Star Wars: The Old Republic’s DirectX 12 technical test is scheduled to open to all players later this week, giving PC users an Experimental client option in the regular launcher. The test will use live servers and existing characters, so progress, items earned, and other character changes will persist.
No sign-up, access code, or separate Public Test Server client is needed, according to the Steam announcement. At the end of September, SWTOR had a functional DirectX 12 interface, while shader, character-appearance, and stability work continued in its DirectX 12 development.
A launcher update later this week will add a selection menu beside the Play button. DirectX 9 (Standard) will remain the default option, while DirectX 12 (Experimental) will start the test client. Players can switch back to the Standard client at any time if they run into problems.
The first test focuses on performance
Players should expect missing or low-fidelity environmental art and visual effects, along with limited graphics options. Those are intentional for this first phase, which is meant to check stability, performance, and hardware compatibility rather than deliver finished visuals. Some areas may also have rendering problems that make it difficult to progress.
The Mac launcher is not included in this update. The team says it will share more about DirectX 12 testing on Mac in a future update. Work on the Experimental client will continue through 2027, with regular updates planned. Once the team has confidence in its stability, it plans to restore the remaining graphical features to bring the client closer to the Standard version’s visual fidelity.
What to include in a bug report
Testing is meant to fit into normal play. If you encounter stuttering, frame-rate drops, graphical bugs, or a crash, report the issue in the official forums’ pinned DirectX 12 Feedback Thread when it goes live. Include your CPU, GPU, and RAM, along with what your character was doing when the problem occurred, such as loading into a Warzone or riding a taxi on Alderaan. If a crash reporting dialog appears, submit it as well.
If you try the Experimental client, what hardware or in-game activity will you test first? Follow the client’s progress from its first stability checks toward its planned visual upgrades on X, Bluesky, YouTube, Instagram, Steam, and Telegram.
Star Wars: The Old Republic
Developed by BioWare Austin
Step in to the center of your own Star Wars story as you choose your path down the light or dark side of the Force. Your choices have impact not only on your story but on those who join you along the way. Each choice you make can change how your story unfolds including unexpected story twists or devastating consequences that impact you and your Companions. Play as one of 8 legendary Star Wars classes include Jedi, Sith, Smuggler, Trooper and more – this is your story and you decide how you want to build your reputation and influence across the galaxy as you join in epic adventures and challenging missions on the ground and in space!
- Genre Role-playing (RPG)
- Platforms PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac
- Perspective Third person
- Modes Multiplayer, Co-operative, Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO)
- Release December 20, 2011
- Publisher Electronic Arts, LucasArts
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Age Rating
