160°

Microsoft Ports DirectX 12 to Windows 7 - Boosts World of Warcraft's Performance in Latest Update

That's right, DirectX 12 has come to Windows 7

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overclock3d.net
bmf73641875d ago

Strange they made this update with DX12 when Windows 7 is going to be EOL next year

rainslacker1875d ago

I guess when they said they needed the new kernel for DX12 that was just them spewing BS like they always do. I knew this to be true, because Win10's kernel is essentially Win7's kernel. Same BS they've spewed for so many DX updates locked behind new versions of windows, which held back PC gaming for so long, because devs wouldn't use the new API's, and even skipped generations of the API because MS didn't sell enough of the new OS's to make it worthwhile for the dev.

it is a surprise though, because I thought they were going to abandon older versions of windows because Win10 was their way forward, and Win7 doesn't have the native access to Live like they have now.

King_Noctis1875d ago

World of warcraft? Does this game need a boosting at this point?

Stanjara1875d ago

I still don't get it if dx12 is better for performance or not.

Sgt_Slaughter1875d ago

I guess it all depends on the developer and how they optimize it.

maybelovehate1875d ago

DX12 allows much better optimization. But that is of course up to the developer to take advantage of.

CaptainCook1875d ago

Since DirectX12 was built around Windows 10, it will always offer superior performance compared to Windows 7

rainslacker1875d ago (Edited 1875d ago )

If the dev takes advantage of it then yes. Even if you don't have a DX12 card, there are some things with the rendering pipeline which are better than previous versions. The low level stuff can be hit or miss with older cards, but luckily it can adapt when you do the actual application runtime.

@Captain

DX is not built around Win10. The graphics API, which is the most important, is not actually tied to the kernel, and Win10 uses essentially the same kernel as Win7. MS saying it's a kernel related issue was them just once again trying to get gamers to upgrade to new versions of windows, just like they have so many other times in the past. That lie that MS kept spewing has held back console gaming for years, because devs often wouldn't support new versions of DX because people weren't upgrading their OS's.

Win10 does have other advantages in terms of game performance, but it has nothing to do with how the API and kernel are connected.

Stanjara1875d ago

Bravo...this is absolutely the right answer!

maybelovehate1874d ago

Yeah, it would make more sense to say that Windows 10 was built around DX12.

rainslacker1874d ago (Edited 1874d ago )

@Maybe

No, it wouldn't.

The windows Kernel, and DirectX have no direct relationship to one another. One is a software API that runs in windows, and is not dependent on it outside the interpreter that handles the instructions that get carried out between the API and the hardware. Windows itself does not in any way need DirectX, nor does the base rendering process have any connection to how Windows renders the OS, or anything in it. Developers can enable that in their programs, but it isn't required. It is even possible to uninstall DirectX if one knows the process to do so. I have done so on many occasions in my work due to beta versions having issues which didn't allow me to do my work, so I had to reinstall other versions.

Win10 is a modified version of Win7. A few core commands have changed, but the meat of the kernel is still the same. There may be dependencies for DX built into Windows which are based on the kernel, but dependencies can be implemented in older versions to allow it to work. MS just chose not to do so, because they want to push new versions of windows.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 1874d ago
maybelovehate1875d ago

Seems strange to port it to Windows 7 at the same time they started to notify customers it has reached its end of life lol

eddvdm1874d ago

Woah, that's great actually! I can finally throw my Win 10 in the trash and go back to an OS that doesn't f*** up my games performance at each update.

240°

Microsoft Survey Asks About Handheld

A new survey from Microsoft has further hinted at the possibility of an Xbox handheld being in development.

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twistedvoxel.com
EasilyTheBest19h ago

This is definitely happening, I just hope they have 2 versions one with a much bigger screen.

GamerRN7h ago

I'll be happy with this, and a PC console hybrid that rivals anything we have power wise

Number1TailzFan4h ago

The problem with bigger devices is playing them on your side in bed, Vita and before that was fine. Since the Switch you gotta have a gooseneck holder & controllers detached so you can lie down holding them, or your arm will quickly get tired.

KicksnSnares18h ago

Day One buy for me if they'll make a dedicated handheld device.

darthv728h ago

i have that logitech g-cloud. Its a sweet little piece of kit. I like that it can also install games from the play store unlike the other android based handheld.

mudakoshaka7h ago

It sure is! Don't understand why you get the down-votes. Whoever does not like the G Cloud must have been dropped down a well, head first, when they were of a younger age.

