All articles tagged with #directx
Microsoft will host its first Xbox Game Dev Update to reveal Project Helix, a next-gen Xbox/PC console powered by a custom AMD-based SoC and DirectX-focused tech. The developer-focused stream on YouTube (12pm ET/5pm BST) will tee up what Helix means for developers and future Xbox/PC games; dev units aren’t expected until 2027, with leadership from Chris Charla and Jason Ronald guiding the session.
At GDC 2026 Microsoft unveiled Project Helix—a converged Xbox-Windows platform pairing an AMD-driven next-gen SoC with a renewed DirectX, aiming to run Xbox and PC with a shared codebase, enhanced ray tracing (including path tracing), ML-based upscaling (FSR Diamond), and cross-store compatibility; alpha dev kits ship in 2027, signaling an end to a fully separate console ecosystem and a PC-first future for Xbox.
Microsoft will roll out Xbox Mode to all Windows 11 devices next month, offering controller-based game launches and a seamless desktop switch; ASD is expanding to reduce shader compile times, DirectStorage gets updates like Zstandard support and a Game Asset Conditioning Library, and DirectX tooling will add ML/shader debugging capabilities for future projects.
Microsoft details Project Helix, a next-gen Xbox blending console and PC gaming with a custom AMD SoC and the next generation of DirectX and FSR, promising a major leap in ray tracing and AI-enhanced graphics. An alpha development kit will ship to developers in 2027, with a public launch window still unclear. The company also previews cross-device Xbox experiences, including Xbox Mode on Windows 11 rolling out in April 2026 and a revived backwards-compatibility program for the 25th anniversary.
Microsoft will bring its full-screen Xbox mode to every Windows 11 PC starting in April, renaming the feature Xbox mode and signaling a PC-first Xbox strategy; at GDC, it also opened Advanced Shader Delivery to Xbox Store developers to speed game loads and teased bringing classic Xbox games to PC, with Project Helix entering alpha in 2027 alongside broader DirectX/DirectStorage updates.
Microsoft's DirectX 12 AgilitySDK 1.618, now out of preview, introduces advanced shader delivery to eliminate shader compilation stutters and long loading times in PC games, aiming to provide a console-like experience on Windows by distributing precompiled shaders during game downloads and supporting various hardware partners.
Microsoft DirectSR is a new DirectX API designed to simplify the implementation of upscalers in PC games, abstracting multiple upscaling techniques with a standard interface and integrating the core processing of AMD Fidelity FX Super Resolution 2. It will ship as part of Direct SuperResolution and be used across all hardware, with a public preview expected soon via the Agility SDK.
Microsoft is set to unveil its new super resolution graphics technology, DirectSR, as part of the DirectX 12 suite at GDC 2024. DirectSR aims to enhance visuals and performance using machine learning, potentially benefiting lower-end gaming devices and Xbox consoles. This move could unify existing solutions like NVIDIA DLSS, AMD FidelityFX, and Intel's XeSS, and may play a significant role in future console generations, particularly amid chip shortages. The new API, along with a shader interface and features for PIX, is expected to launch alongside a new Agility SDK.
Apple's new macOS Sonoma includes a Game Porting Tool that allows developers to easily port Windows games to the Mac. The tool is based on Wine, an open-source platform that translates Windows software to Unix environments. It can also translate DirectX 12 into Metal 3, Apple's API for graphics rendering and game sounds. Developers can use new tools to convert DirectX graphics to Metal, resulting in better performance. Game Mode, built into macOS Sonoma, prioritizes the gaming experience for the foregrounded game, reducing Bluetooth latency for AirPods and doubling the Bluetooth sampling rate for PlayStation and Xbox controllers.