Microsoft “Pretty Sure” DirectX 12 Will be Better than Mantle, New Videos Show How it Works

During Build Microsoft had a series of livestreamed talks about DirectX 12, and the one starring Development Director Ales Holecek was particularly interesting, as it gave a few more details on the API, and even made a comparison with AMD’s Mantle.

[NYC_Gamer]

MS will have the advantage because developers are going to use DX12 by default since its already there on Windows machines without hassle

[Abriael]

That's one of the things he said, yeah.

[Kayant]

It also depends on which versions of windows they lock it down to.

[Abriael]

Looks like they're trying to find way to expand it to 7 too. Personally, I'd give it at a 50% chance.

It'll depend on whether they want to push Windows 8 more or DirectX 12

If they want to push Windows 8/9, then they'll keep 7 out. If they wanna push DirectX 12, they'll be as inclusive as humanly possible.

[bleedsoe9mm]

if dx12 is that revolutionary it would be very un ms like not to use it to sell win 9

[christocolus]

The future of pc/console gaming looks really promising. Cant wait to see what the truly talented devs can do with this api.

[dantesparda]

Then just look at what Mantle and GNM and DX11.xx is doing right now. Cuz thats basically what DX12 is going to do for the PC. Although as for how much its really going to do for X1 remains to be seen, but i honestly think the fanboys are going to be in for another letdown. DX12 is using X1's lower level API so how's that an improvement for the X1? i dont know, And it cant truly be as to the metal as X1's API is now when it still has to cater to the plethora of possible PC configurations?

[marlinfan10]

i can't believe people gave you dislikes for saying the future of gaming looks promising. i feel like people just scroll down and hit dislike on every single comment that doesn't say something positive about the system they play on

[Flamingweazel]

no, thats never been the case. PCs run opengl as easy as dx.

[NYC_Gamer]

What are developers using more though?

[dantesparda]

They use DX more on the PC because DX on the PC has better support than OGL does now. But Dont forget that OGL is also used on Mac OSX, iOS, Android, Linux, SteamOS and a API based on it is also used on PS platforms. So to count OGL out is beyond foolish and is just some stupid sh*t fanboys like to spew. And contrary to what fanboys think OGL is better than DX (at least up to 11.2)

[Drewidian]

Also while Windows Phone has a low user base, it will benefit from DX12 as well. MS is pushing pay once run anywhere and for those users in the WP ecosystem they may benefit from being able to buy "lite" games like Halo Spartan Assault 2 and run it anywhere they want. It may attract more people to their phone platform.

[GUTZnPAPERCUTZ]

Never thought about that... I guess it's like Devs building on AMD since both Next Gen consoles are AMD, feel bad for Nvidia Hardware owners this gen.

[medman]

I'm "pretty sure" Microsoft isn't "pretty sure" about anything right now. Stop selling complete bullshot and get to work producing results in games, not TV or Kinect garbage. The sheep keep sucking up the bs instead of demanding better for their money. Software cannot improve hardware by a factor of two. It's impossible. Software can only maximize what the hardware is capable of. And the hardware is not on par with it's direct competitor from a pure horsepower standpoint. How difficult is that to understand? Yet people still point to the cloouuddzzz and now this nonsense hoping and praying the magic fairy dust will make the magic happen. Wake up.

[randomass171]

There's definitely a lot of potential there. The next step is to take it out of the demo stages and actually get it up and running for developers. If it works as well as they suggest, Microsoft was smart to incorporate it's compatibility into Xbox One.

[Flamingweazel]

Prettu sure, ms doesn;'t know enough abotu mantle, and DX has historically been worse then Open Gl, mantle alternatives.

[MorePowerOfGreen]

Yep a software company that has had hands on with available mantle software plus partnered with a company, building each other's tech has no clue :P

Industry disagrees with your fanboy assumption about being worse.

[WeAreLegion]

I don't think so. DX has been playing catch-up with every release. It's like iOS. Sure, it's more popular than Android, but iOS is constantly trying to match Google's feature set and haven't been able to catch them.

[Geoff900]

DX9, surpassed OpenGL in every way, and if OpenGL was so great then why would companies be using Mantle?

Both OpenGL, and DX have massive overheads, hence a lot of developers utilizing mantle.

Oh and lastly, an API is just an API, different developers utilize different API's for various reasons, sometimes because it's better for their game engine, sometimes it's the hardware itself, others could be their knowledge of a certain API over another.

[stuna1]

I'm all for the benefits of what DX12 could bring, and would likely bring! But come on! Does this not come off as Microsoft trying to sell the concept to themselves? All these articles poping up everywhere seems kind of like trying to be the first in line, because your unsure if others haven't brought up all the tickets! Microsoft api is DX12, Sonys apl is Open GL, and Mantle is proprietary! The difference being Microsoft has no need to invest in Mantle, because they own their own apl, Sony has an open sourced apl that's basically free, and Mantle is being sold.

But the thing is they also have plenty of things in common! Main thing being, the ability to develop closer to the metal, but they also share similar development tools.

[marlinfan10]

all these articles come up because these websites write 30 different articles about one interview or one conference.

