Should You Choose DirectX 11 or Vulkan in Baldur’s Gate 3?

You have to make a choice between the API options when you first open the game.

By Ali Usama

Before you start battling ogres or discovering ancient secrets in Baldur’s Gate 3, there’s an important technical choice you should make: picking the right rendering API that makes the difference in the smooth performance of BG3. In graphics situations, DirectX 11 and Vulkan are two crucial rendering APIs, that stand tall. They are like the backstage wizards that work their magic to render the high-quality visuals and impressive gaming environments that every gamer dreamt of. However, they have their own set of spells— DirectX 11 is known for its stability and wide support, while Vulkan offers high efficiency and performance optimization capabilities.

The quest here is to choose the right companion for your Baldur’s Gate 3 adventure. Does the well-established DirectX 11 deserve a spot in your gaming rig, or is the relatively new yet powerful Vulkan the right choice for slaying the Goblins that come your way?

What are DirectX 11 and Vulkan?

Baldur's Gate 3 Karlach Talking with NPC

Developed by Microsoft, DirectX 11 has been around the block for a while; it’s a mature and reliable platform to render the graphics of the game. Its key features include a high level of abstraction, which makes it easier for developers to work with, and a lot of support for different hardware configurations. However, with ease comes a bit of a performance suffer. While it might not be the fastest renderer on the list, it’s steady and offers satisfactory results.

Hailing from the Khronos Group, Vulkan is designed to take advantage of modern GPU architecture, making it a high-efficiency performer. Unlike DirectX 11, Vulkan operates with a lower level of abstraction which, although requires a deep learning curve for developers, offers high performance and optimization possibilities. Its strength lies in its ability to spread out the workload across multiple CPU cores, which lets the game run at high fps even when you are in the heat of battle.

So, while DirectX 11 offers comfort and reliability, Vulkan brings high performance and efficiency. It’s a bit of a trade-off between the already known and the potentially more powerful.

Vulkan vs DirectX 11: Which One Should You Choose in Baldur’s Gate 3?

Vulkan vs DirectX: Which to Choose in BG3

Larian, the developers of Baldur’s Gate 3, has shown interest in Vulkan on their turf, saying it is their recommended pick for this game. However, Vulkan, being the newer entrant in the graphics API arena, is still too early to declare it as the right choice, showing a bit of instability at times.

For gamers with high-end gaming PCs, Vulkan could be a good setting to play Baldur’s Gate 3 at its full potential. Yet, if your rig is more of a humble steed, you might notice a few jitters here and there. On the other hand, DirectX 11 API is reliable and steady – it’s been around the block, and to play BG3 with a PC that doesn’t have the latest and greatest specs, DirectX 11 is the safe and recommened option to choose.

Note: Both Vulkan and DirectX 11 are capable squires in your Baldur’s Gate 3 journey. However, if you find Vulkan throwing a tantrum, DirectX 11 is there, steady as a rock, to keep your gaming crusade on track.