DX11 and the PS4

So we all know DirectX is Microsoft's proprietary technology. So I'm pretty sure that the Xbox 720 will be getting all the features that it adds such as tessellation support. What I want to know is, does Sony have to create its own API to allow for things like tessellation in the PS4 or is it up to the devs programming for it to make their own engine that does? For example, does Unreal Engine support tessellated evnironments even if the DX11 code isn't there or is it more flexible then that?

Dx11 does more than tessellation.

PS3 uses a variant of OpenGL (ES 1.1 to be more accurate) so I guess PS4 will use a variant of OpenGL too.

Feature-wise, PS3's RSX is capable of DX9.0c features (based on nvidia 7800 series).

PS4 may do OpenGL again.

I was under the impression, things like this is more of a hardware issue than software in regards to supporting features. DX11 support is just suppose to give one a idea of the feature set the hardware supports. There is bound to be a OpenGL equivalent to the corresponding direct x. So likely the PS4 would use a variant of OpenGL and if for some reason OpenGL doesn't support such features it will probably be modified to do so.Devil-Itachi

OpenGL is generally more flexible and allows for effects that would otherwise be impossible under DirectX. A good example of this were the pixel shaders on GameCube which could do some great effects under OpenGL (like the water in Mario Sunshine for example) but would otherwise be "dead" under DirectX.

PS3 uses a variant of OpenGL (ES 1.1 to be more accurate) so I guess PS4 will use a variant of OpenGL too.nameless12345

No it doesn't.

OpenGL is generally more flexible and allows for effects that would otherwise be impossible under DirectX.

nameless12345

[QUOTE="nameless12345"]

No it doesn't.

Teufelhuhn

It supports PSGL which is based on OpenGL ES and nvidia Cg.

[QUOTE="nameless12345"]

OpenGL is generally more flexible and allows for effects that would otherwise be impossible under DirectX.

Teufelhuhn

GameCube's pixel shaders ("TEV pipeline") did not meet DX8 requirements but could be exploited under OpenGL.

In a PC game using DX8 they would be "dead" so to speak.

Also DX10 didn't support hardware tessellation altho that was possible on 2001 tech (AMD/ATi's "TruForm" tech on the R200).

I've said this before but I guess I'll have to say it again: consoles do not use PC API's. MS structured their Xbox 360 API to look like D3D9 to make it easier ot port things, but under the hood it's completely different. PS3 and Wii have their own API's, made specifically for their hardware. Consoles are only limited by what the hardware supports.

Teufelhuhn

I know this. They do not use DX or OpenGL per-se, but rather a more "direct to metal" approach. DX and OpenGL are really relevant only for the PC because they unify all the different hardware.

[QUOTE="nameless12345"]PS3 uses a variant of OpenGL (ES 1.1 to be more accurate) so I guess PS4 will use a variant of OpenGL too.Teufelhuhn

No it doesn't.

OpenGL is generally more flexible and allows for effects that would otherwise be impossible under DirectX.

nameless12345

So, it would be possible to have DX 11 lighting effects and tesselation in the next PS4, if infact the hardware supports it? I have noticed that DX 11 lighting and tesselation looks significantly better in Crysis 2 as opposed to the standard vanilla version of Crysis 2.

I know that and that's exactly the point. What I'm asking is whether MSFT's console is the only one that's going to benefit?destroyerHHH

Depends on how well OpenGL will be adjusted to the next tech by PS4 release

Normally i suppose openGL can already do everything Direct X can, but i am not sure

Next gen consoles will definitely have tessellation, some way or another.

the ps4 will use the cell again.

tesselation is a hardware component on a GPU....its not exclusive to DX nor is it required for tesselation to function. the DX spec does require certain specs of various parts of a GPU but thats just MS, Nvidia and AMD working together to ensure devs dont have to worry about writing specific tesselation code for specific hardware. the features in DX11 dont belong to MS. MS dont own the tesselator tech or geometry shaders or anything. all DX is is a higher level layer of software that devs can use to write code for GPUs and so on without worrying about the hardware underneath. all it does is hide the developer from the hardware. so assuming the PS4 and wiiu have tesselators (and im sure they will) and support for other stuff like geometry shaders they just need to provide an interface devs can use. its complexity and closeness to the hardware is really up to the manufacturer. nvidia provide a low level driver for the RSX in the PS3 (i forget its name..GLX something something) and im sure the wii has something similar. after that its up to the likes of epic and ID (or the engine team in a dev if there making their own engine) to expose the hardware functionality so it can be used in a game.so epic will need to have wiiu and PS4 tesselator code and then make a common API of their own that will run on DX11, wiiudriver, PS4 driver. so basically if your worried that the PS4 and wiiu cant have stuff seen in DX11 hardware because neither console will support DX then dont be. MS dont own the hardware tech (they do own DX of course) and engine devs will extrapolate it all out. there is also the openGL api which console manufacuters can use (but dont tend to due to overhead). sony and ninty can implement the same features and can even go further if they so wish.osan0

Excellent answer.

+1