DirectX 12: A game changer for Xbox One

"Meanwhile, Microsoft's Xbox One has been well received but has been criticized for being measurably behind Sony's Playstation 4 in terms of game performance. Microsoft has responded with DirectX 12. With relatively little effort by developers, upcoming Xbox One games, PC Games and Windows Phone games will see a doubling in graphics performance.

Suddenly, that Xbox One game that struggled at 720p will be able to reach fantastic performance at 1080p. For developers, this is a game changer."

"XBox One is the biggest beneficiary; it effectively gives every Xbox One owner a new GPU that is twice as fast as the old one."

[towelie1288]

VERY NIIIICE!!!
exciting

[GarrusVakarian]

"XBox One is the biggest beneficiary; it effectively gives every Xbox One owner a new GPU that is twice as fast as the old one."

"Suddenly, that Xbox One game that struggled at 720p will be able to reach fantastic performance at 1080p"

Triplefacepalm.

It's quotes like that that give people false hope and high expectations, only to be set up for disappointment. We don't know to what extent DX12 will help the X1 in terms of performance. We have been told that it could help CPU utilization up to 50%, but saying things like the quotes above is completely made up with absolutely no evidence to back it up.

@incendy

Not really what? It's fact that we don't know how much DX12 will help the X1, so it's silly for the author to say such things. Im not even talking about how each console will improve over time, this is strictly about DX12.

Lol@ disagrees. If anyone can prove to me that DX12 will turn 720p games into 1080p games and double the power of the X1 GPU right now, i'll give you cake. The fact of the matter remains that we will simply have to wait and see how big the benefits are.

[incendy35]

Not really, both PS4 and Xbox One will get much more powerful as parallel operation become the norm. Xbox One in particular though because of its high speed bus.

@Lukas: DX12 allows any code to be run in parallel, which is the whole premise of the article. Read it!

[IRetrouk]

And the worst thing, its gonna get lapped up like a kitten with milk.

[Xwow2008]

"XBox One is the biggest beneficiary; it effectively gives every Xbox One owner a new GPU that is twice as fast as the old one."

Oh man iam laughing so hard XD.

[truefan1]

No its ps4 fanboys like you who can't take the quote for what it is. They said 720p to 1080p not 4k. I'm not an engineer but I think it's possible they could get Killer Instinct to 1080 with the efficiency of Dx12. You guys have been working overtime trying to downplay everything MSFT trying to improve their console.

@Lukas you proved my point exactly, you have no idea what DX12 can do yet you spout bs constantly downplaying it. Do you know for fact a game can't go from 720p to 1080p, are you a game developer. The ps4 fan Instinct is to dismiss evening as impossible. I'm not saying it will or won't, but you guys think you are so smart and know everything.

[GarrusVakarian]

Lol Truefan.....

Give it up man, ive been playing Titanfall all day today, haven't even turned on my PS4 for 2 days since i got my X1, so give it a rest with "TEH PS4 FANBOI" because you have no decent counter argument.

I would imagine that it all depends on the game. For example, if a developer *almost* got their game running at 1080p, but didn't quite manage it and had to bump it down to a lower res, then yeah, maybe DX12 could help with that bump. But to say that games that are struggling to run at 720p will suddenly be able to run at 1080p is completely unwarranted. How can he possibly say that? And how can he possibly say that DX12 will double the power of the X1's GPU?

Stop taking everything i say as a downplaying dig at MS, it's making you look so very bitter. If im a PS4 fanboy with both next gen consoles, then what does that make you with only an X1?

@Irishguy

Yeah, no doubt it's going to help devs in terms of making the console more efficient, that's indisputable, but i just found these specific comments in the article very far-fetched and unwarranted. Certain people are going to lap up that false info without a second thought to its validity.

@Truefan

""@Lukas you proved my point exactly, you have no idea what DX12 can do yet you spout bs constantly downplaying it""

Omg...you people. What possible reason could i have to downplay a feature that would benefit a console THAT I OWN? Think about what you are accusing me of and at least back it up with evidence. But you won't...because you can't.

