Ready or Not: What’s Better, DirectX 11 or DirectX 12 (DX11 vs. DX12)?

Ready or Not: DirectX 11 vs. DirectX 12 – Which Should You Choose?

Many modern games offer both DirectX 11 and DirectX 12 options, and Ready or Not is no exception. This choice can be confusing, especially for less technically inclined players. While DirectX 12 is newer and potentially offers better performance, DirectX 11 is often considered more stable. Let's break down the differences.

Understanding DirectX 11 and DirectX 12

Simply put, both DirectX 11 and DirectX 12 act as intermediaries, enabling communication between your computer and the game. This includes facilitating GPU rendering of game visuals.

DirectX 11, being older, is simpler for developers to implement. However, it doesn't fully utilize CPU and GPU resources, potentially limiting performance. Its widespread adoption stems from its ease of use.

DirectX 12, the newer option, is more efficient in resource utilization. It provides developers with greater optimization tools, allowing for performance enhancements. However, its complexity requires more developer effort to fully leverage its capabilities.

Choosing the Right DirectX Version for Ready or Not

The optimal choice depends on your system's specifications. Modern, high-end systems with strong DirectX 12 support will generally benefit from DirectX 12's improved resource management. This leads to higher frame rates, smoother gameplay, and potentially enhanced graphics.

Conversely, older systems might experience instability or performance degradation with DirectX 12. In such cases, the stability of DirectX 11 is preferable.

In short: Modern systems should opt for DirectX 12 for superior performance; older systems should stick with the more stable DirectX 11.

Setting Your Rendering Mode in Ready or Not

The DirectX selection is typically presented upon game launch via Steam. Ready or Not will display a window prompting you to choose between DX11 and DX12.

If this window doesn't appear, follow these steps:

1. Right-click Ready or Not in your Steam library and select "Properties."
2. Navigate to the "General" tab and locate the "Launch Options" field.
3. Enter either -dx11 or -dx12 (without quotes) to select your preferred rendering mode.

Ready or Not is currently available on PC.