PassNextquestion8h ago

I wonder if Microsoft will perform better in Japan if they do actually make a handheld since everyone says handheld and mobile are king over there.

TiredGamer8h ago

This looks like the future of the game industry... all three platforms with a handheld option.

I wonder if the Playstation Portal is a technology test-bed/prototype for a future Playstation handheld?

rlow16h ago(Edited 6h ago)

It’s a possibility but I can’t help but think would that be the best way to go about it? Though it would give you data on how much it is used and game type. It’s still not a true portable device and so people approach it differently. I think that data on phones, tablets, and of course the competition would give a better indication.

But I really think if Sony is considering a new PSP that could play ps5 games, now would be the time to dive in. Honestly, if they do this, it would be huge.

Traecy4h ago(Edited 4h ago)

Doubt if Sony PS wants to support a new handheld with first party games. Something they lacked with the Vita. What they should do is have a handheld that is like the PS Portal which can play all games but play those games on the go as well as at home. Something like that is a better investment.

TiredGamer1h ago

Agreed that you will probably never see a separate line of games specifically for the handheld (a la PSP or PSVita). The modern economics and expectations of game development make that cost prohibitive. What makes more sense is if the full-fat game on PS5 or PS6 has a special "handheld" profile that is automatically optimized for the lower spec handheld. There would be some significant compromises compared to the bigger console variant, but it would be the same game overall and would only require a single purchase.... somewhat what the Switch does with a lower resolution when playing handheld versus docked.

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330°

Square Enix Declares $140m Loss Amid Game Pipeline Shakeup

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth publisher Square Enix has declared a $140m loss based on a shakeup of its internal development pipeline.

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techraptor.net
Furesis16h ago

What are they doing over there? Sounds like they canceled something big. I read a rumor a while back about ff9 remake . Here "Final Fantasy IX has gone through a very challenging development, the game is still in progress but may undergo changes drastic enough that we won't hear about it for a couple of years."
This could be one of the reasons if the rumor is true. That was Silknight i don't know how credible he is but it's something and it would make sense.

-Foxtrot14h ago

I hope IX is still on the cards

Just a straight up remake which they expand a little bit nothing over ambitious

If IX dosent happen then VI and VIII will never be thought of.

Kakashi Hatake4h ago

6 and 8 were way more p popular games despite today's cult following of 9.

TiredGamer13h ago

What are they doing? Sales are falling and the costs are out of control. Big releases need to be absolute sales home runs now, and Final Fantasy sales have stagnated.

Now we know why Square didn’t fall over themselves to remake the original FF7 all these years ago. It certainly wasn’t a license to print money, at least not with what the expectations were. Each of these full on remakes drains an enormous amount of company resources for a razor thin profit margin.

TwoPicklesGood13h ago

Breaking the game up into multiple parts was a mistake IMO.

blackblades11h ago

The loses came from cancelling games nothing else.

shadowT15h ago

Do not miss Final Fantasy 16. Great game!

raWfodog15h ago

I'm waiting for them to release the complete edition bundle, but it's definitely on my list.

PhillyDonJawn14h ago

Wth is going on with the gaming industry?

mandf13h ago

Corporate investors taking everything

TiredGamer13h ago

Not rocket science. Compare sales numbers, development cycles, and budgets to the previous gens. We are all collectively burning up the industry from the inside out. Expectations are ludicrously high now for every release and sales are dropping for even the most prestigious of series.

We used to be satisfied paying $50-60 for a game that took 1/100th the budget and staff to make. Now gamers feel cheated if they have to pay the same for a game that took 100x the budget. We may be reaching the end of the line for this model of gaming.

wiz71919h ago

@tiredgamer I think your point is one that ppl don’t understand and you hit it on the nose .. some gamers don’t want to take accountability but it’s some of the gamers fault the industry is where it’s at .. we as gamers set the standards for the industry not the shareholders , ppl forget that the shareholders and the industry want and need OUR Money. Both the Xbox and PlayStation are seeing a drop in hardware , the industry is very stagnant right now.

Tacoboto10h ago

Speaking to Square:

Turns out their mismanagement wasn't related to the western studios they dumped to Embracer, but their own fault.

