Microsoft Promises Double the Speed with DirectX Raytracing 1.2
At the 2025 Game Developers Conference, Microsoft introduced a major update to DirectX Raytracing (DXR) version 1.2. The key innovations—OMM and SER algorithms—don’t just optimize rendering; they also pave the way for the widespread adoption of neural network technologies.
Two new tools form the foundation of DXR 1.2. Opacity Micromaps radically overhaul the processing of semi-transparent objects—like leaves or grilles—by reducing the shader workload. According to tests, this results in up to a 230% FPS boost in fully path-traced scenes, as demonstrated in the demo of Alan Wake 2.
Shader Execution Reordering eliminates GPU bottlenecks by grouping tasks for parallel processing. Previously trialed by NVIDIA in Cyberpunk 2077, this technology is now set to become universal—doubling rendering speeds in some cases, ensuring that complex lighting effects run smoothly even on mid-range systems.
With the update to Shader Model 6.9, developers gain access to Cooperative Vectors—a system that integrates AI rendering directly into the graphics pipeline. Microsoft partners are already showcasing impressive results:
- Intel reports a 10-fold acceleration in neural network-based texture compression without any loss of quality.
- NVIDIA has announced an SDK for “smart” shading, fully compatible with DirectX.
- AMD is enabling DXR 1.2 support in its next-generation GPUs.
The updated WARP, a software renderer for DirectX 12 Ultimate, now fully supports ray tracing and mesh shaders, running entirely on the CPU. This solution is ideal for indie studios and for testing PC projects on systems without a dedicated graphics card.
The public preview release of DXR 1.2 is set to launch at the end of April 2025 as part of the Agility SDK. The robust partner ecosystem guarantees that the technology will soon become an industry standard—NVIDIA has already confirmed compatibility with its RTX lineup starting from the 20-series. With the advent of Neural Shading and Block Texture Compression tools, game graphics could become indistinguishable from reality much sooner than expected. Experts predict that, thanks to DXR 1.2, path tracing will no longer be the exclusive domain of AAA titles and could soon make its way into mobile games, while neural rendering will significantly cut down development times.
