14 DAY TRIAL // Windows 8 comes with a factory-installed version of DirectX 11.11, the latest version of the 3D graphics API that features plenty of improvements, including stereoscopic 3D support.
While this could pretty much improve the viewing experience of any game or application designed for new-generation graphic cards from NVIDIA and AMD, it appears that DirectX 11.1 will remain a piece of software exclusively available on Windows 8 platforms.
Windows 7 comes by default with DirectX 11, but consumers were hoping that after Windows 8’s debut, a dedicated version of the new software for this OS build could also be unveiled.
A Microsoft employee, however, has confirmed on a Microsoft Answers thread that this won’t happen.
“DirectX 11.1 is part of Windows 8, just like DirectX 11 was part of Windows 7. DirectX 11 was made available for Vista .... but at this point there is no plan for DirectX 11.1 to be made available on Windows 7,” he said.