton support (although you can beta security if you own a sub for standard norton). I have actually already switched back to dx11 from mantle on BF4 just because it runs even better on that now.
Tulipdame
April 22, 2015 at 06:13
her and he referring to a Lisa? Will became? What is this?