Microsoft Introduces DirectX Raytracing (DXR) 1.2 at GDC 2025
At the Game Developers Conference 2025, Microsoft announced the launch of DirectX Raytracing (DXR) 1.2, marking a significant advancement in its graphics technology. Described as “the next evolution in graphics, ”this update leverages innovative techniques to enhance path tracing performance, with a particular focus on opacity micromaps and shader execution reordering.
Collaborative Efforts with Major Hardware Partners
In a detailed blog post by Cassie Hoef, the Senior Program Manager Lead at Microsoft, it was revealed that the company is collaborating closely with notable hardware manufacturers such as AMD, Intel, NVIDIA, and Qualcomm. This partnership aims to demonstrate the capabilities of the latest DXR implementation effectively.
Key Technologies Driving Performance Enhancements
The newly introduced technologies in DXR 1.2 provide substantial performance boosts in ray tracing, as highlighted below:
- Opacity Micromaps: This feature optimizes alpha-tested geometry, achieving performance improvements of up to 2.3 times in path-traced games. By streamlining opacity data management, opacity micromaps reduce the number of shader invocations, significantly enhancing rendering efficiency while maintaining high visual quality.
- Shader Execution Reordering: This capability delivers up to 2 times faster rendering in specific scenarios by intelligently organizing shader execution. This technique augments GPU performance, minimizes divergence, and improves frame rates, which ultimately results in smoother and more immersive ray-traced gameplay experiences. The enhancement signifies a promising future for the development of more path-traced games.
Continued Innovations and Future Developments
Microsoft expressed enthusiasm regarding the embrace of these advanced features by its hardware partners. NVIDIA has affirmed its support for driver updates across GeForce RTX GPUs, and Microsoft continues to engage with AMD, Intel, and Qualcomm to facilitate widespread adoption of these innovations.
Additionally, the company unveiled other cutting-edge technologies during its GDC presentation, such as “Neural Block Texture Compression, ”which focuses on reducing memory usage. Other features include neural supersampling and sophisticated denoising techniques that promise accurate real-time path tracing visuals without sacrificing performance.
What’s Next for DirectX Raytracing 1.2
Anticipation builds as more information regarding DirectX Raytracing 1.2 is expected to be shared soon. Demos from developers will showcase the substantial improvements enabled by these advancements, providing insight into the future landscape of gaming graphics.
For more details, check the full announcement here.
Related Articles:
Mojang Confirms No Plans for Minecraft Sequel or Free-to-Play Model
9:17
Microsoft Weekly: Essential Windows 11 Updates, OneNote’s Decline, and Numerous Builds
9:02
Minecraft’s Major Graphics Overhaul Featuring Vibrant Visuals
21:59
Leave a Reply ▼