Microsoft today posted the latest version of the DirectX software development kit - which comes with a pre-release of Direct3D 10. The download, weighing in at a hefty 326 MByte, also includes a beta version of Microsoft's Windows Game Explorer that allows developers to add parental controls and auto-updating features to their games.
The first DirectX 10 components arrive just in time for the upcoming second Beta of Windows Vista, which Microsoft promised to integrate significant enhancements not only on in terms of feature set, but also in driver and multimedia support. The new operating system, due at the end of 2006, will require a DirectX 9 compatible graphics cards to run all of its eye-candy, but is rumored to also make extensive use of DirectX 10 features.
Other than previous DirectX versions, Microsoft told us in an interview earlier this year that DirectX 9 will coexist with DirectX 10 for some time. According to Rudolph Balaz, a Microsoft developer for Direct3D and OpenGL, DirectX 10 will only work with the new operating system. Support for Windows XP is not planned at this time.
Besides Direct3D 10, the DirectX SDK published on Tuesday contains updates to tools, utilities, samples, Documentation, and runtime debug files for x64 and x86 platforms. There also is a pre-release of Microsoft Cross-Platform Audio Creation tool as well as Managed Direct Code (2.0 CLR).
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