Rumor: Sorry Folks, There Will be no DirectX 12 Support For Windows 7 - Update

[EiMitch]

Sorry Folks, There Will be no DirectX 12 Support For Windows 7

Microsoft's latest DirectX API will be exclusive to Windows 8 and Windows 10.

Update: According to a statement received by GameSpot [http://www.gamespot.com/articles/amd-misspoke-saying-directx-12-won-t-work-with-win/1100-6423617/], Huddy "misspoke" regarding DirectX 12 support for Windows 7.

"There have been reports based on a video of Richard Huddy of AMD making speculative comments around DirectX 12 support on versions of Windows," AMD said in the statement. "Richard Huddy does not speak for Microsoft, and he was unfortunately speculating from Microsoft's publication of key dates and milestones for Windows 7 lifecycle and mainstream support policy. Richard has no special insight into Microsoft's Windows or DirectX roadmaps. Microsoft is a key, strategic partner for AMD and we're continuously collaborating with them on DirectX 12."

So, even though it's just speculation, we probably won't be too surprised if this one turns out to be true, given Microsoft's history.

Source: GameSpot [http://www.gamespot.com/articles/amd-misspoke-saying-directx-12-won-t-work-with-win/1100-6423617/]

So MS is denying it. If it turns out that MS is lying, I expect a huge backlash. I'll be seriously disappointed if everyone just shrugs and says "meh, its MS being MS again. Whaddagonnado?"

 

[Lightknight]

Sorry Folks, There Will be no DirectX 12 Support For Windows 7

Microsoft's latest DirectX API will be exclusive to Windows 8 and Windows 10.

Update: According to a statement received by GameSpot [http://www.gamespot.com/articles/amd-misspoke-saying-directx-12-won-t-work-with-win/1100-6423617/], Huddy "misspoke" regarding DirectX 12 support for Windows 7.

"There have been reports based on a video of Richard Huddy of AMD making speculative comments around DirectX 12 support on versions of Windows," AMD said in the statement. "Richard Huddy does not speak for Microsoft, and he was unfortunately speculating from Microsoft's publication of key dates and milestones for Windows 7 lifecycle and mainstream support policy. Richard has no special insight into Microsoft's Windows or DirectX roadmaps. Microsoft is a key, strategic partner for AMD and we're continuously collaborating with them on DirectX 12."

So, even though it's just speculation, we probably won't be too surprised if this one turns out to be true, given Microsoft's history.

Source: GameSpot [http://www.gamespot.com/articles/amd-misspoke-saying-directx-12-won-t-work-with-win/1100-6423617/]

So MS is denying it. If it turns out that MS is lying, I expect a huge backlash. I'll be seriously disappointed if everyone just shrugs and says "meh, its MS being MS again. Whaddagonnado?"

No, they aren't denying it. They are merely saying that this guy doesn't necessarily speak for them.

In not denying it, they have as good as confirmed it in my book.

 

[Andrew_C]

This is hardly surprising seeing as they are already holding DirectX 11.2 hostage to Win8.1. And there is not a technical reason for it, most of the few things needed to bring it to 7 were already implemented for Internet Explorer 11.

 

[Strazdas]

As with XP, extended support including security updates will continue for a few years longer, so again people are not being forced to upgrade their OS now for no reason. But it's absolutely normal for non-essential updates such as DX not to be provided for an OS this old.

I have misunderstood then. i thought he meant that they are dropping win7 support entirely in the same fashion as they dropped XP last year.

Still a good point though, with both consoles being PCs and the Xbone (I know own one and its still an Xbone) using DX12 we may see a faster uptake of DX12 in PC games this time, its easier to cram it in even as an afterthought this time.

Once again do you have any evidence of Xbox One using DX12? Because as far as we know now its stuck at DX11

Doesn't matter. I can still play 99,9% of PC games in a XP system so I don't care at all.

how do you count. if you count from 1980 to now yes 99.99% will likely run in XP in some manner or other.

