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There was no universal winner between DirectX 12 and DirectX 11 in Civilization VI in 2018. DX12 could improve frame times when the CPU or graphics-driver overhead was the bottleneck, especially on some multi-core and Radeon systems. But it could also perform worse on particular Nvidia configurations, and DX11 was often the steadier fallback. The practical answer is to test both on your PC: choose DX12 only if it delivers a repeatable improvement without stutter or instability.
This is a retrospective of 2018-era results, not a claim that those results predict performance on current hardware. Game updates, drivers, settings and the current launch process all affect what you will see.
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| 1 |
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Sid Meier's Civilization VI - PC | $13.73 | Buy on Amazon |
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Sid Meier’s Civilization VI Anthology - Steam PC [Online Game Code] | $30.00 | Buy on Amazon |
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Civilization VI PC | $43.00 | Buy on Amazon |
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Sid Meier’s Civilization VI: Rise and Fall [Online Game Code][Mac] [Online Game Code] | $29.99 | Buy on Amazon |
What changes when you choose DX12?
You are selecting a graphics API backend, not a different version of the game. Civilization VI’s resolution, textures, shadows, anti-aliasing and other graphics settings determine image quality; choosing DX12 is not a quality preset and is not intended to make the game look better.
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DirectX 12 can give a game engine more direct control over graphics work and allow it to submit commands across multiple threads with less driver overhead. That can help when the CPU is limiting how quickly the GPU receives work. It does not mean DX12 automatically uses every CPU core or guarantees more frames: the game engine, CPU, graphics card, driver, resolution and settings determine whether the potential benefit matters.
#1 Best Overall
- EXPANSIVE EMPIRES: See the marvels of your empire spread across the map like never before.
- ACTIVE RESEARCH: Unlock boosts that speed your civilization's progress through history.
- DYNAMIC DIPLOMACY: Interactions with other civilizations change over the course of the game.
- COMBINED ARMS: Expanding on the “one unit per tile” design, support units can now be embedded with other units.
If the GPU is already the limiting component—for example, at high resolution or with demanding anti-aliasing—reducing CPU-side overhead may make little difference. In some configurations, DX12 can be slower or less consistent. The intended image should be broadly the same in either mode; apparent differences may reflect settings, driver behavior, frame pacing or the moment a screenshot was taken.
What 2018 testing showed
Contemporary results were mixed, which is why claims that DX12 was simply “faster” miss the point. Hardware.fr reported that Civ VI’s DX12 mode was clearly faster on its eight-core CPU test, but significantly slower on its GeForce GTX 1080 configuration; for that setup, the publication used DX11. That contrast is evidence of how results can depend on the tested CPU and GPU, not a verdict for all eight-core CPUs or all GTX 1080 cards. Read the Hardware.fr comparison.
Other contemporary CPU testing treated Civilization VI as a workload affected by both processor and graphics performance. AnandTech also discussed its separate graphics and AI benchmarks, a useful reminder that frame rendering and turn processing are different measurements. AnandTech’s Coffee Lake test and its Sandy Bridge upgrade testing provide CPU and benchmark context, not a universal DX11-versus-DX12 ruling.
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- The ultimate entry point for any gamers new to the greatest strategy game series of all time
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Some Radeon systems had a particular reason to try DX12: a lower-overhead API path could ease driver-related limits. But results varied with game version, driver and hardware. Nvidia systems could also benefit in a CPU-limited test, while some Nvidia configurations ran worse in DX12. At high resolution or with heavy MSAA, GPU limits could reduce or erase an API advantage.
Any historical result should be read alongside its test conditions: Civilization VI patch and expansions, Windows version, GPU driver, CPU and clock speed, graphics card and VRAM, resolution, preset, anti-aliasing, map and benchmark type. A change in any of these can alter the bottleneck. Civ VI added DX12 support in a post-launch update, initially for AMD graphics cards and Nvidia Maxwell-series and newer cards with up-to-date drivers; that launch-era compatibility note is historical, not a current compatibility guarantee. See the Steam update announcement.
Which renderer should you try first?
| Your situation | Good starting point | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| DX12 is stable and repeatedly improves frame times | DX12 | Keep it if the improvement is visible in play, not just a one-off average-FPS result. |
| Older CPU, older drivers or a system with DX12 glitches | DX11 | Use it as a predictable baseline; retest DX12 after updating drivers if you wish. |
| High-end GPU at 1080p or low settings | Test DX12 early | CPU/API overhead may be more exposed when the GPU has spare capacity. |
| High resolution, ultra settings or heavy anti-aliasing | Test both; DX11 may be competitive | A GPU bottleneck can dominate and diminish DX12’s potential advantage. |
| Radeon card and CPU-limited performance | Test DX12 early | It may help, but confirm the result on your driver and game version. |
| Nvidia card with no clear CPU bottleneck | DX11 is a reasonable first choice | Some historical tests found DX12 neutral or slower; do not treat that as a rule. |
| Your main complaint is slow late-game turns | Compare AI benchmarks | Graphics frame rate alone does not tell you whether turn processing improved. |
DX11 is also the sensible choice if DX12 crashes, corrupts the image, or introduces disruptive stutter. DX12 is worth keeping when it is stable and measurably smoother. If the difference is tiny, choose the renderer with better frame-time consistency and fewer problems rather than chasing a small average-FPS change.
