DirectX
DirectX is a collection of application programming interfaces (APIs) developed by Microsoft for handling tasks related to multimedia, especially game programming and video, on Microsoft platforms. It provides low-level access to hardware features like 3D graphics acceleration, sound, and input…
Key facts
- First appeared
- 1995
- Category
- technology
- Problem solved
- DirectX was created to solve the fragmentation and performance issues faced by developers trying to create high-performance multimedia applications, especially games, on early versions of Microsoft Windows. Before DirectX, developers struggled with inconsistent and slow APIs, or had to resort to direct hardware access in DOS, which was incompatible with Windows' protected mode.
- Platforms
- Xbox 360, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows (Windows 95 onwards), Xbox Series X/S, Xbox (original)
Related technologies
Notable users
- AMD
- Ubisoft
- Epic Games
- Rockstar Games
- Microsoft (for Windows, Xbox development)
- Nvidia
- CD Projekt Red
- Intel
- Activision Blizzard
- Electronic Arts