Microsoft has just announced that they ported the DirectX 12 runtime to Windows 7 for World of Warcraft and other, unannounced games. This allows those games to run the new graphics API with its more-efficient framework of queuing work on GPUs, with support from Microsoft. I should note that the benchmarks for DirectX 12 in WoW are hit or miss, so I’m not sure whether it’s better to select DX11 or DX12 for any given PC, but you are free to try.
This does not port other graphics features, like the updated driver model, which leads to this excerpt from the DirectX blog post:
How are DirectX 12 games different between Windows 10 and Windows 7?
Windows 10 has critical OS improvements which make modern low-level graphics APIs (including DirectX 12) run more efficiently. If you enjoy your favorite games running with DirectX 12 on Windows 7, you should check how those games run even better on Windows 10!
Just make sure you don’t install KB4482887? Trollolololol. Such unfortunate timing.
Of course, Vulkan also exists, and has supported Windows 7 since its creation. Further, both DirectX 12 and Vulkan have forked away from Mantle, which, of course, supported Windows 7. (AMD’s Mantle API pre-dates Windows 10.) The biggest surprise is that Microsoft released such a big API onto Windows 7 even though it is in extended support. I am curious what lead to this exception, such as cyber cafés or other international trends, because I really have no idea.
As for graphics drivers? I am guessing that we will see it pop up in new releases. The latest GeForce release notes claim that DirectX 12 is only available on Windows 10, although undocumented features are not exactly uncommon in the software and hardware industry. Speaking of undocumented features, World of Warcraft 8.1.5 is required for DirectX 12 on Windows 7, although this is not listed anywhere in the release notes on their blog.
It’s more of a DX12
It’s more of a DX12 Compatability Layer added to assist the game than the actual DX12 full API!
If M$ was really thinking about their investors then they would maybe think about Offering that Extended/Paid Windows 7 security Patches to more end users than just M$’s Enterprise and Volume licensing customers. I’d Gladly Pay for Extended Windows 7 Security Patches until 2023.
Come on M$ you Know that Windows 8/8.1 is just mostly Windows 7 with that Crappy TIFKAM UI tacked on above the Kernel and a few API/WDDM tweaks and you mostly have to support 8.1 until 2023 anyways. You are not likely to get any of the 41% of the Windows OS users that are estimated to be still be on 7 at it its EOL! So why not opt to sell extended windows 7 support until 2023 and make some more billions.
Windows 10 does not Play nice with some older GPU hardware on older OEM Laptop hardware! And even on new PC/Laptop hardware that eternal BETA nonsense is really a reason enough in itself to avoid 10’s madness and the forcing that breaks things.
I have 4 laptops that are running windows 7 and one laptop came with a windows 8 Pro License but was Downgraded to windows 7 Pro, Via Windows 8 Pro downgrade rights, at the factory by the laptop’s OEM.
Folks are dead serious about avoiding that windows 10 forcing and eternal BETA status, and really some folks will just stay on 7 even after it’s EOL if they can not find any 8.1 OEM licenses and they can always try a Linux OS distro.
I’d really like to see the Linux OS install stats once it begins to get closer to Jan 2020, from 6 months up until windows 7 goes EOL! That’s because folks are really going to be motivated by their need to avoid windows 10’s forcing, borking(games other applications), and eternal BETA state. All Linux Needs is to get above 10% of the OS market on PCs/Laptops and that install base will have reached a critical mass to really allow Linux to take even more than 10% of the OS market on PCs/Laptops.
You know everything. All hail
You know everything. All hail this guy.
This is exciting at first but
This is exciting at first but the more you look into it the less it is. I don’t think many titles are going to take advantage of this. Maybe MCC on PC?
The MMO game Eve Online is
The MMO game Eve Online is also switching over to Direct 12 this year. That could be the other game that was talked about.