DirectX 12 to Be Unveiled At GDC 2014
by Ryan Smith on March 5, 2014 8:34 PM EST
Picking up from where we left off with last week’s discussion of GDC presentations, Microsoft has released a short teaser regarding their GDC presentation. The previously mentioned “DirectX: Evolving Microsoft's Graphics Platform” session isn’t just a session on low-level APIs, as we first surmised, but will in fact be the formal unveiling of DirectX 12.
Just what DirectX 12 will contain remains to be seen. Given the session descriptions for this and other sessions, low-level (ish) interfaces for Direct3D seems likely. But it’s not clear if there are updates in store for any of the other components of DirectX.
Historically speaking, Microsoft has been overdue for a new DirectX announcement. Other than the various point updates over the last couple of years, Microsoft hasn’t had a major DirectX announcement since DirectX 11 in 2009, with DirectX 10 coming 3 years before that in 2006.
In the meantime it’s interesting to note who’s listed as a participating partner in Microsoft’s tease. The big 3 – AMD, Intel, and NVIDIA – are included, but so is Qualcomm. Qualcomm of course is not a player in the traditional dGPU or x86 iGPU spaces, but they are a significant vendor in the Windows on ARM space, having their SoCs in products such as the Nokia Lumia tablets. Consequently, with Microsoft continuing to push into the tablet space with Windows RT, it stands to reason that some of DirectX 12's functionality will be tuned for tablets too.
Anyhow, we’ll have more details on March 20th when Microsoft makes their formal presentation.
Source: Microsoft
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inighthawki - Wednesday, March 5, 2014 - link
When did they say they'd stop at 11.2? You're not referring to the guy from AMD who made a bold claim that "Microsoft will never make a DX12" are you? Because that was about as stupid as it sounded.Frenetic Pony - Wednesday, March 5, 2014 - link
Saw multiple reports to that effect. Apparently I didn't see the constant refutations from MS. Maybe it's not a reaction.Sabresiberian - Wednesday, March 5, 2014 - link
Links to reports, please.chizow - Thursday, March 6, 2014 - link
Yep, multiple reports quoting the same misinformed comment from Roy Taylor.MrPoletski - Thursday, March 6, 2014 - link
I thought that was just hinting at there being a name change - so directx next... and then directx next 2 lol.MrSpadge - Thursday, March 6, 2014 - link
Actually that AMD guy said "I don't know of any DX12 being in development". Which leaves lot's of open space:- MS simply didn't tell him/them yet
- It might get a different name
chizow - Thursday, March 6, 2014 - link
No, AMD's Roy Taylor didn't see DX12 on Microsoft's roadmap and jumped to a clearly premature conclusion. It's no surprise he was also the driving force behind Mantle. You can see it in his comments last year about a "sexy" big move for desktop graphics.http://www.i-programmer.info/news/144-graphics-and...
Microsoft later clarified and said there was no plans to discontinue DirectX, but tha XNA/XDA for the XBox was going away (and it did).
http://www.tomshardware.com/news/DirectX-Direct3D-...
anandreader106 - Wednesday, March 5, 2014 - link
"DirectX 12 has been in development for over 3 years"Where did you read that? Do you work for Microsoft and have that kind of internal info? How many years over 3?
If anything the timing is ironic. I tend to agree with others that say DirectX 12 is a reaction. I can't imagine that it was in development for over 3 years and Nvidia would release a brand spanking new architecture in February without support for it. That doesn't make sense.
SolMiester - Wednesday, March 5, 2014 - link
If DX12 is a reaction to Mantle, I take my hat off to MS for the ability to create a new API in less than 3months...thats outstanding!inighthawki - Wednesday, March 5, 2014 - link
I would sincerely doubt a finished version would be presented at GDC. Likely more of a preview/tech demo. Rough edged beta. Keep in mind that with the development of a new version of DX, they nee dcorresponding driver support by 3rd parties like AMD and nvidia. If it is really as down to the metal as they claim, it likely differs greatly than the DX11 drivers.My guess, it's probably been in the works for a while, possibly before Mantle, but development may not have officially started until recently. Enough time for them to work with 3rd parties to get driver support and a beta of the API.
We will find out at GDC.