Microsoft announces new DirectX Raytracing API for DirectX 12

2 min. read

Published onMarch 20, 2018

published onMarch 20, 2018

Share this article

Read our disclosure page to find out how can you help Windows Report sustain the editorial teamRead more

Microsoft made a pretty big announcement for game developers at the Games Developer Conference yesterday. The company unveiled a newDirectX Raytracing APIfor DirectX 12, which will be able to supplement current rendering techniques to improve visual quality in video games.

For those unfamiliar with it, raytracing is a technique that is often used for CGI in films, but some games also use the technology for some tasks like pre-calculating the brightness of virtual objects. “DXR will initially be used to supplement current rendering techniques such as screen space reflections, for example, to fill in data from geometry that’s either occluded or off-screen. This will lead to a material increase in visual quality for these effects in the near future,” Microsoft explained.

Leaving some of the technical details aside, you should know that Microsoft’s goal to bring real-time raytracing to video games, with dedicated hardware acceleration and seamless integration with existing DirectX 12 content. According to the company, the new API could “open the door to an entirely new class of techniques that have never been achieved in a real-time game.”

Microsoft said that developers can use existing hardware to get started with DirectX Raytracing, and popular game engines such as Unity, EA’s Frostbite and Epic Game’s Unreal Engine will soon natively support the API. It remains to be seen if DirectX Raytracing can lead to a graphics revolution, but developers now have a powerful new tool to make it happen.

Radu Tyrsina

Radu Tyrsina has been a Windows fan ever since he got his first PC, a Pentium III (a monster at that time).

For most of the kids of his age, the Internet was an amazing way to play and communicate with others, but he was deeply impressed by the flow of information and how easily you can find anything on the web.

Prior to founding Windows Report, this particular curiosity about digital content enabled him to grow a number of sites that helped hundreds of millions reach faster the answer they’re looking for.

User forum

0 messages

Sort by:LatestOldestMost Votes

Comment*

Name*

Email*

Commenting as.Not you?

Save information for future comments

Comment

Radu Tyrsina

With KB5043178 to Release Preview Channel, Microsoft advises Windows 11 users to plug in when the battery is low#

Copilot in Outlook will generate personalized themes for you to customize the app#

Microsoft will raise the price of its 365 Suite to include AI capabilities#

Death Stranding Director’s Cut is now Xbox X|S at a huge discount#

Outlook will let users create custom account icons so they can tell their accounts apart easier#

Microsoft announces new DirectX Raytracing API for DirectX 12#

With KB5043178 to Release Preview Channel, Microsoft advises Windows 11 users to plug in when the battery is low

Copilot in Outlook will generate personalized themes for you to customize the app

Microsoft will raise the price of its 365 Suite to include AI capabilities

Death Stranding Director’s Cut is now Xbox X|S at a huge discount

Outlook will let users create custom account icons so they can tell their accounts apart easier

Microsoft announces new DirectX Raytracing API for DirectX 12