Microsoft has now confirmed that DirectX 11.2 will be exclusive to Xbox One and Windows 8.1. The company hasn’t provided any technical reasons as to why it is being limited, perhaps its being done to encourage users on Windows 7 and Windows XP to upgrade to the latest version of Windows. Both Windows 8.1 and Xbox One are going to be released later this year, a preview of the former has already been rolled out. Windows 8.1 will be available as a free update for all current Windows 8 users. Xbox One is expected to release this November.
Microsoft has made this exact same move in the past as well. DirectX 11.1 was made a Windows 8 exclusive and DirectX 10.1 was exclusive to Windows Vista. Despite that, no substantial adoption of the new update by users who were holding out on previous versions was seen. Also despite the fact that Windows 8 is almost identical to Windows 8.1, it won’t be getting DirectX 11.2. Since Windows 8.1 is going to be a free update, most users would end up updating to it anyway. There are no reports as yet if Microsoft plans on making Windows 8.1 a mandatory update.
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