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Microsoft Corp.’s DirectX 12 application programming interface promises to significantly improve performance of video games in Windows 10 operating system thanks to efficient usage of modern hardware. However, Valve Software believes that it makes no sense to use DX12, but to utilize cross-platform Vulkan API instead.
Modern application programming interfaces – namely Apple’s Metal, Khronos Group’s Vulkan and Microsoft Corp.’s DirectX 12 – are all considered low-level APIs and have generally similar capabilities. All three APIs have improved ability to use multi-core microprocessors, allow software makers to have close-to-metal access to resources of graphics processing units, they all support GPGPU [general-purpose computing on graphics processing units], reduce driver overhead and so on. The three APIs are compatible with a wide range of hardware.
Apple’s and Microsoft’s APIs are only supported by Apple iOS/OS X platforms as well as Microsoft Windows 10, respectively. By contrast. Vulkan should be compatible with all operating systems from Google (future versions of Android) and Microsoft (Windows 7/8/10) as well as a wide range of hardware, which makes it preferable for game developers who want their titles to run on different types of devices.
“Unless you are aggressive enough to be shipping a DX12 game this year, I would argue that there is really not much reason to ever create a DX12 back end for your game,” said Dan Ginsburg, a software developer from Valve, at Siggraph, reports DSO Gaming. “The reason for that is that Vulkan will cover you on Windows 10 on the same class of hardware and so much more from all these other platforms and IHVs that we have heard from. Metal is single platform, single vendor, and Vulkan… we are gonna have support for not only Windows 10 but Windows 7, Windows 8 and Linux.”
For Valve, which is developing its own Steam OS to power its living room PCs called Steam Machines, DirectX 12 clearly does not make a lot of sense. By contrast, Vulkan will be supported by Steam OS, which is based on Linux.
While for cross-platform developers it makes a great-sense to use Vulkan, DirectX 12 still has a number of advantages. The Vulkan API is still not finalized, so it cannot really be used for commercial products right now. As a result, those, who plan to release their titles in the next twelve month, should keep using DirectX 12.
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KitGuru Says: Vulkan is extremely promising API that can have a tremendous impact on the industry. However, since the technology is simply not ready, for many developers DirectX 12 is virtually the only choice.
And your $120.
I was putting together computers since 98, always running dual boot windows and linux and have assembled countless computers for many people. I have ever never seen Windows modify BIOS (nor UEFI) or had problems or somehow broken system because I had windows installed, and we are speaking about time since windows nt4.
It’s 2017. And Vulkan API based on AMD’s legendary Mantle blows the doors off DX12. Good Job to Khronos and AMD.
Vulkan gains you better performance.
People need to STOP supporting Apple and MS. Quickly you will see there arrogance change tune.
I have Win 7, and have no desire to upgrade due to the telemitry issues following Win 10. Do you include this issue in your description of “the old way of microsoft”?
Or du you just ignore it all together?
DX12 makes no sense as it requires you to infect your PC with the Windows 10 Virus (with spyware, adware, ransomware, bloatware and keyloggers included). Vulkan is the way to go as other systems that don’t have the Windows 10 crapware on it can reap the rewards, while DX12 slowly dies, because it requires the worst OS in IT history, worse than Vista! I’d rather migrate to SteamOS or Linux than have that Windows 10 crapware infect my machine!, when no program runs on windows 7 then I will decide SteamOS or Linux.
M$ clearly sell users data to the NSA, CIA, FBI and any other US organization that can pay M$ enough money to partner up with them. Also M$ sell users data to greedy advertisers for targeted advertising, which is likely integrated into the W10 OS (or will be integrated into the OS) so users get bombarded with advertising and MS gets bombarded with Advertising revenue!