DirectX 12 Client

[Pseudopsia]

We already know DirectX 11 FFXIV client has been delayed till after expansion from February interview with Gamer Escape. So it's likely be available in 2015 at the earliest.

Microsoft just released details of DirectX 12 and it's quite possible for SE make a Directx 12 client instead. DirectX 12 should be much more beneficial to FFXIV with "Multi-thread scaling + 50% better CPU utilization". I expect this to allow higher character limit and higher FPS in high populated areas. Unlike previous Directx versions DirectX 12 should work with over 80% of gamer PCs currently being sold.

FAQ

Q: Should I wait to buy a new PC or GPU?
A: No – if you buy a PC with supported graphics hardware (over 80% of gamer PCs currently being sold), you’ll be able to enjoy all the power of DirectX 12 games as soon as they are available.

Q: Does DirectX 12 include anything besides Direct3D 12?
A: Also new is a set of cutting-edge graphics tools for developers. Since this is a preview of DirectX 12 focused on Direct3D 12, other technologies may be previewed at a later date.

Q: When will I be able to get my hands on DirectX 12?
A: We are targeting Holiday 2015 games.

Q: What hardware will support Direct3D 12 / will my existing hardware support Direct3D 12?
A: We will link to our hardware partners’ websites as they announce their hardware support for Direct3D 12.

Source: DirectX Developer Blog

Edit: Thanks to a necro bump I noticed that windows 7 is aimed to be supported:
http://linustechtips.com/main/page/a...s-7-and-up-r22

[Karnyboy]

Can I get DX12 for my Windows 7? If so I support this logical idea, if not I am not buying Win8.1 or Win9 just for DX12.....

[Tiggy]

DirectX 12 isn't any where near ready for launch. Their current time table seems to be an early 2015 release for the DX11 client, and DX12 won't be ready until Holiday 2015. You'd rather have them wait up to an extra year?

Also, you need windows 8 to use anything past directx 11.1. Meaning 12 will definitely require windows 8+. Directx 11 can hit a larger number of their fanbase.

[Pseudopsia]

Can I get DX12 for my Windows 7? If so I support this logical idea, if not I am not buying Win8.1 or Win9 just for DX12.....

Not sure. It's possible if MS is going to take PC gaming seriously.

As far as compatibility across Windows operating systems, Microsoft was a bit coy. While DirectX 12 will not support Windows XP, Windows 7 support is also a little unclear, with Microsoft only saying they weren't "discussing Windows 7 support today."

http://ca.ign.com/articles/2014/03/2...e-improvements

[ReiszRie]

We already know DirectX 11 FFXIV client has been delayed till after expansion from February interview with Gamer Escape. So it's likely be available in 2015 at the earliest.

Microsoft just released details of DirectX 12 and it's quite possible for SE make a Directx 12 client instead. DirectX 12 should be much more beneficial to FFXIV with "Multi-thread scaling + 50% better CPU utilization". I expect this to allow higher character limit and higher FPS in high populated areas. Unlike previous Directx versions DirectX 12 should work with over 80% of gamer PCs currently being sold.

Source: DirectX Developer Blog

Might as well have Mantle support

[Pseudopsia]

Might as well have Mantle support

I really do hope Mantle takes off. If it does I bet you windows 7 will get DirectX 12 support. If SE does ever supports mantle I'll be switching back to AMD video card. It solves the CPU overhead problem too.

[Nekodar]

Can I get DX12 for my Windows 7? If so I support this logical idea, if not I am not buying Win8.1 or Win9 just for DX12.....

Wording hints that Windows 7 will be supported... can't be certain of course.

[Kith]

Given that DX11 is still only supported by a subset of PC gamers (both SW and HW) then there is no real reason for anybody to use DX12 in the near future, especially if Microsoft is stupid enough to lock it down to Win8.1 - I know they have hinted that it'll work with 7 but nobody knows for sure yet so no developer is going to even look into it if it means it'll only work for a very small subset of their playerbase.

For reference, Steam survey shows 50% of people are using DX11 capable cards with Win 7 so, while thats a good number thats already half the playerbase out for DX11 and given how infrequently most "non-hardcore" gamers update their machines, its not likely anybody with a 7/11 machine is going to update to 8/12 in the near future.

[C-croft]

From what I have read DX12 is basically DX11 with mantle baked in. Some improvements over 11, but not radically different. Because of this, all DX11 cards are capable of running with DX12. Fermi, Kepler and Maxwell (Nvidia 500 series forward) will be called DX12 ready cards. Since DX11 is on Win7, there is no reason DX12 can't be moved to Win7, but MS does want to push dat Windows H8 point done.

[Gilgamesh-Merodach]

This! let it be done!