|
Technical specs | Supported | Notes |
---|---|---|
Direct3D | 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 | |
DirectDraw | 7 | |
OpenGL | 2.0, 4.4 | OS X and Linux only. |
Glide | 2.4, 3 | |
Software renderer | ||
Mantle support | ||
macOS (ARM) | ARM support was added in November 2020. | |
Vulkan | 1.0 | |
DOS video modes | CGA, VGA, SVGA | |
Shader Model support | 1.1, 3, 5 |
Executable | 32-bit | 64-bit | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Windows | |||
macOS (OS X) | |||
Linux |
true
.Field | Definition | How to find | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Direct3D versions | The versions of Direct3D the game can be rendered in. | Check the minimum system requirements for the game. The DirectX version required is what the game is using. Alternatively, some games have multiple renderers available and can be toggled in the video settings. Finally, some screen recording tools (like Bandicam) have an API indicator, stating the exact version currently being used. | Also called D3D. Can only be found in Windows-based games. Newer versions of the API are restricted to newer versions of Windows (Direct3D 10 requires Vista or newer). |
DirectDraw versions | The versions of DirectDraw the game can be rendered in. | Check the minimum system requirements for the game. The DirectX version required is what the game is using. Alternatively, some games have multiple renderers available and can be toggled in the video settings. Finally, some screen recording tools (like Bandicam) have an API indicator, stating if the API is being used in general. | Also called DDraw. DirectDraw was deprecated in DirectX 8, making it a legacy API. The latest version available is 7. Very rare to find any modern game still using the API. Can only be found in Windows-based games. |
WinG | Support for the WinG API. | Old API used for some early '90s games on Windows, later superseded by DirectDraw/Direct3D/etc. | The game may prompt to install WinG or it may be mentioned in the manual or readme. Can only be found in Windows-based games. |
OpenGL versions | The versions of OpenGL the game can be rendered in. | Check the minimum system requirements for the game. Sometimes the OpenGL version required is stated. If not, checking the latest OpenGL version supported by the GPU required can give an accurate ballpark figure. Alternatively, some games have multiple renderers available and can be toggled in the video settings. Finally, some screen recording tools (like Bandicam) have an API indicator, stating if the API is being used in general. | Harder to determine compared to the other APIs. Mainly found in Mac OS, OS X, and Linux games, but can sometimes be found on Windows. |
Glide versions | The versions of Glide the game can be rendered in. | Check the minimum system requirements for the game. Sometimes the Glide version required is stated. If not, checking the game installation folder for the DLL file can give the major version used (glide.dll =Glide 2.1, glide2x.dll =Glide 2.4, and glide3x.dll =Glide 3.0). Alternatively, some games have multiple renderers available and can be toggled in the video settings. | Legacy API only found in early 3D games (1996-early 2000s). The latest version available is 3.10.00.30303. Some games refuse to run or provide higher quality visuals without a Glide-enabled GPU. Use a Glide wrapper like nGlide to bypass these restrictions. |
Software mode | The game has a software renderer available (i.e. 3D rendering is all handled by the CPU, instead of the GPU). | Check the video settings for a renderer toggle or option along the lines of 'hardware acceleration', 'hardware rendering', or 'Software mode'. | Usually found in early 3D games (1996-early 2000s). If the software mode uses another API (ex. DirectDraw), make note of it in the respective fields. Being able to toggle between software and hardware-rendered cursors does not count. Leave the field blank if a software mode is not available. Do not use this field for games that are only available for DOS or PC booter (use the DOS modes field for these systems). |
Mantle support | The game supports the Mantle API. | Check the video settings for a renderer toggle. The developer's official website, game feature list, or game manual may also state it. | Legacy API that was made redundant as a mainstream graphics API by DirectX 12 and Vulkan, making existing support very limited. Only available for AMD GPUs. Leave the field blank if Mantle support is not available. |
