I've seen on many reviews and website that OpenGL was faster, better looking and cross compatible. So why everyone keep using DirectX if OpenGL> DirectX?

So your saying that this DirectX is not needed if you have OpenGL?
It's okay and thanks I learnt something new today.
My Q would be OpenGL substitute for DirectX 11,12 on old PC's that can't handle them?

I don't have an answer. What i do know is i was gifted an entire OpenGL set of books for the API, and it's like 8 ginormous books... I'll have to upload a pic...

Perhaps it's licensing issues, or perhaps it's the difference in API's, or maybe.. It's intended as an easier transition to XBone because that's where they want their games, on consoles...

DirectX is used in almost all of the PC versions of video games because Windows is the biggest and dominating in the PC video games market.

Windows is at around 95% or 96% of PC video gamers.

DirectX has more functions than OpenGL for PC versions of video games. DirectX was developed by Microsoft with video games in mind. OpenGL not so much even though OpenGL can do 2D rendering and 3D rendering.

I hate PC versions of video games on Windows that use OpenGL. I want all PC versions of video games sold on Windows to use DirectX.

This thread is triggering my box of old Voodoo cards. They had to go to rehab to get off of Glide 3D.

''cough'' MANTLE ''cough''

DirectX12 and Vulkan? Ok.

Nitrous Engine > all

From all I've heard DirectX is easier to use and OpenGL's approach to rendering "more scientific" which can be explained with OpenGL's origins having beein in CAD rather than video games. Also for years OpenGL was outdated compared to DirectX, all the talks about OpenGL allowing you to get a better performance out of your games seem to be a more recent thing.

I'd ask two questions:

Firstly, who is this "everyone" that uses DirectX? Cross platform engines such as Unity and Unreal Engine support both Direct3D and OpenGL.

Secondly, the sites you read that on, did they perhaps have an anti-Windows leaning?


In my experience, which granted isn't that recent when it comes to Direct3D, Direct3D tended to be more stable and OpenGL lagged in terms of features. It also was better documented and had a fuller development ecosystem (math libraries, debugging utilities, ...) which in OpenGL are external, so it was easier to start doing real stuff with Direct3D.

I think the question is rather why games use Direct3D at all (unless they are Xbox games). It is indeed a valid question why say a game available for Windows, Linux, Android and maybe PS3/4 uses Direct3D on Windows rather than OpenGL. And Windows games, even Windows versions of cross-platform games, actually do almost always run on Direct3D rather than OpenGL.

There HAS been a lot of talk about OpenGL being or at least becoming the better choice for game developers in all sorts of places, also on major developers' conferences and from parties that would know, be it AAA developers or hardware manufacturers. For instance check out this post from Nvidia's official blog.

It's a shame people don't support WinG anymore, that was the bomb.

I believe that most developers are way more familiar with directx and using opengl would require a significant investment in education which most are unwilling to undertake. Also purportedly directx is easier to use and doesn't have obscure function calls; that is down to Microsoft championing directx whereas opengl has no single champion being open source. That is changing now that Valve have begun championing there own version of opengl.

As usual Jonathanamz has to show us his great love for Microsoft and all that it includes, yep we get that Jon, you're a big fan of Microsoft no need to remind us all over again though.

Back on topic:

If I remember correctly developers find it easier to develop on D3D than OpenGL, exactly how I don't know but there was some article I read a few months ago.

With Vulkan around the corner OpenGL might come back into the game and devs would have a solid cross platform API to build on, although not going to be easy with DX12 in competition.

I'm talking about big video games company. And also nope, I read it on several websites, even Valve told on 2012 that OpenGL was faster than DirectX even on Windows. And also a good link: http://www.extremetech.com/gaming/179010-who-needs-directx-amd-nvidia-and-intel-team-up-demonstrate-ultra-low-overhead-opengl

And also have anyone else played Metro 2033/Last Light Redux? They are juste so awesome. Fully made in OpenGL 4 but really beautiful/realistic.