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

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

Author : Lucy Mar 18,2025

Modern games often offer both DirectX 11 and DirectX 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 Explained

Simply put, both DirectX 11 and DirectX 12 act as translators between your computer and the game, helping your GPU render the visuals. DirectX 11, being older, is simpler for developers to implement, leading to wider adoption. However, it doesn't fully utilize your CPU and GPU resources, potentially limiting performance. DirectX 12, on the other hand, is more efficient, offering developers greater control for optimization and potentially unlocking better performance. This increased efficiency comes at the cost of increased development complexity.

Should You Use DirectX 11 or DirectX 12 for Ready or Not?

A photo of the Soft Objectives in Hide and Seek in Ready or Not as part of an article about the DirectX 11 and DirectX 12.
Screenshot via The Escapist
The best choice depends on your system's capabilities. A modern, high-end system with a graphics card that supports DirectX 12 will likely benefit from its increased efficiency, potentially experiencing higher frame rates, smoother gameplay, and improved visuals. This can translate to a significant gameplay advantage.

However, DirectX 12 isn't always the best option. Older systems may struggle, experiencing performance issues or instability. For older hardware, sticking with the more stable DirectX 11 is recommended.

In short: Modern systems should generally opt for DirectX 12 for better resource utilization and potential performance gains. Older systems should prioritize the stability of DirectX 11.

Related: All Soft Objectives in Ready or Not, Listed

How To Set Your Rendering Mode in Ready or Not

You'll be prompted to choose your rendering mode (DX11 or DX12) when launching Ready or Not via Steam. Simply select your preferred mode at the launch prompt. Newer PCs should choose DX12; older PCs should stick with DX11.

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

  1. Right-click Ready or Not in your Steam library and select "Properties."
  2. Navigate to the "General" tab.
  3. In the "Launch Options" field, type either -dx11 or -dx12 depending on your preference.

That's all there is to it! Choose wisely, and enjoy your Ready or Not experience.

Ready or Not is available now for PC.