Microsoft has just trademarked the name ‘Direct Physics’, suggesting a new physics API is on the way capable of integrating directly with DirectX 12. It’s a bit of a stretch but you may remember Microsoft acquired Havok back in late 2015, a commonly used physics middleware which is utilised in just about every big game. Microsoft’s long term plan is now beginning to shake out, with the trademark suggesting a merger between its physics tech and DirectX 12.
It seems like a logical solution, and one Microsoft has been moving toward for some time. Back in 20165 when the original acquisition took place, Microsoft said
“We believe that Havok is a fantastic addition to Microsoft’s existing tools and platform components for developers, including DirectX 12, Visual Studio and Microsoft Azure. Havok shares Microsoft’s vision for empowering people to create worlds and experiences that have never been seen before, and we look forward to sharing more of this vision in the near future.”
A few folks are mooting an E3 2017 reveal for Direct Physics, however that hardly seems like the right place for a major tech reveal primarily targeted at developers. Who knows though, Microsoft may have some big physics showcase ready to show off, running both DirectX 12 and Direct Physics.
Crackdown 3 is certainly something which could fit this remit.
As Microsoft looks to fend off the impending threat of Vulkan, a one-stop-shop DirectX 12 could certainly do the trick. Physics simulation is becoming an increasingly difficult task as games become ever more complex, and DX12 integration could ease the load on some of the smaller studios. One thing is for sure - DX12 needs a kick up the backside, and a simplification and empowering of its tools could work wonders.
