: Set to Medium or Low for a massive FPS boost.
In mid-2022, CAPCOM rolled out a massive next-gen upgrade for Resident Evil 2 , Resident Evil 3 , and Resident Evil 7 . This patch introduced: Realistic reflections and global illumination. 3D Audio: Enhanced spatial soundscapes.
Since the DX11 branch is no longer the default "live" version, Steam users must manually switch to it: Right-click in your Steam Library. Select Properties > Betas . In the "Beta Participation" dropdown, select dx11_non-rt .
Following swift player backlash, Capcom officially reintroduced the legacy version under a designated Steam branch called . Though Capcom ended formal technical support for this old branch to streamline development pipelines, the build remains highly sought after by players prioritizing raw frame pacing over Ray Tracing. Architectural Differences: DX11 vs. DX12 Resident Evil 3 on Steam Storage: 45 GB available space. resident evil 3 directx 11 new
Choosing between the APIs often depends on your specific hardware configuration:
While DX12 offers theoretically better performance for high-end hardware, the RE Engine’s implementation in RE3 has been notoriously "heavy".
According to various community discussions on Steam Community Discussions, DX11 often provides a more consistent frame time compared to DX12. This means that while you might not have the absolute highest maximum frame rate, you will likely experience fewer sudden spikes in framerate (hiccups) or sudden, momentary freezes. This is crucial for a fast-paced survival horror game. Superior Performance on Mid-Range and Older CPUs : Set to Medium or Low for a massive FPS boost
The negative reaction from the community was swift and fierce, leading Capcom to reverse course. In a rare move, the company restored the original DirectX 11 versions of Resident Evil 2 , 3 , and 7 through a beta branch on Steam.
This is the "New" logic. Instead of full ray-tracing which is heavy, we check for "Volatile" interactions:
| Aspect | DirectX 11 | DirectX 12 (Post-Update) | |--------|-----------|--------------------------| | | Supports Windows 7/8.1/10/11 | Windows 10/11 only | | GPU Requirements | GTX 760 / R7 260x minimum | GTX 960 / RX 460 minimum | | Older Hardware | Excellent compatibility | May not work at all | | General Performance | Typically higher frame rates | Often 15-35% slower | | Ray Tracing | Not available | Available (and mandatory for some effects) | | Mod Compatibility | Full ecosystem | Limited / In-progress | | Visual Features | Standard lighting/reflections | Ray-traced shadows and reflections | 3D Audio: Enhanced spatial soundscapes
Choosing between these two versions depends entirely on your current PC hardware configuration. Choose the New DirectX 12 Version If:
: Different versions of the game may use different save file locations. Check your Documents folder for separate save directories or consider backing up saves before switching branches.
Steam will download a small update, and you're back in business. Final Verdict
What model and processor (CPU) are you using?
One of the most crucial aspects of the "Resident Evil 3 DirectX 11 New" keyword is the thriving modding community that continues to support the DX11 version. These creators have not only fixed Capcom's oversights but have also added incredible new features.