Baldur’s Gate 3 – DX11 vs Vulkan, Explained

Baldur's Gate 3 has left early access, so players can now dive into the full campaign. One of the hardest choices for me will be creating my character, but before even getting into the game, I had to make a decision on whether to play BG3 with DirectX 11 (DX11) or Vulkan. Naturally, this left me wondering what the difference was between DX11 and Vulkan was, and which I should choose.

Should I play BG3 with DirectX11 or Vulkan?

When launching Baldur's Gate 3, you are faced with the choice of playing with DX11 or Vulkan mode. Before deciding on a choice, you should know the difference between the two: Vulkan is the alternative API and should provide better performance, while DX11 is the default API and may prove slightly more stable.

Related: Is Baldur’s Gate 3 Cross-Platform? Crossplay and Progression, Explained

That said, developer Larian Studios recommends playing with Vulkan. To ensure minimal stability and performance issues, you'll want to update your drivers to the latest version.

If you notice your PC is struggling with BG3, switch to DX11. The drop in performance may hurt, but you'll appreciate the increase in stability. As time goes on, Larian Studios will likely work out kinks with both versions, but for now, follow the guidelines above when deciding between DX11 or Vulkan, and keep an eye on patch notes for any changes.

For more information on Baldur's Gate 3, check out How to fix slow download speed for BG3 on Steam and Trap Disarming Guide (Baldur’s Gate 3) on Pro Game Guides.