Ultimately, if you want to play a game and don’t have the relevant DirectX version, the game will let you know. Today, gamers rarely consider the DirectX version on their computer. When DirectX 10 came out, gamers could not wait to pair it with upcoming releases like Crysis, Alan Wake, and Eve-online.

It was not backward compatible, but people still embraced it because of the significant improvements it made.įor instance, it had tighter hardware standards, which meant that game developer could write and apply the same set of code to different hardware variations.Īdditional improvements included a unified architecture and a reduction in the CPU overhead.

Microsoft released the API with Windows Vista. The ‘X’ was introduced because it acts as a shorthand for the numerous APIs under the ‘Direct’ umbrella.ĭirectX 10 was a game-changer when it debuted. The company has released numerous APIs over the decades, including Direct3D and DirectPlay. Initially called ‘Microsoft Direct X,’ DirectX became a major component of Microsoft’s endeavors. But he realized that programmers were reluctant to develop games for the PC because Windows was not a conducive environment for game development.ĭespite resistance from his employers, Alex initiated a project codenamed ‘Project Manhattan.’ The project’s goal was to turn the PC into a hub for game developers.Īlex and his team presented the results of their hard work at the Game Developers Conference in 1995. The Microsoft employee wanted the Windows PC to replace Japanese gaming platforms. The technology was the brainchild of Alex St. The term refers to a collection of APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) that your computer uses to play games. To understand what DirectX 10 is, you must first understand Direct X.

Directx for windows 8.1 32 bit