I am not downplaying DX12! Read my damn comments. I am calling out this article and the author for writing such unwarranted things. And no, i don't think i know everything. But it makes sense to me that the only games that will go from 720p to 1080p will be the games that were *almost* at 1080p in the first place, but were bumped down to 720p. *Maybe* DX12 will give it the bump back up?

You call me out on the fact that i don't know how DX12 will help....but i can bet my bottom dollar that you took every word in this article as gospel and didn't stop to doubt it. Amirite?

[Irishguy95]

Well, look at it one way, the Xone came out with TERRIBLE software support. It's been well documented that the thing was rushed and the software side of things the Devs had no handle on(MS fault). Theres no reason for the Xone to be 'this' much weaker than the Ps4. I mean it is 2/3's the power. It should be having trouble with 720p when Ps4 doesn't have trouble(much) with 1080p.

DX12 is pretty much making it easier for every dev to get around the system and use features that won't be nearly as hard to implement anymore

The best thing to do is wait and see anyhow. Let them talk. The future will tell if they're BSing or not.

[Docknoss]

Did you just write "triple facepalm"? I hope everything starts getting better for you buddy. Because the sad world your living now, where you have to get on here and bash the Xbox one. Is extremely pathetic, I pitty you truly.

[GarrusVakarian]

@Docknoss

Seriously now....you guys have me going back and checking my comments to see if im reading the same thing you people are.

Please...PLEASE quote me bashing the X1 in this comment section. Because i just don't see it.

*ALL* im doing is doubting the words of this author who is making these claims with NO evidence whatsoever. Why is that being taken in such a hostile way?

So i pay £350 for an X1, spend the past 2 days playing Titanfall, completely ignore my PS4 in that time...then i come on N4G and bash the console ive been immensely enjoying for the past 2 days....?

LOL....WHAT...EVER.

You people are hilarious. You can't take any sort of criticism or doubt when it comes to anything X1/MS related, so you throw empty, and completely false, accusations around. Pathetic.

[GarrusVakarian]

And the thing is, im not even doubting or criticizing anything about the X1, or MS or DX12! I'm simply calling out this dude for saying such things without any evidence to prove his claims. But somehow that gets spun into me bashing the X1.

It's fascinating how comments get interpreted so wrong on this website. It really is.

As i said to Truefan via PM, i would love for DX12 to double the power of my X1...which X1 owner wouldn't? If that happened, then it would most likely become my main console this gen as multiplats would look and run better on it. But you people need to calm down when you see someone like me who refuses to blindly accept the words of complete strangers on topics that NO ONE but MS knows anything about.

Just read this quote-

"XBox One is the biggest beneficiary; it effectively gives every Xbox One owner a new GPU that is twice as fast as the old one."

Is there ANYONE on this website who has read and believed that? That is just empty misinformation at it's finest. A software update that we know *nothing* about yet, will double the power of the X1's GPU......wow.

[VegasDawg]

LOL, You say you don't know but you do know it's false information, You do know your conflicting yourself? That makes everything you say just WRONG.

The one thing I do know is all the facts are not out yet, so...you sir are talking out of your ass,

[GarrusVakarian]

@vegasdawg

Lol, no. This IS false information because NO ONE knows how DX12 will help the X1. Are you trying to say that because *I* admit to not knowing how DX12 can help the X1, that i can't say this dude is wrong? Haha, what BS logic are you trying to pull here? The fact that DX12 isn't out yet directly falsifies the things this guy is saying about it's performance benefits.

"The one thing I do know is all the facts are not out yet, so...you sir are talking out of your ass,"

Pretty ironic how that quote basically sums up my entire argument. You are proving my point, the facts aren't out yet, so this guy is talking out of his ***, lol.