With regards to Xbox - a good way to kill your brand is to pull support on high quality titles and only dump B and C-tier titles to it

With regards to PC - Epic Games Story exclusivity for any duration and piss-poor optimization will hurt you.

With regards to FF Pixel Remasters - y'all messed up by barely releasing them on physical, like wtf that was free money!

And lastly, you don't help a franchise by releasing a mainline title that undermines every title that came before it. FFXVI was a DMC-like with bottom-of-the-barrel side quests and I can't imagine that helping Rebirth at all considering its marketing is directly tied to how big that game is.

Tacoboto9h ago

Sony is getting their best titles and with the most polish, so what about it? Nintendo gets their top properties too, for titles that can run on Switch hardware.

It's the other fanbases that get the second- and third-class treatment from Square. If that's due to agreements with Sony, that's not a Sony issue but a Square one for accepting those terms. Sony is doing its best to look out for Sony.

TiredGamer14h ago

The industry implosion is continuing. Sky high budgets, prolonged development windows, stagnant sales numbers, and falling currency values (inflation) are wreaking havoc on the legacy industry. AAA games will slowly become the rarity.

CS714h ago

Sad. Rebirth was one of my favorite games in a long time. Should have sold more.

CrimsonWing6913h ago

Oh I’m with you. What’s worse is they can say, “Well we tried to make this amazing game and spend all this money on, but not enough people showed an interest. So no more of these since we can’t take a hit like that.”

The industry is going to take a dramatic shift. Mark my words on this.

rpvenom12h ago(Edited 12h ago)

I think there is quite a large portion of individuals like myself who held out on buying it on PS5 because I can get it on PC eventually. To be able to mod the game and also have custom graphical settings to my liking

gold_drake2h ago

same

but im not sure if it matters at all. im sure they made sony pay a hefty sum for the 3parter to come on ps5 exclusively. so watever they made in sales, might have come bk in profits for square, but i dont know
and we dont know what "underperformed" even means for square.

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290°

Xbox Games Showcase Followed by [REDACTED] Direct Airs June 9

- Xbox Wire - Mark your calendars! The Xbox Games Showcase followed by [REDACTED] Direct airs June 9. More info inside.

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news.xbox.com
bionicstar14h ago

Will they show Fable 4, Stalker 2, GoW 6 & Perfect Dark?

PhillyDonJawn14h ago

Crossing fingers for Fable and perfect dark. And State of Decay 3

RaidenBlack9h ago(Edited 9h ago)

And maybe Clockwork Revolution, South of Midnight, Contraband, Project 007 & OD? lol
and whatever happened to Everwild ?
+ that rumored Wu Tang RPG

Sonic18818h ago(Edited 8h ago)

Will they have official release dates and gameplay?

anast14h ago

Another game pass event with their plans to go all streaming.

14h ago
Lightning7713h ago

It's an Xbox showcase that they have every year.

Make smarter comments for once.

anast10h ago(Edited 10h ago)

Tell me what a smarter comment is.

If they don't sell game pass the entire time, then I will be wrong. All of this can be proven once the show gets underway. Let's wait and see.

13h ago
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Lightning779h ago(Edited 9h ago)

Wow too easy.

You went from MS going all streaming to selling gamepass content in which we all know they are.

Which one is it?

Pretty clear you don't know what a smart comment is at least you admit you don't know.

9h ago
anast5h ago(Edited 5h ago)

"Another game pass event with their plans to go all streaming."

It's both. I would worry about your own intelligence at this point. It seems that there is not enough to go around for you to worry about how smart other people are.

Lightning774h ago

It's just a regular event announcing games. Nice one captain obvious they're gonna mention gp stuff like they do every year what else is new.

The all streaming part is just you, being you I guess. They have streaming options but going all streaming again is just you pulling stuff outta thin air.

anast4h ago

You don't know what a smart comment is or isn't. You're welcome for the help.

Lightning771h ago

No you said something dumb then you tried to back track and mention GP.

Again make smart comments for once.

+ Show (6) more repliesLast reply 1h ago
darthv7214h ago

Wonder if they will address the handheld rumors....?

jimb0j0nes14h ago

For a brief moment I thought we might get a whole Direct for Gears 6 - seems like it's COD though!

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