Microsoft clarifies: Halo 2 Vista won't be Direct X 10
- December 05, 2006 15:10 PM PST
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A Microsoft representative contacted GamePro today to clear up a few matters concerning the upcoming Windows Vista port of Halo 2...namely, that the game will support Direct X 9 visual effects, not the Direct X 10 effects
No Direct X 10? DX9 still looks pretty damn good to us
GamePro.com, as well as many other game media outlets, have reported that Halo 2 will support Direct X 10 visual effects. This is not the case, according to an update from Microsoft. Though the Windows Vista version of Halo 2 will be based on Direct X 9 graphics technologies, owners of Direct X 10 hardware can expect to see "certain performance benefits." What those benefits are remains to be seen, though faster frame rates seem likely.
The confusion apparently stemmed from the fact that Halo 2 will only be released for Microsoft's upcoming Windows Vista platform, which is the only operating system to support the new Direct X 10 graphics standard. Currently, the only video cards to support Direct X 10 are Nvidia's Geforce 8800 line. Even then, their Direct X 10 functionality won't be unlocked until Windows Vista's consumer launch.
Halo 2 for Windows Vista is expected to be released in early 2007.
Direct X 10 is the long-awaited API enhancement that will allow for more spectacular visual effects, such as wide-scale shaders and bump mapping. It will only be released via Windows Vista. The consumer edition of Vista is expected to happen in the beginning of 2007.
