DirectX 11 or Vulkan: Choose and Switch on Windows · Campaign rules and dated source guidance
BG3 DirectX 11 or Vulkan: Choose and Switch on Windows
Quick Answer
Choose the renderer that is more stable and smooth on your own PC. Compare DirectX 11 and Vulkan using the same save and graphics settings; dated player reports disagree, so neither is a universal performance winner.
- Reading time
- 1 minutes
- Difficulty
- Focused guide
- Checked
- 2026-09-09
On this page
Guide details
Before you begin
Compare DirectX 11 and Vulkan on the same BG3 save and settings, switch through the Windows launcher, and understand the limits of dated player reports.
Windows PC renderer selection; dated player reports, not a current hardware benchmark.
- Status
- Sources checked
- Edition
- Campaign rules and dated source guidance
- Platform
- PC · Steam
- Checked
- 2026-09-09
- Check note
- Source dates and version limits are stated where relevant; no in-game playtest claimed.
Before you set out
Prerequisites#
- Windows PC renderer selection; dated player reports, not a current hardware benchmark.
Route 01
Change one renderer setting, then compare the same scene#
Compare the same save and settings#
If the Larian launcher displays DirectX 11 and Vulkan below Play, choose the alternative and relaunch the game. Keep a backup of your saves before testing. Use the same save, area and graphics settings so that a change in scene does not masquerade as a renderer improvement. Note stability as well as smoothness: a small speed difference may not be useful if one choice crashes on your setup. Player instructions identify bg3.exe in the installed bin folder as Vulkan and bg3_dx11.exe as DirectX 11. If you start through a direct shortcut, check which executable it targets; do not rename either file.