[cozomel]

The author of this article is jumping to conclusions. DX12 uses XO's DX11.x low level API, which benefits the PC because their API's usually arent so low level, thereby losing alot of performance. But how does this benefit XO? Someone please explain it to me, cuz i dont see it. How is the Xo going to benefit from using DX12 when DX12 is using the same low level API as XO. You people need just dont get it or understand and instead are desperate for hope and are just going to be let down. Cuz reality dont care what y'all think or want. Its obvious MS is just trying and fool y'all with this.

[dantesparda]

So what happened to DX11.2 and its "tiled resources"? i thought that was the be-all end -all secret weapon/one of the secret sauces. But what didnt work out the way youse thought? So now its DX12, which uses the same exact D3D11 API as X1. So let me get this straight. By using DX12, X1 will get better, when DX12 uses the same exact API as the X1's API now. Yeah,... that makes alot of sense. You fanboys will fall for anything. Have fun being let down again. And p.s. the author of this piece is making assumptions after assumption.

[Jumper09]

Software cant change the missing Hardware power. People have to finally accept that in regards to the Xbone.

[Dynasty2021]

Every Direct X increase has come at the cost of a requirement for increased hardware power.

PC users have had to deal with this by buying more powerful cards every time since DX9 changed.

If the Xbox is struggling with DX11, DX12 will destroy it, not increase its' power for god sake.

You also need a DX# enabled card to even run it, and I'm pretty sure the Xbox card is DX11 only.

[Wikkid666]

Wow... you are clueless. Take 5 minutes and read before commenting.

[cozomel]

Wow. you're clueless, cuz everything he said is absolutely and factually true. And what you are saying is just your opinion and not fact. He's absolutely right about every new DX needing new hardware and performing poorly on old hardware. And there is nothing different between X1 hardware and PS4 hardware other than the X1 being weaker, so anything the X1 can do the Ps4 can do better.

Fanboys, so delusional

[Wikkid666]

@cozomel

Yes, you are delusional fanboy. Admitting it is a step in the right direction.

[HaydenJameSmith]

your ignorance to this amuses me...

If a console is designed around a specific API ie DX12 but has to release early with it being unfinished, how does upgrading from DX11.2 which was put in its place until said API was finished and released break the console considering DX12 makes better effiecent use of weaker GPUs and CPUs, which is what is in the X1... that was just an idiotic statement... PS4 has a custom API which is why you can get more out of PS4s CPUs than xbox one even though they both have the same type of CPU and xbox one's is clocked faster... so obviously DX12 is Xbox One's intended API

I have no doubt that it will help xbox one out alot...

[air1]

I don't get your argument...

Are you saying it will or will not improve the xb1?

[HaydenJameSmith]

Yes look at my ending statement

Quote:
I have no doubt that it will help xbox one out alot...

Edit:
I might have worded badly or incorrect use of gramar but basically im saying there is no way that the x1 wudnt see an improvment from upgrading from a temporary API which is DX11.2 to its intended API DX12.

So I expect to see a big improvement and see 1080p 30+ fps as the norm...

[air1]

Oh wow... Dumb moment...

I read what you wrote all wrong for some reason I thought you said dx12 will break the xb1.

Then go on to say it will help the xb1 a lot.. Lol. I think I mixed up some of the other guys opinion with your ending..

Anyway so my question at the bottom of this page is answered.. The xb1 can be upgraded to dx12 what has me a bit concerned though is why ms isn't so open and clear about it. Why no major advertising about it? If all this cloud talk and doubling the power with dx12 is true I would think they would advertise it like if it's the biggest baddest game..

Maybe it will all come out at e3....

[HaydenJameSmith]

Well last time they advertised sumtin ie the DRM policies they got scaulded by fans and this is all theoretical... they cant start advertising that there console will be so much more powerful but cant prove it yet... thats why everyone is remaining skeptical. We'll all know soon enough anyway....

[cozomel]

And your ignorance to this amuses me,

DX12 uses X1's DX11.x API, so explain to me how that is going to make a big difference for X1? Oh yeah, thats right, you cant, cuz it doesnt. DX12 really benefits the PC not the X1. But you fanboys are to deluded to see that. Go ahead, explain it to me, make something up, just make sure it sounds good

[GUTZnPAPERCUTZ]

Good read, I understand it better now!

