Downgrade to DirectX 11 from DirectX12?

That Windows generated error may be bogus. Not uncommon for Windows to pop out a DirectX error of some description, but

often as not what this error is really pointing to is out of date drivers, very old dedicated gpu, or integrated graphics processor.

When DirectX is actually the problem (less likely with recent games) you need to run the DirectX (June 2010) Redist installer package,

or the DX Web Installer as MS didn't see fit to pop all of the files for older DX versions into Win11.

Download DirectX End-User Runtimes (June 2010) from Official Microsoft Download Center

Download DirectX End-User Runtime Web Installer from Official Microsoft Download Center

• There is a trick that works with some older games that were launched with DX11 but updated to DX12 exclusive over the past few years

that will run using a -directx11 command in your shortcut to force the game to run with the old flies, but this trick won't work

with new games that never had the older files.

• You didn't say which graphics processor your machine uses, but if your machine has only Intel or AMD integrated graphics,

this is very likely the problem (particularly with the new Marvel game).

Many games require a dedicated graphics card with VRAM. Integrated graphics have no VRAM, and rely on part of the system RAM.

You can't actually 'downgrade' DirectX. Win11 has all versions of DX. 9,10,11, 12.

Game select which file is required, not Windows.

While Win 11 does have DX12. The DirectX Feature Level in dxdiag Display tab is what is crucial for games. This shows the gpu's capability.

Older games generally had options for more than one version of DirectX, but there are an increasing number of DX12 exclusive games.

• btw... Do not update to Win11 24H2 (until it's been fixed). From the many 24H2 related post I've seen here, MS stuffed something up

in that build that has caused heaps of problems for gamers. I got a forced update to 24H2 build 26100.3194 two days ago, and

haven't had any issues other than those that are common to major Win10\11 updates eg- some personal changes changed back to

Windows default, and some games taking a long time to load the first time they were launched after the update.

I do have three games from EPIC (3x Bioshock and Watch Dogs2) that are not launching, but don't know if 24H2 update is involved.

.

Oops... Hadn't updated my DX links since I can't recall. Thanks for pointing that out. All fixed now.

• I wasn't even aware that EA had done an early SIMS remaster, but if it's only people with Win11 24H2 having

gaming issues, it's a good bet 24H2 is the source.

I was warning the OP against 24H2 because of the many posts on these forums from people having problems with 24H2

rather than having personal experience with 24H2, but I got a forced update to 24H2 build 26100.3194 two days ago, and

after testing a broad range of games I haven't had many issues other than those that are common to major Win10\11 updates,

eg- some personal changes changed back to Windows default, and some games taking a long time to

load the first time they were launched after the update. I have a lot of games, so time may reveal more.

-btw... A far as game clients are concerned I dislike EA, Ubisoft, Rockstar the most (other than the MS Store)

Unfortunately EPIC, while still a free game hero, is increasingly a PITA, mainly due to having to log in to play many games.

Steam is still Steam, and GOG is still good for old games.

I reckon the MS Store as the worst option regarding gamer friendliness. Particularly people who want to mod games,

or alter cfg\ini, or similar files within the games install folder

(unless they've changed things in the past six or so years. I gave up on the MS Store after downloading a Forza 4 demo

on Win10 in... '15 (?). MS seems bent on trying to remake PC gaming in the image of console gaming).

.

Please be more specific, how exactly does 24H2 effect games in a negative way?

I am on 24H2 as a previous version (I forget exactly which one I was on when it happened) put my system, as well as others, in a perpetual boot loop and it caused my 2-month-old system to be susceptible to a tiny piece of malware missed by Malwarebytes that causes the Task Manager and other Windows features like File Explorer to take literally 20 minutes to open.

I am not sure if the malware has a specific name, but it wasn't pretty. Now I know the value of a working backup.

I am interested in 24H2's effect on games because The Sims Franchise players around the world are angry and confused about how to get The Sims 1&2 Rereleases to work.

Many asked for refunds but by the time I got my computer back from the malware incident, I was just outside of the 2 week/1 failed run return window. (I love the Franchise, but EA is a blight on gaming - If Sims didn't exist, I would have nothing to do with EA.

Alas I own 2 games that give DirectX errors or just crash and cause weirdness altogether, so I am very interested in seeing whether 24H2 has anything to do with this nonsense.

Is there an ETA on the next update, if anyone knows...

Thank you for not responding with TLDR These games might not be important to others, but they are important to me, not to mention the monetary investment AKA Money Pit that I have put into the franchise. Again, thanks for reading and for help.

Also, the download links listed in this original post give, "This page does not exist" errors, as of February 23, 2025.

Specs:

11 Home

Processor Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-14700KF 3.40 GHz

Installed RAM 32.0 GB (31.8 GB usable)

GPU NVIDIA 4070 Super

That Windows generated error may be bogus. Not uncommon for Windows to pop out a DirectX error of some description, but

often as not what this error is really pointing to is out of date drivers, very old dedicated gpu, or integrated graphics processor.

When DirectX is actually the problem (less likely with recent games) you need to run the DirectX (June 2010) Redist installer package,

or the DX Web Installer as MS didn't see fit to pop all of the files for older DX versions into Win11.

Download Details - Microsoft Download Center - DirectX Redist (June 2010)

Download DirectX End-User Runtime Web Installer from Official Microsoft Download Center

• There is a trick that works with some older games that were launched with DX11 but updated to DX12 exclusive over the past few years

that will run using a -directx11 command in your shortcut to force the game to run with the old flies, but this trick won't work

with new games that never had the older files.

• You didn't say which graphics processor your machine uses, but if your machine has only Intel or AMD integrated graphics,

this is very likely the problem (particularly with the new Marvel game).

Many games require a dedicated graphics card with VRAM. Integrated graphics have no VRAM, and rely on part of the system RAM.

You can't actually 'downgrade' DirectX. Win11 has all versions of DX. 9,10,11, 12.

Game select which file is required, not Windows.

While Win 11 does have DX12. The DirectX Feature Level in dxdiag Display tab is what is crucial for games. This shows the gpu's capability.

Older games generally had options for more than one version of DirectX, but there are an increasing number of DX12 exclusive games.

• btw... Do not update to Win11 24H2 (until it's been fixed). From the many 24H2 related post I've seen here, MS stuffed something up

in that build that has caused heaps of problems for gamers.

With downloading the DirectX Redist, everything now runs smoothly.

Thanks so much for your help, it is greatly appreciated!