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- The path to victory is the one you determine
- See the marvels of your empire spread across the map
- Unlock boosts that speed your civilization's progress through history
- Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) Content Description: Drug reference, language, mild violence, suggestive themes
- Supported play modes: TV Mode, Tabletop mode, Handheld mode
How to compare the modes on your PC
- Set a repeatable baseline. Update Civilization VI and your graphics driver, restart the PC, and close overlays and unnecessary background applications.
- Keep settings identical. Use the same resolution, display mode, graphics preset, anti-aliasing, map and other options in both tests.
- Run the Graphics Benchmark in DX11. Record average FPS or frame time and, where available, minimum or worst behavior and 99th-percentile frame time. Note GPU and CPU utilization; temperatures and power draw can help explain a performance or noise trade-off.
- Repeat in DX12. Change only the renderer, then run the same benchmark and record the same metrics.
- Run each test at least three times. Compare the median or the consistent result, not the best run. Treat a difference of roughly 2–5% cautiously unless it repeats and improves frame-time behavior in a way you can actually feel.
- Run the AI Benchmark separately in both modes. Record turn time; do not infer AI performance from graphics FPS.
- Check a representative late-game save. A built-in benchmark may not reproduce your map, mods, expansions or real gameplay bottleneck.
Average FPS can conceal uneven delivery: a mode can post a higher average yet feel worse if it has more frame-time spikes. For a turn-based game, smooth camera movement, stability and turn-processing time may matter more than a headline frame rate. Also check whether a higher GPU load increases power use, temperature or fan noise.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesDX12 and late-game AI turns are separate questions
The graphics benchmark measures rendering behavior; the AI benchmark measures turn processing. DX12 may reduce graphics submission overhead, but it does not automatically speed up Civilization VI’s AI decisions or simulation. If the game is waiting for CPU-side simulation work, a higher frame rate may not shorten that wait.
Contemporary discussion and user-submitted comparisons reported small or inconsistent AI-turn differences relative to graphics-frame-time changes. Those reports are system-specific, not proof that AI times never change. Use the matched AI Benchmark on your PC if turn time is the issue. If it barely changes between APIs, look instead at the CPU, map size and the demands of the late-game simulation.
Rank #4
If DX12 crashes or feels worse
If DX11 works but DX12 crashes, shows corruption or stutters, switch back to DX11 first. Then establish a clean baseline before retesting:
- Verify Civilization VI’s game files in your store client.
- Update the graphics driver, or clean-install it if the problem began after a driver change.
- Disable Steam, Discord, recording and GPU-control-panel overlays, along with capture utilities.
- Temporarily remove CPU or GPU overclocks and undervolts.
- Test an unmodded save, then add mods or other tools back one at a time.
A crash involving a mod, overlay or ReShade-like tool does not by itself prove the renderer is at fault. Third-party compatibility can vary by tool version and API path, so compare a vanilla game before drawing conclusions.
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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →If DX12 reports more FPS but feels less smooth, compare frame-time consistency rather than relying on the average. Check GPU utilization, temperatures, power draw and fan noise too: a higher load may be an unwanted trade-off even when the benchmark score rises. DX12 may also win at low settings and lose at ultra settings because the bottleneck shifts from CPU/API overhead to the GPU; that result is plausible, not contradictory.
Best Value
- Civilization VI: Rise and Fall introduces eight new civilizations and nine new leaders.
- This content requires the base game Sid Meier’s Civilization VI in order to play.
Launching DX11 or DX12 today
The old 2K Launcher has been removed, and the launch procedure depends on where you own the game. These instructions reflect the official support guidance available on August 18, 2026. See the current Civilization VI support instructions.
Steam
- Open Civilization VI in your Steam Library and click Play.
- Choose DirectX 11 or DirectX 12 in the launch choices.
- If prompted, use Steam’s option to remember your preferred choice.
According to the support instructions, a Steam desktop shortcut launches the default or top option in the launch list. To verify which API you are testing, launch from the Steam client and choose the mode there.
Epic Games Store
Epic launches the game in DX11 by default. To select DX12:
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- Open your Epic Games Library.
- Right-click Civilization VI or open its three-dot menu, then select Manage.
- Turn on Launch Options and enter
-dx12. - Close the Manage window and launch the game.
Remove the launch option to return to the default DX11 path. Store-client labels can change, so check the official support page if your interface differs.
Bottom line: decide by measured performance, not by API name
In the 2018 hardware and software context, DX12 was a worthwhile test for CPU-limited, multi-core or some Radeon setups, while DX11 remained a strong default when DX12 was slower or unstable. That history does not settle the question for a current PC. Benchmark both renderers with identical settings, compare repeatable frame times and stability, and test AI turns separately. Keep DX12 if it is consistently better; otherwise, DX11 is a perfectly valid choice.
Quick Recap
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