[Transporter47]

This might improve the Xbox One a bit, but it is not going to double it. We won't really know how much of an improvement it will be until they actually use it on an Xbone game. Just wait and see. No way is it going to double the efficiency of the GPU if you think you are delusional

[incendy35]

According to AMD, parallel computing provides a 2.4 times performance gain. So they might be underselling it a little.

[frankdrebin72]

i think the guys that are dealing withdx12,..you know the ones who created it,..not the ones at home thinking they know what it does would know more??...then again,..maybe im just delusional

[BX81]

@ transporter.
I'm not huge when it comes to tech stuff but you said we don't even know how much it will help the xb1 then turn around and say it won't double it. How can you be sure when, like you said we won't know till they use it in a xb1 game? Your comment caught my eye because again I'm not tech savy but you seem absolute that it couldn't double in performance. Thanks.

[Transporter47]

Because DX12 will help but won't double it. No single tool will make your GPU double regardless of how good the tool is.

[Phoenix76]

I think what he is trying to get at is the point that, even though you can upgrade the software side of any console, you can not do it with the hardware side. After all, the hardware we are using in this current gen is based around tech from between 3-5 years old. Maybe more.
When I was heavily into PC gaming I often used Half-Life 2 as my benchmarked program whenever a new graphics driver came out and most of the time the increase was barely noticeable. Once I changed the gfx card I noticed huge leaps in performance.
So any improvement will be very small, sadly.

[BX81]

Thanks for both replies. What do you think % wise dx12 would increase the GPU of the xb1?

[Mkai28]

That could happen, especially if the power is already there.(move engines/co-processors) This will fully utilize the hardware to it's intended potential. Remember, they are pushing this as 10 year hardware..

The claims of AMD's own Raja Koduri was on-hand to say that DirectX 12 and Direct3D 12 was like "getting four generations of hardware ahead," assuming that's for pc.

[jhoward585]

Secret sauce take 3.

[Mr-Dude]

Like i said a couple of days ago...

They wil find something again to hold onto...
I think we just need to accept that and friendly "laugh and smile"

Anything we say is pure nonsense in their eyes so...

[jhoward585]

LOL. This secret sauce stuff is getting old. Its kind of funny how technical MS can get when it come to harnessing the power of the x1's hardware.

Why can't they just show us a demo instead.

[AutoCad]

DX 12 plus the Cloud going to free up a lot of power for developers.

Console surely looks future proof with cloud computing.
Cant wait to see the games

[christocolus]

Nice read. Cant wait to see how halo 6 will look ground up in dx12.

[AutoCad]

wouldnt be surprised Halo 5 using this already,MS have had access to this for awhile now.

[Jumper09]

DX12 wont help the Xbone. This so claimed new DX12 features are already used with the Xbone.

This features that DX12 will have are from Console Development. DX12 will finally allow PCs to use the available hardware power even more.

DX12 wont change the weaker Xbone Hardware. You people have to accept the Xbone Hardware for what it is.

[Gr1mmyshadows]

Anything is possible with today's technology, so let's just wait to see what this is all about. Tell you one thing that is certain, Sony fanboys or MS fanboys are going to feel real dumb after this is released.

[BlackTar187]

I;m not saying it's not gonna double the GPU power or speed. What i am wondering and truthfully wondering has something like this ever happen before in regards to the Jump size on older mid grade GPU's?

[Gr1mmyshadows]

As far as I know it hasn't happen but hey, this can be an industry 1st if it holds true and if it is true then that would be amazing in my eyes.

[Jumper09]

Software cant change missing Hardware power. Thats what people have to learn in regards to the Xbone.

It really gets annoying that every new PR shit or new Sofatware will magicly make the Xbone more powerful.

Accept the Hardware, it wont change!

