1. [Home ](/) DirectX # DirectX 12 Agility SDK The DirectX 12 Agility SDK is Microsoft’s delivery mechanism for evolving DirectX 12, allowing developers to access new graphics features and API improvements independently of Windows OS releases. Through the Agility SDK, developers can adopt the latest advances in areas such as ray tracing, shader compilation, and GPU-driven rendering as soon as they are available, while continuing to target a broad range of Windows versions. Through the Agility SDK, developers can access the latest APIs for ray tracing, AI in graphics, shader compilation, and more—enabling developers to build photorealistic visuals—and new gameplay mechanics with improved runtime performance. [Download Agility SDK](https://devblogs.microsoft.com/directx/directx12agility/ "Agility SDK")[Download Windows SDK](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/apps/windows-app-sdk/ "Windows SDK") ### D3D12 Opacity Micromaps DirectX Raytracing (DXR) now supports Opacity Micromaps (OMMs), enabling hardware to handle alpha-tested geometry more efficiently than relying only on costly any-hit shader invocations. [Read About OMMs](https://devblogs.microsoft.com/directx/omm/) ### D3D12 Shader Execution Reordering Shader Execution Reordering (SER) is an addition to DirectX Raytracing that enables application shader code to inform hardware how to find coherency across rays so they can be sorted to execute better in parallel. [Read about Shader Model 6.9](https://devblogs.microsoft.com/directx/shader-model-6-9-retail-and-more/) ### Evolving DirectX for the ML Era on Windows DirectX Linear Algebra and DirectX Compute Graph Compiler allows developers to integrate and accelerate shader and model-level ML into games. [Read DirectX Developer Blog](https://aka.ms/GDC2026MLBlog) ### Advanced Shader Delivery: What’s New at GDC 2026 Advanced shader delivery distributes precompiled shaders when downloading a game, eliminating in-game shader compilation stutter and long load times. [Learn More](https://aka.ms/GDC2026ASDBlog) * * * ## DXR 1.2 Ray-Tracing APIs ![img-alt-text](https://developer.download.nvidia.com/images/gamedev/nvidia-directx-shader-execution-reordering-ari.jpg) ### Shader Execution Reordering 2.0 Shader Execution Reordering (SER) is a performance optimization that unlocks the potential for better execution and memory coherence in ray-tracing shaders. SER allows applications to easily reorder threads on the GPU, reducing the divergence effects that occur in particularly challenging ray-tracing workloads like path tracing. [Case Study on Path Tracing Optimization](https://developer.nvidia.com/blog/path-tracing-optimization-in-indiana-jones-shader-execution-reordering-and-live-state-reductions/) ### Opacity MicroMaps With Opacity MicroMaps (OMMs), you can more efficiently map intricate geometries onto triangles. This technology encodes the opacity of micro-triangles and makes it possible to path trace, at high performance, extremely detailed scene elements such as vegetation and foliage. [Read about Micro-Mesh Graphics](https://developer.nvidia.com/rtx/ray-tracing/micro-mesh) * * * ## AI Inference APIs ![img-alt-text](https://developer.download.nvidia.com/images/gamedev/directx-linear-algebra-ari.jpg) ### DirectX Linear Algebra DirectX Linear Algebra accelerates tiny neural networks within shaders with Tensor Cores. This enables AI representations of textures and materials with higher visual fidelity and lower VRAM usage at real-time performance. [Learn More](https://aka.ms/GDC2026MLBlog) ![img-alt-text](https://developer.download.nvidia.com/images/gamedev/directx-compute-graph-compiler-ari.jpg) ### DirectX Compute Graph Compiler DirectX Compute Graph Compiler specializes kernels, scheduling, and memory planning for large AI models such as LLMs to accelerate and execute inference in context with game graphics. [Learn More](https://aka.ms/GDC2026MLBlog) * * * ## Shader Delivery API ![](https://developer.download.nvidia.com/images/gamedev/shader-compilation-ari.jpg) ### Advanced Shader Delivery Advanced shader delivery is a new feature that distributes precompiled shaders when downloading a game, eliminating in-game shader compilation stutter and long load times. This solves one of the biggest pain points in PC gaming today, making it easier than ever to deliver a console-quality experience on Windows. [Learn More](https://aka.ms/GDC2026ASDBlog) * * * ## More Developer Resources ![Decorative image representing Training and Certification](https://developer.download.nvidia.com/icons/m48-people-group.svg) ### Explore Developer Forums ![Decorative image representing Developer Newsletter](https://developer.download.nvidia.com/icons/m48-email-settings.svg) ### Sign up for the Developer Newsletter ![Decorative image representing Developer Community](https://developer.download.nvidia.com/icons/m48-developer-1.svg) ### Join the NVIDIA Developer Program Get started with DirectX today. Download Agility SDK