DirectX 12: How, why, and when

We knew DirectX 12 was on the way at GDC, but now Microsoft has lifted the veil on the next version of Direct3D, enabling richer scenes, more objects, and proper utilization of the latest GPU hardware. The aim of DirectX 12, says Microsoft's Matt Sandy, is to provide an API that works across all platforms and devices, and provides a lower level of hardware abstraction than seen before. It's all about reducing GPU overhead, improving CPU utilization and bringing far more efficient algorithms, such that games will be able to run far more smoothly with improved multithread scaling and concise pipeline state objects. Notably, DirectX 12 will run on any PC with supported graphics hardware, which Microsoft says is around 80 percent of the "gamer PCs" currently being sold. DirectX 12 is scheduled for a Holiday 2015 release. You can read more about it in the official blog post.