With all the hype behind DirectX 12, the upcoming API update for Xbox One and PC which is due in 2015, it will be foolish to think Sony are not working to improve their own API. We asked Confetti FX founder Wolfgang Engel about how Sony’s custom API for the PS4 will stack up against DX 12.
“Sony’s own custom API is more low-level and definitely something that graphics programmers love. It gives you a lot of control. DirectX 12 will be a bit more abstract because it has to work with many different GPUs, while the PS4 API can go down to the metal,” he explained.
It’s important to note that Wolfgang is not criticizing DirectX and in fact he thinks it will turn out to be great.
Wolfgang Engel was at the GDC booth this year where he spoke about Compute Shader Optimizations across three AMD GPUs: RADEON 6770, RADEON 7750 and RADEON 7850. Will those same optimization methods be applicable on the PlayStation 4?
“Yes, but there will be other PS4 specific optimizations, not available on PC, that will help increase performance even more,” explains Wolfgang.
What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments section below.