If you look at games released this year youll notice a severe lack of XP support because games are dropping DX9 en mass.

 

[TechNoFear]

Not a huge issue, if it is true...

The really big gains from DirectX 12 appear to be in the mobile space or low end hardware (as the higher CPU utilization reduces power consumption).

And as much as I like Win7, it will be 6 years old when DirectX 12 comes out.

Once again do you have any evidence of Xbox One using DX12? Because as far as we know now its stuck at DX11

MS said XBox One would run DX12 in March.

MS also said DX12 would run on Windows phones and existing hardware (ie most graphics cards made in the last 2 years).

http://www.kotaku.com.au/2014/03/what-you-need-to-know-about-directx-12/

 

[Strazdas]

MS said XBox One would run DX12 in March.

MS also said DX12 would run on Windows phones and existing hardware (ie most graphics cards made in the last 2 years).

http://www.kotaku.com.au/2014/03/what-you-need-to-know-about-directx-12/

MS says a lot of things. They lied enough about Xbox to not take their sayings as a fact.

WIndows Phones are using Windows 8 thats cut down for mobile basically. While Xbox is also based on Windows 8, it is missing A LOT of libraries that may be cardinal for DX12. While yes, a OS update could theoretically fix this, considering how much bloat Xbox OS currently has it would be a spectacular thing to watch.

Also Kotaku is not a source.

 

[TechNoFear]

Also Kotaku is not a source.

Kotaku had some interesting information and was easier to read, but here is a MS DirectX 12 dev's blog stating XBox One is supported (but as you think MS lies what is the point?).

http://blogs.msdn.com/b/directx/archive/2014/03/20/directx-12.aspx

 

[Emanuele Ciriachi]

Well, do what you want MS I'll still stick to Windows 7 just as I sticked to XP. You artificially choose not to support 7 for marketing reasons? In that case, I really hope that Mantle will take hold in near future.

 

[sataricon]

Why would they heavily mimimize their audience just to help you throw your weight around instead of trying to convince people with a good product?

They could always try paying publishers to go DX12 only, although it would take a publisher with considerable contempt for the PC market to accept a deal like that... so they could pencil Ubisoft in.

Actually they tried doing that before...don't remember the game name here but it was something to deal with samurai and it was a tactical strategy game.
They paid the poor devs to make their game Win8 only so the game didn't sell at all.

I don't think AAA devs would be stupid enough to do this to their game.

 

[008Zulu_v1legacy]

Maybe Microsoft caught the backlash early enough to backtrack. It took them several months with the Xbone, maybe they are getting quicker?

 

[J Tyran]

Still a good point though, with both consoles being PCs and the Xbone (I know own one and its still an Xbone) using DX12 we may see a faster uptake of DX12 in PC games this time, its easier to cram it in even as an afterthought this time.

Once again do you have any evidence of Xbox One using DX12? Because as far as we know now its stuck at DX11

As you have already dismissed one source lets see you dismiss another, here [http://www.redgamingtech.com/phil-spencer-discusses-xbox-one-directx-12-cloud-gaming/] is one of several interviews Phil Spencer (you know the guy in charge of Xbox...) did about the future of the console.

 

[Metalrocks]

Regarding the Update:

Oh... so no denial of the veracity of the rumor? Just PR-speak? Yep, this is as good as confirmed.

so win 9 is not even out and they talk already of win 10? seriously, is M$ stoned or what? or more likely blinded by all the money they want to make.
i still stick with win 7. but eventually i have to upgrade but this would be win 10. have win 8 on my tab and so far it really annoys me that i have some sound issues and keeps freezing. but also very likely its the tab that has issues.
seriously, not for long and i would seriously consider changing the OS.

There will be no win9.

Win 10 is basically a new OS structure going forward so they jumped to a round number.

looks like it. at times i ask my self if they deliberately want to confuse everyone.

 

[FirstNameLastName]

Why would they heavily mimimize their audience just to help you throw your weight around instead of trying to convince people with a good product?

