DirectX 10 To Be Vista Only

June 15, 2006 By Digital Trends Staff

New version will not support Windows XP due to OS limitations, or so Microsoft is saying.

Hope you weren’t planning to get geared up for DirectX 10 and stick with Windows XP. Microsoft has announcedthat DirectX 10 will be available for Windows Vista only. Those consumers who were hoping to rush out and purchase hardware compatible with the new version will find themselves plunking down evenmore cash for a version of Vista now to be able to take full advantage of their hardware. Microsoft says that the reason for no XP support is due to limitations within the OS such as driver models.

“With up to six times the performance of earlier versions of DirectX and support for massively more complex and intense environments, DirectX 10 will debut exclusively on Windows Vista.”

DirectX 10 will also apparently be able to run older DirectX 9-based games faster and more efficiently with better enhancements. The new version of DirectX is supposed to offer superior performance with gaming and will help newer games take advantage of new hardware from companies like ATI and nVidia. No official release date has been set for DirectX 10.

Showing 3 comments

Tim Stevens at 9:29am 15th June 2006 Typical. I can't say that I'm surprised. It's another upgrade path for Microsoft to get you to buy into Vista. It also will most likely cause everyone to have to upgrade their hardware as well. I'm betting most games that come out next year will require DirectX 10, so everyone who doesnt want to upgrade to Vista for any reason will be forced to if they want to play new games. Baaa!
Keith at 9:25am 15th June 2006 Now is the time to switch to a Mac. I would definately not buy a Windows system until Vista comes out otherwise it may be underpowered.

But yes, we are once again getting screwed by Microsoft.
Fran at 9:13am 15th June 2006 WOW we are totally getting screwed. You know the new games will likely support DirectX 10 and we will eventually be forced to upgrade our systems to play these new games. Why does Microsoft do this!?