Microsoft wants more developers to take full advantage of DirectX 12 (DX12). Developers want to be able to use DX12 without forcing players to upgrade to the latest version of Windows. The plan is to speed up the DirectX development process and provide a new DirectX 12 Agility SDK (Software Development Kit) as a way to get the latest DX12 Ultimate features right into the hands of games and players.

In a blog post introducing the SDK, Microsoft Program Manager Jack Van Ryn stated: "What's good for developers is good for gamers, and accelerating the adoption and deployment of the latest DX12 features is a Accelerating the introduction and deployment of the latest DX12 features will certainly be a net benefit to all involved.

The Agility SDK tries to accomplish that: Microsoft has previously released new features in widely used graphics APIs, such as those included in the DirectX 12 Ultimate (DX12 U) update, but actually getting developers to implement these features has been more difficult. Getting them to do so was more difficult. Developers do not want to leave players behind, and some players do not have the necessary Windows updates or hardware to run their games on the latest API upgrades.

At least on the Windows side, the Agility SDK will help speed up the process; the SDK itself is compatible with Windows November 2019 Update and later systems; the DX12 U feature set was introduced and later May 2020 This is important as it was deployed in the update.

The same goes for the new Shader Model 6.6. This all-new feature, announced this week, will be rolled out in the "next Windows 10 OS," probably in the Spring Update or major update later this year. But developers don't have to twiddle their thumbs until then; thanks to the Agility SDK, developers will soon be able to compile shaders with the new models. [Nick Penwarden, VP of Engineering at Epic Games, said, "Our collaboration with Microsoft on the DirectX 12 Agility SDK makes it easy to implement future-proof Unreal Engine features. [When Microsoft releases a new API update or feature, it's as easy as posting an update to the Agility SDK.

We will have to wait a bit longer to know if the Agility SDK will really make a difference for DX12 development. So far, it certainly feels like DX12 is moving forward slowly, and the need for modern graphics cards that support the DX12 U API and the lack of cards available for purchase certainly doesn't help a bit.

If an SDK can help bring support closer to the mainstream and help developers get cutting edge features without sacrificing many players in the process, then I welcome the idea.

What do we want? More games that take full advantage of mesh shaders and variable rate shading! Within a reasonable time frame for developers!