Direct3D 12 Gets More Direct

摘要

As Microsoft readies DirectX 12, it's going beyond just improving DirectX for the PC. Instead, the Redmond company is looking to increase the reach of DirectX to mobile and console platforms. Its next-generation DirectX 12 API, particularly the Direct3D graphics API, will focus more on improving efficiency and giving developers a more console-like development experience for PC-graphics programming. The company is also bringing DirectX 12 to its premier game console as well as its Windows Phone 8 platform. Microsoft is pursuing efficiency improvements while reducing its emphasis on new rendering features. The implications for the market, future GPU design, and consumers are profound. Cross-platform development will become easier and more consistent thanks to a common programming style and API, and raw CPU horsepower will become less significant owing to reduced CPU overhead. Desktop-GPU designs, which are already modular, will evolve to become more like mobile GPUs, offering extensive configurability.