Metal support | The game supports the Metal API. | Check the video settings for a renderer toggle. The developer's official website, game feature list, or game manual may also state it. | Only available for macOS (OS X). Leave the field blank if Metal support is not available. |
Vulkan versions | The game supports the Vulkan API. | Check the video settings for a renderer toggle. The developer's official website, game feature list, or game manual may also state it. | New API that was recently released, making support limited. Considered the successor of OpenGL and is equivalent to DirectX 12. Leave the field blank if Vulkan support is not available. |
DOS modes | The display modes available for a game. | Check the system requirements for the game. Can also be found on the retail box. | Only for games with a DOS/PC booter release or version. Some display modes may be exclusive to certain releases. This row is only shown when a DOS or PC booter release date row is present in the Infobox. |
Shader model versions | The versions of the High-level shader language the game supports. | Check the system requirements for the game. The DirectX version required can determine the Shader model used (see DirectX and associated Shader model versions). | Also called the High-level shading language (HLSL) or Shader model. Only for games using Direct3D 8 or newer. Most games use just one version, but some have support for multiple. |
Executable | What executable (or binary) versions are available. | Check the system requirements for the game. Sometimes a 64-bit OS is required. Alternatively, running the game on a 64-bit system and checking the game process in the Task Manager is a reliable method (32-bit applications will have a tag next to their process, 64-bit apps will not). | 64-bit applications started appearing around the mid-2000s, but did not become more commonplace until a few years ago. Most modern AAA releases require 64-bit OSes. The field is not applicable for DOS-based games. |
DirectX version | Equivalent OpenGL version |
---|---|
9.0x | 2.x |
10.x | 3.x |
11.x | 4.x |
DirectX version | Associated Shader model version |
---|---|
8.0 | 1.0 and 1.1 |
8.0a | 1.3 |
8.1 | 1.4 |
9.0 | 2.0 |
9.0a | 2.0a |
9.0b | 2.0b |
9.0c | 3.0 |
10.0 | 4.0 |
10.1 | 4.1 |
11.x | 5.0 |
12.x | 5.1 |
Middleware | Notes | |
---|---|---|
Physics | PhysX | Lacks GPU acceleration on Linux. |
Audio | FMOD | |
Interface | Scaleform | |
Input | Object Oriented Input System (OIS) | |
Cutscenes | Bink Video | |
Multiplayer | Steamworks | |
Anti-cheat | PunkBuster |
Middleware type | Definition | Examples |
---|---|---|
Physics | Middleware that simulates physics against objects in-game. | Bullet Physics Engine, Havok, PhysX |
Audio | Middleware that provides support for audio playback. | FMOD, Miles Sound System, Wwise |
Interface | Middleware that assists with rendering or the design of in-game user interfaces. | Flash, FreeType 2, Scaleform |
Input | Middleware that provides support for or assists with input systems/controls (keyboard, mouse, gamepads, etc.) | Object Oriented Input System (OIS) |
Cutscenes | Middleware that provides cutscene or pre-recorded video playback support. | Bink Video, Smacker |
Multiplayer | Middleware that provides the base of multiplayer support or assists with other aspects related to it (matchmaking, etc.) | Steamworks, GameSpy, Epic Online Services |
Anticheat | Middleware that protects against cheating or assists with other aspects related to it (anti-cheat, matchmaking, etc.) | PunkBuster, VAC, Easy Anti-Cheat |
DLL file | Associated middleware |
---|---|
APEX_*.dll, PhysX*.dll | PhysX |
FarseerPhysics.dll | Farseer Physics Engine |
Newton.dll | Newton Dynamics |
ode.dll | Open Dynamics Engine |
DLL file | Associated middleware |
---|---|
bass.dll, bass*.dll | BASS |
fmod.dll, fmodex.dll | FMOD |
FonixTtsDtSimple*.dll | Fonix TTS (Text to Speech) |
irrKlang.dll | irrKlang |
mss32.dll | Miles Sound System |
OpenAL32.dll | OpenAL |
DLL file | Associated middleware |
---|---|
CEGUI*.dll | Crazy Eddie's GUI System (CEGUI) |
RocketCore.dll, RocketControls.dll | libRocket |
wxmsw*.dll | wxWidgets |
DLL file | Associated middleware |
---|---|
OIS.dll | Object Oriented Input System (OIS) |
openvr_api.dll | OpenVR |
sixense.dll | Sixense Core API |
DLL file | Associated middleware |
---|---|
binkw32.dll, bink2w64.dll | Bink Video |
Smackw32.dll | Smacker |
SwiffPlayer.dll | Swiff Player |
DLL file | Associated middleware |
---|---|
CommunityExpress.dll, CommunityExpressSW.dll | Community Express SDK |
EOSSDK-Win64-Shipping.dll | Epic Online Services |
pb*.dll | PunkBuster |