Direct3D

Direct3D is a graphics application programming interface (API) for Microsoft Windows. It is part of  DirectX.

GoldSrc engines ships with Software renderer, OpenGL and initially, Direct3D 7, prior to it being removed in 2013 after SteamPipe update. Unlike OpenGL and like the Software renderer, it doesn't seems to have issues with overbright lighting.

Source mainly used Direct3D 9 renderer, but offers backward compability with older GPUs using DirectX feature levels, some third-party engine branch like Titanfall branch and Strata Source used Direct3D 11 renderer instead. Later throughout 2020-2022, nearly all of Valve games also added support for Vulkan renderer, using DXVK to translates D3D9 to Vulkan. Enabling Vulkan translation will require the "-vulkan" launch option (except Portal with RTX).

Source 2 mainly used Direct3D 11 renderer, but also have a options to use the Vulkan renderer.

See Also

• DirectX Versions
• Vulkan, another graphics API, successor to OpenGL