The latest version of DirectX is DirectX 12 Ultimate, which was released in 2020. DirectX 12 Ultimate is a significant update to the DirectX 12 API, providing a more efficient, flexible, and powerful way for developers to create games and graphics applications for Windows 10 and Xbox Series X|S.
To use DirectX 12 Ultimate, you'll need: the latest version of directx
Currently in preview (expected retail release late 2026), DXR 2.0 introduces features like clustered geometry to significantly boost ray tracing performance. The latest version of DirectX is DirectX 12
For context on why the version matters, here is a quick comparison: For context on why the version matters, here
Overall, DirectX 12 Ultimate provides a powerful and flexible graphics API that enables developers to create a wide range of graphics applications and games for Windows 10 and Xbox Series X|S.
To utilize the full potential of the latest DirectX 12 Ultimate features, specific hardware is required. If you have older hardware, you can still run DirectX 12 games, but you may not have access to features like Ray Tracing or Mesh Shaders.