[Majin-vegeta]

Bla bla bla M$ Put up or shut up

[ALLWRONG]

Meanwhile Sony has yet to make a game this gen outshine Ryse.

[air1]

Does the xb1 have dx12? If not can it be upgraded to dx12? I've heard ppl want it for windows 7 and that it's possible so why wouldn't ms take advantage of its own tech in the xb1?

I want to think that ms really did future proof this console, ironically something sony sang about the entire last gen but now the slogan is "more raw power", by making making it fully compatible and delivering on all these statements.

IMO if the xb1 does not take full advantage of dx12... Ms needs to go through "spring cleaning" like Sony is doing.. On the other hand.. If ms delivers on all this dx12 and cloud talk through the xb1 they should all be very much celebrated..

Time will tell...

[Gr1mmyshadows]

well to the best of my knowledge the XB1 was built with dx12 in mind. so time will tell to see how they utilize it.

[Jumper09]

It wasnt built with DX12 in mind. DX12 is basicly a Console API for PCs.

DX12 features are already used for developing Xbone games.

The Xbone GPU (which is DX 11.x) wont magicly transform into a new revision. It WONT.

[cfc78]

Nobody knows exactly what the gain will be but there will be a gain and that's what matters.

[dazzrazz]

So much PR bullcrap from M$ camp this week wooh !

[corvusmd]

Nice, just nice!!!

[AnteCash]

"XBox One is the biggest beneficiary; it effectively gives every Xbox One owner a new GPU that is twice as fast as the old one."
http://i.imgur.com/Op5jp.gi...

[Predaking77]

When you promise things that turns out to be lies people stop believing in you. One must just ask if past promises were true.

Would be good if MS stopped selling false hopes to their customers.

[marcofdeath]

Like KZSF is full 1080p right?

[Empire X]

I cant recall ever a time when software made hardware more powerful. I don't know where people get this stuff from. People really need to stop with this false hope stuff.

[Predaking77]

I believe that desperation can make people believe that kind of stuff.

[The_Sneauxman]

Dat SecretSauce... lol

[Jumper09]

Cozomel is the only guy that knows his stuff here, most other people here are living in a delusional world where the Xbone will magicly transform into a more powerful PS4 thanks to DX12...

God please people, accept the Xbone for what it is.

[urwifeminder]

Sweet my xbone and pc will be even better just wow MS are bringing the joy , the difference between dx9 to 10 was amazing even more so when 11 came out my pc is salivating.

[Whiskeyjacked87]

I find it amusing, supposedly Xbox was suppose to be the best thing ever and now they are looking painstakingly hard to find a "gamechanger"

[Waffles11]

OMG!! Secret Sauce Commander!! I have figured it out, writing new software will change the laws of physics and create a black hole in the xbox one that makes hardware magically perform better! And since experts have proven that it is impossible to update software on any other electronic device than the Xbox One, that means that no other system can possibly improve!! Leading studies also show that drinking antifreeze may shorten your lifespan!

[Illusive_Man]

I can only imagine what Ryse would have looked at with DX12, after all it achieved incredible visuals (900p/30fps tesselation, some ray tracing, ambient occlusion etc etc) using a bad SDK, poor drivers, and DX11.2 which has a large overhead and is not the optimal API for the Xbox One.

[THC CELL]

the xbox will never outperform ps4

[KinjoTakemura]

I have no idea why anyone would believe that software, such as directX, would ever be capable of "doubling" the performance of hardware.

Even the article is quick to point out the only thing that possibly may happen as a result of implementing DirectX 12; "Meanwhile, Microsoft's Xbox One has been well received but has been criticized for being measurably behind Sony's Playstation 4 in terms of game performance. Microsoft has responded with DirectX 12. With relatively little effort by developers, upcoming Xbox One games, PC Games and Windows Phone games will see a doubling in graphics performance."

Please note the end of the quoted paragraph : "upcoming Xbox One games, PC games, and windows phone games will see a doubling in GRAPHICS PERFORMANCE."