They could always try paying publishers to go DX12 only, although it would take a publisher with considerable contempt for the PC market to accept a deal like that... so they could pencil Ubisoft in.

I doubt even Ubisoft would do that. Unless microsoft were willing to pay enough that the publishers wouldn't have to sell even a single copy in order to make back their expenses, because lets face it, zero copies is a decent estimate for Windows 8 and 10 exclusivity.

 

[Strazdas]

Also Kotaku is not a source.

Kotaku had some interesting information and was easier to read, but here is a MS DirectX 12 dev's blog stating XBox One is supported (but as you think MS lies what is the point?).

http://blogs.msdn.com/b/directx/archive/2014/03/20/directx-12.aspx

While i dont doubt there is correct info on Kotaku sometimes, trusting them to report gaming news is like trusting Fox to report politics. yeah, they sometimes do factual stuff, but are you really going to bet on that?

The blog you linked does not state anywhere that it will be supported on Xbox. The closest it got is claims that everyone, including Xbox owners, are waiting for it.
The only other part it talks about Xbox is the paragraph that can only be described as Forza advertisement because it seems to shill for it ignoring reality.

You artificially choose not to support 7 for marketing reasons?

[citation needed]

As you have already dismissed one source lets see you dismiss another, here [http://www.redgamingtech.com/phil-spencer-discusses-xbox-one-directx-12-cloud-gaming/] is one of several interviews Phil Spencer (you know the guy in charge of Xbox...) did about the future of the console.

Ok now thats bit better. Here Phil does indeed seems to think Xbox is running directX 12 so it leads credence to it. Its also interesting to point out he also claims that it will provide significant improvements to PC while not providing such to Xbox. And to hear that from Xbox head is quite unexpected.

looks like it. at times i ask my self if they deliberately want to confuse everyone.

If you look at how the control panel changes every time its quite clearly that the answer is yes.

 

[lordofpowies]

You fucking people. You're not allowed to discontinue support for a product until the newer product is no longer a flaming pile of shit.

 

[Flunk]

Microsoft announced that Direct X 12 would require Windows 8.1 when Direct X 12 was annoumced I can't believe anyone is surprised by this. By the time its released Windows 7 will be 2 releases behind, can't keep supporting it forever.

 

[RavingSturm]

They're gonna have to put out some really heavy hitting games to pry Win7 out of my computer. Trying to pull a Halo2-like stunt isnt going to cut.

 

[Asuterisuku]

I still feel like most of the hate directed at Windows 8 is for people who haven't used it, especially when it's functionally identical to Windows 7 in 90% of cases, is more efficient in another 8%. That makes them exactly 2% justified. I don't get it.

 

[Roxor]

Gee, Microsoft is awfully keen. There's bugger-all support for DirectX 10, let alone 11, and they're pushing 12? Geez, give the poor developers some time to catch up with your last revision.

 

[Atmos Duality]

I still feel like most of the hate directed at Windows 8 is for people who haven't used it, especially when it's functionally identical to Windows 7 in 90% of cases, is more efficient in another 8%. That makes them exactly 2% justified. I don't get it.

Really?
I've actually used it and it fucking sucked.

The default interface was absolute rubbish and way too much of a pain to change, installing updated/fixed drivers for a good deal of my hardware was either outright ignored, faulty, or denied (even at the privileged level), it had extreme difficulty running certain pieces of legacy software that my Win7 install had no issues with.

If there is technical efficiency improvements, I never saw them in any of my benchmarks or uptime, and the effort required to learn how to find those is simply not worth it at this time.

So I formatted that machine and put Win7 back on in about 10 days. No, I'm not going back.
Win10 may require my attention for a time in the future, when friends, family and professional colleagues ask for my opinion again (curse of being an IT guy) but Win8 made a terrible first impression.

And keep in mind: I'm the one random wacko that defended VISTA. (with caveats)
I actually had fewer issues with Vista than I did Win7 or Win8, ironically.