Even if you have a modern GPU (like an NVIDIA RTX or AMD Radeon RX series) that is "DirectX 12 Ready," it still requires a compatible to utilize those features. On Windows 8.1, your powerful graphics card will be restricted to DirectX 11.2 functionality.
In the tab, look for "DirectX Version" at the bottom of the list. On a fully updated Windows 8.1 machine, this will show DirectX 11 . Solutions for Running DirectX 12 Games directx-12-download-windows-8-1-64-bit
If you have a game that requires DirectX 12 (Level 12_0 or higher), you have two primary options: Even if you have a modern GPU (like
: DirectX 12 was designed as a core feature of Windows 10. Windows 8.1 is officially capped at DirectX 11.2 . On a fully updated Windows 8
: Some specific games (like World of Warcraft ) have had DirectX 12 features "backported" to Windows 7 by Microsoft to extend game life, but this was never broadly applied to Windows 8.1. How to Check Your Current Version
: This is the only way to get full, system-wide DirectX 12 support. Windows 10 is the direct successor and shares a similar architecture with 8.1.
: Many games that support DirectX 12 also offer a "Legacy" or "DirectX 11" mode in the settings menu. Look for launch arguments (like -dx11 ) in your game launcher if the game crashes on startup. Hardware vs. Software