Is Ray tracing only available if I use DirectX12?

[Lucas]

Pretty much what the title says, I don't really want to use the launcher from CDProject but my understanding is I run Directx 11 if I disable it.
Any clarification please? TY

[Buurt]

there should be also a DX12 exe in the game directory that let you launch the game in DX12 and yes DX11 doesent have DLSS/FSR and RT and some shadows are not as good looking as with DX12

[Orion Invictus]

Yes, only for DX12. You don't have to use the launcher for DX12 (or DX11), though, you can just add a launch option to bypass the launcher.

[Dr.Abscondus]

DX11 does not support ray tracing.

[בתאניה]

Im confused on what peoples weird issue is with the launcher or with what all the crying and moaning is about on these forums as the game just works and CDPR has been using the launcher for years now..

But yes DX11 doesn't work with RT

[Orion Invictus]

Originally posted by בתאניה:

Im confused on what peoples weird issue is with the launcher or with what all the crying and moaning is about on these forums as the game just works and CDPR has been using the launcher for years now..

But yes DX11 doesn't work with RT

Before:
Open Steam->Launch game->Play game

Now:
Open Steam->Launch game->Second launcher opens instead->Register an account*->Figure out how to launch the game on the second launcher->Launch game->Play game

*Not all games with launchers require this, but for those that do, this is an additional and unnecessary step.

It's more steps, more bloatware, more crap, for zero benefit to the consumer.

[בתאניה]

Originally posted by Orion Invictus:

Originally posted by בתאניה:

Im confused on what peoples weird issue is with the launcher or with what all the crying and moaning is about on these forums as the game just works and CDPR has been using the launcher for years now..

But yes DX11 doesn't work with RT

Before:
Open Steam->Launch game->Play game

Now:
Open Steam->Launch game->Second launcher opens instead->Register an account*->Figure out how to launch the game on the second launcher->Launch game->Play game

*Not all games with launchers require this, but for those that do, this is an additional and unnecessary step.

It's more steps, more bloatware, more crap, for zero benefit to the consumer.

Yeah, so you hit play twice, why is that an issue? .. it's not worth complaining about..

[Orion Invictus]

Originally posted by בתאניה:

Originally posted by Orion Invictus:

Before:
Open Steam->Launch game->Play game

Now:
Open Steam->Launch game->Second launcher opens instead->Register an account*->Figure out how to launch the game on the second launcher->Launch game->Play game

*Not all games with launchers require this, but for those that do, this is an additional and unnecessary step.

It's more steps, more bloatware, more crap, for zero benefit to the consumer.

Yeah, so you hit play twice, why is that an issue? .. it's not worth complaining about..

That's a matter of opinion. I see it as pointless garbage that just keeps me away from the thing I paid for and want to use, like ads on cable TV or having to attach an institution's logo to a document just so it'll be accepted (true story).

[Moondus]

C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\The Witcher 3\bin\x64_dx12 - use this path to find another file named "witcher3.exe", this exe file will run game in dx12 mode. default witcher3.exe which you can see on the desktop is from \x64 folder, you need to use same file but from \x64_12 folder

[ahsanford]

DX11 vs. DX12 -- aside from DLSS/RT/FSR -- doesn't seem to be too different visually.

Digital Foundry guy video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HH87uJzUoew

** Tee it up specifically at 11:48 - 12:30 or so. **

Some folks here declare DX12 is clearly (slightly) better than DX11 without RT/DLSS/FSR considered. But the Digital Foundry guy is pretty damn detail oriented, and he had a hard time picking out what was different. YMMV.

- A