Microsoft might include a new DirectX version in the future Windows release

Aug 21, 2014 13:19 GMT  ·  By

Rumor has it that the next full Windows release, which is very likely to be called Windows 9 when it hits the market in early 2015, could come with DirectX 12, the next version of the app programming interface that has already been presented by Microsoft earlier this year.

Only little is known at this point, but we’re hearing that DirectX 12 could be indeed introduced with Windows 9, even though Microsoft said in March that a debut was possible in holiday 2015 games.

DirectX 12 comes with the next version of Direct3d, which is said to be faster and more efficient than its predecessors thanks to a lower level of hardware abstraction.

This leads to improved multithread scaling and CPU utilization, while also introducing a new set of rendering pipeline feature for improved efficiency of algorithms such as order-independent transparency, collision detection, and geometry culling, as Microsoft revealed a few months ago.

In addition to so many performance improvements, DirectX 12 will also bring a significant drop in terms of power consumption, which would clearly support Microsoft’s transition towards mobile devices, such as tablets and smartphones.

Together with Intel, Microsoft presented at the SIGGRAPH show in Los Angeles an experimental version of DirectX 12 running on a Microsoft Surface Pro 3, revealing a power consumption drop of 50 percent.

“The demo renders an asteroid field with 50,000 unique asteroids in it which equates to 50,000 draws per frame. Each asteroid has a unique combination of vertices, textures, and constants,” Microsoft said.

“With certain applications, reduced power consumption means the device generates less heat and can run even faster! DirectX 12 can allow the CPU to consume less energy and run cooler allowing the GPU to run hotter and faster. In some cases, DirectX 12 can take a game that’s otherwise unplayable on DirectX 11 without even increasing the power your device consumes!”

While seeing DirectX 12 support implemented in Windows 9 might not be so surprising news given the fact that every Windows version comes with a new version of the software, it’s pretty clear that Microsoft wants the upcoming operating system to be a much more advanced product in terms of features.

People close to the matter indicated that Windows 9 could also be the Windows version to bring back the Start menu, while also featuring options to run Metro apps in their dedicated windows right on the desktop. A preview build of Cortana for the desktop is also expected, and so are some changes that could better separate the Modern UI from the traditional desktop.