Valve embracing DirectX 10

By Tom Bramwell Published 14 March, 2007

Episode 2 and TF2 to support it.

Half-Life 2: Episode Two and Team Fortress 2 will both support the advanced functions introduced in Windows Vista's DirectX 10 API.

That's according to Valve's Doug Lombardi, who recently told Game Informer that the games will scale up to DX10 and down to DirectX 8 if people really want. "Valve's attempting to also support DX7, but couldn't confirm it'd go back that far with technology," the report notes. Those guys.

Both games - along with Portal - will form part of the Orange and Black Box releases planned for winter. The Black Box is due out on PC and consists of those three games alone, while the Orange Box also features Half-Life 2 itself and Episode 1.

Elsewhere, Valve released a Steam update yesterday that should improve voice communications in multiplayer, and introduces a "completely reworked in-game text chat, which now includes a chat history and a filter to only see important chat messages".

Busy busy busy, then. Look out for more on Valve's endeavours soon.

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (18) Latest comment 5 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • snale #1 5 years ago

    I want NOW, now now now nownownownow.. Noooow.. give meee.. :(

  • UncleLou #2 5 years ago

    Nice. Episode 2 is looking terrific already, I can't wait to see what Valve will do with DX10.

  • orakio #3 5 years ago

    ...excellent

  • Talha #4 5 years ago

    @UncleLou: In another day and age, I would have agreed wholeheartedly. But as it is, I am sick of waiting for this.

    And this DirectX X (witty, aren't we?) thingy means that we can forget this Winter. Or the next!

  • jimbob101 #5 5 years ago

    "and down to DirectX 8 if people really want. "Valve's attempting to also support DX7, but couldn't confirm it'd go back that far with technology,"

    I support this, the PC market is dying as the average PC can't play new PC games without costly upgrades. Developers/Publishers/ Chris Taylor make your games scale! Give the people with turbo graphic cards fancy graphics and give us simpletons a decent frame rate!

  • mkreku #6 5 years ago

    Now if only some skillful hacker could port DirectX 10 to XP and all would be well :p

  • mazzl #7 5 years ago

    @Talha on this site somewhere yestaerday it was made clear that episode 2 is on scedule. so i wouldn't worry ;) besides it's almost summer, time for the 4 B;s bbq, beer beach and bitches ;) (sorry couldn't fins a nicer word for hot woman with a b. )

  • mkreku #8 5 years ago

    Uhm.. broads? Better than bitches at least!

  • bdc #9 5 years ago

    Wow, sweet.


    Oh wait, it isn't out till next winter

  • asphaltcowboy #10 5 years ago

    Screw Ep2 - I just want portal and TF2!

  • richardiox #11 5 years ago

    Still can't believe we have to wait until Winter for this. Why was there ever any hint of it being out in Xmas 06 to get my hopes up?

  • skillian #12 5 years ago

    "and down to DirectX 8 if people really want. "Valve's attempting to also support DX7, but couldn't confirm it'd go back that far with technology,"

    I support this, the PC market is dying as the average PC can't play new PC games without costly upgrades. Developers/Publishers/ Chris Taylor make your games scale! Give the people with turbo graphic cards fancy graphics and give us simpletons a decent frame rate!

    Dude, DirectX 8 cards came out 7 years ago. Sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and upgrade...

  • Laserbream #13 5 years ago

    I don't remember having to buy a new OS to go from DX7 to DX8.

  • Talha #14 5 years ago

    @mazzl : And since when did reports of Valve's projects being 'on schedule' mean anything?

    Reassurance appreciated, mates - I am just grumpy today!

  • ynohtna #15 5 years ago

    mazzl: babe.

  • Eraser #16 5 years ago

    I want DX9 vs DX10 comparison pics!

  • Psi #17 5 years ago

    _o_ _o_
    | |
    _/\ _/\
    DX9 DX10

    edit i suck at stickmen!
    Edited by 5 at 14/03/07 @ 12:48

  • yagisencho #18 5 years ago

    No one is forcing anyone to buy DX10 hardware. Games are only beginning to be enabled for DX10, and very few will actually require it for years yet. Halo 2 as a Vista-only game, for example, is purely a marketing move.

    That said, you'd best have a multi-core processor and at least a 7x00 generation NVida or an x1x00 AMD GPU in your system if you hope to fully enjoy the newer FPS and RTS titles.