Direct3D is also used by other software applications for visualization and graphics tasks such as CAD/CAM engineering.

The X initial has been carried forward in the naming of APIs designed for the Xbox such as XInput and the Cross-platform Audio Creation Tool (XACT), while the DirectX pattern has been continued for Windows APIs such as Direct2D and DirectWrite.ĭirect3D (the 3D graphics API within DirectX) is widely used in the development of video games for Microsoft Windows and the Xbox line of consoles. When Microsoft later set out to develop a gaming console, the X was used as the basis of the name Xbox to indicate that the console was based on DirectX technology. The name DirectX was coined as a shorthand term for all of these APIs (the X standing in for the particular API names) and soon became the name of the collection. Originally, the names of these APIs all began with 'Direct', such as Direct3D, DirectDraw, DirectMusic, DirectPlay, DirectSound, and so forth. Microsoft DirectX is a collection of application programming interfaces (APIs) for handling tasks related to multimedia, especially game programming and video, on Microsoft platforms. Not all versions of Windows can run the latest versions of DirectX.Microsoft Windows, Windows Phone 8, Dreamcast, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Series S, Linux (Gallium Nine) (DirectX 12 only, Exclusive to Windows Subsystem for Linux), If you have Windows 10, then you already have the latest version of DirectX installed. To get the latest version of DirectX for your version of Windows, use Windows Update.

We recommend that you select Yes to help ensure that your drivers have been signed by a publisher that has verified their authenticity. The first time you use the DirectX Diagnostic Tool, you might be asked whether you want to check if your drivers are digitally signed.

In the DirectX Diagnostic Tool, select the System tab, then check the DirectX version number under System Information. To check which version of DirectX is on your PC using the DirectX Diagnostic Tool, select the Start button and type dxdiag in the search box, then press Enter. If your PC doesn't have the right version of DirectX installed (the product box should tell you which one you need), your game might not work properly. DirectX is a suite of multimedia technologies required by many Windows games.

Dx12 windows 8.1