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Ready or Not: What’s Better, DirectX 11 or DirectX 12 (DX11 vs. DX12)?

Authore: SavannahUpdate:Mar 14,2025

Modern games often offer DirectX 11 and 12 options, and Ready or Not is no exception. This choice can be confusing, especially for less tech-savvy players. While DirectX 12 is newer and *potentially* offers better performance, DirectX 11 is known for its stability. So, which should you choose?

DirectX 11 and DirectX 12: A Simple Explanation

Think of DirectX 11 and 12 as translators between your computer and the game. They help your GPU render the game's visuals. DirectX 11, being older, is simpler for developers, but it doesn't fully utilize your CPU and GPU's potential. DirectX 12, however, is more efficient, allowing for better performance through advanced optimization. The trade-off? It's more complex for developers to implement effectively.

DirectX 11 or DirectX 12 for Ready or Not?

A photo of the Soft Objectives in Hide and Seek in Ready or Not
Screenshot via The Escapist

The best choice depends on your system. A modern, high-end system with good DirectX 12 support will likely benefit from DirectX 12's efficiency. It better distributes the workload, resulting in higher frame rates, smoother gameplay, and potentially improved visuals.

However, DirectX 12 isn't ideal for older systems; it can cause instability and performance issues. If you have an older PC, sticking with the more stable DirectX 11 is recommended.

In short: Modern system? Try DirectX 12 for potentially better performance. Older system? Choose DirectX 11 for stability.

Related: All Soft Objectives in Ready or Not, Listed

Setting Your Rendering Mode in Ready or Not

You'll be prompted to select your rendering mode (DX11 or DX12) when launching Ready or Not via Steam. Simply choose your preference based on the information above.

If this prompt doesn't appear, follow these steps:

  1. In your Steam library, right-click on Ready or Not and select Properties.
  2. Go to the General tab and find the Launch Options.
  3. Enter your desired rendering mode (e.g., -dx11 or -dx12).

And that's how to choose between DirectX 11 and DirectX 12 for Ready or Not.

Ready or Not is available now for PC.