[Geoff900]

MS is trying to get devs interested in their API, why? because they have made massive improvements to it, and want to see what developers think of it.

MS uses many different API's, Dolby, OpenGL, Java, DX...MS is a software company they utilize various API's for different applications.

MS have no real reason to invest in an AMD API, also it doesn't work very well on higher end APU/GPU's, and is targeted mostly at AMD's hardware, AMD themselves have stated they want to give a little kick to MS to make some changes.

Lastly Sony, is a hardware manufacture, what you are actually referring to is SCE, which again utilize various API's, their various branches e.g. Sony Online Entertainment use DirectX, an API is an API.

They could use DX12, however MS keep DX for their own platforms (for now).

[lifeisgamesok]

Seeing how much AMD has praised Directx 12 I wouldn't doubt it being better than Mantle

I can't imagine these next gen game's graphics using more efficiency and freeing up resources on the gpu

Great times ahead

[cozomel]

AMD isnt praising DX12 because it thinks its better than their API, they are praising it because they are glad that MS is finally doing it (a better API than what was available). AMD for a while has wanted MS to do this. AMD benefits from this as their cards will benefit form this and they dont really wanna be in the API business. They are just glad their "push" worked. See this is the problem with you fanboys, you all see things the way you wanna see them, through your rose colored fanboy goggles.

[MasterCornholio]

Wow your so blind.

LOL

Why would AMD ever admit Direct X12 being better than their API (Mantel).

Your so funny.

[MonsterChef]

How many fluff pieces are we going to get About Microsoft I swear if people didn't know better they'd think that Microsoft earned this PR but knowing how they operate you can tell they've been steady handing out paychecks to media outlets on Yahoo alone there were multiple articles on the front page from the double performance boost to the possible 360 emulation rumor a ruomor made it to the front page, just saying not even morpheous got that much attention and it was the talk of gdc. This just shows you how deep microsofts pockets are anyways I know already xbox 1 performance better now let's move on

[cozomel]

They must be paying alot of this outlets, but their is also alot of fanboyism too. Alot of these websites are really just fansites masquerading as neutral. So they are pushing it because of their fanboy agenda. So its both.

[Izzy408]

I think you've been wearing that tinfoil hat a little too long now.

[ALLWRONG]

It's because you're really just here for negative Xbox news. So much good MS news has your Sony mind scrambled and desperate.

[MonsterChef]

I'm not that type of fanboy, I like the ideas for gaming that Sony has over Microsoft that's it, if Microsoft changes their plans then I'll gladly give them a chance again I've had the first Xbox and 360 that's what introduce me to online gaming was Microsoft. But you have to be pretty ignorant to not see how much money Microsoft has for ads I've read on numerous sites and from ex executives that's how they do business by flooding the media with PR spins and whatnot. I have no tinfoil hat sir you just need to educate yourself more.

[No_Limit]

Glad I have a XB1. Can't wait for DX12 to be used in Halo 5 ,Gears of War 4 and Forza 6.

[TheRedButterfly]

You and me both bro! :) Exciting times ahead!

[Izzy408]

I really hope this is true. I don't know why there's so much criticism though; it's probably just butt-hurt fanboys. This is good news for gaming in general, not just X1. But i get it; it's hard to put biases aside, especially for a lot of people in N4G.

[aerisbueller]

I think when a company has a long and storied history, even just within this past year of a perfect pattern of

Make bold claim
proven to be lying/exaggerating
Make bold claim
proven to be lying/exaggerating
Make bold claim
proven to be lying/exaggerating
Make bold claim
proven to be lying/exaggerating

The only fanboys here are the ones who are still eating it all up like
"wow!! this is gonna be soo amazing. 2 times as fast!! this will change everything! can't wait! love you MS! Go!"

[TheRedButterfly]

*cough cough* http://n4g.com/user/blogpos...

[frankdrebin72]

@ redbutterfly......
bravo...but alas a large sony carpet covers this up.

guys face facts..sony ,microsoft,..they are the same beast,..a buisness..one financally stable,..one isnt..you think the one that isnt is truthful to keep the buisness afloat??
non are squeeky clean,..and non are perfect...thats the same for you as a person.

[aerisbueller]

@TheRedButterfly
@frankdrebin72
no matter how many times I reread my post I can't find any mention of Sony.

Also, way to link an article from 3 years ago

If I go back far enough, I can find a much more likeable Microsoft. I'm talking about the here and now Microsoft we've been dealing with for the past few years.

All that being said, I think Microsoft is on it's way to being very awesome with the new people in charge. A lot of positive changes, but it's really premature to be trusting them about anything having to do with XBox One SDK's. I mean how many times will you fall for the exact same thing?

[pandehz]

This will benefit everyone.

Pc and console gaming is gonna see a good future.

Waiting till next gen actually starts. Not hardware wise but with actual next gen games being developed as I type this and not the ones being released now which were in dev 3 yrs ago.

Come on DX 12 show us what our expensive hardwares can do.

[randomass171]

Agreed completely. An upgraded (and well running) architecture can work very well for developers who are making games on both the PC and console platforms. :)

[Derekvinyard13]

Second video is pretty cool