DX9 / XP discussion

Originally Posted by Blackdog_kt

I agree with the sequence you describe: optimize for the majority first, then optimize for the minimum requirements. Releasing the updates separately however is not possible because of Steam. If you release a final patch that doesn't support DX9, these people simply can't fly online. If they are among the people who make the mistake of letting Steam auto-update everything without asking, then they can't fly offline either because their game will be updated to a DX10 only patch.

Releasing a pre-final patch as release version with DX10+ does not change anything right now to DX9 users. Either they can play it now with all the patches already released or they cannot. They'll have to wait anyhow.

However releasing the patch in two steps would allow those 85% of the users with DX10+ support benefit from the improvements. I cannot see one slight inconvenient for the DX9 users if they have to wait a couple of weeks longer just because the others would not have to wait.