DirectX Shader Compiler 1.9.2602

What's new in 1.9.2602

DXC Release Highlights

This release of the DirectX Shader Compiler (DXC) adds production support for Shader Model 6.9,
along with broad correctness, stability, and SPIR-V backend improvements.

For an overview of the Shader Model 6.9 feature set and motivation, see:

• The official DX blog post
• Shader Model 6.9 and the Future of Cooperative Vector blog post

SPIR-V Backend Improvements

This release includes significant SPIR-V backend updates focused on:

• Improved layout and ABI correctness, including scalar layout rules and structure layout
• consistency.
• Expanded type system support, including templates and richer pointer-based types.
• Better code generation correctness for arithmetic, control flow, and resource access.
• Ongoing improvements to debug information emission for SPIR-V targets.

These changes improve interoperability with Vulkan drivers and tooling while aligning behavior more
closely with HLSL and DXIL semantics.

Compiler Quality and Stability

In addition to new feature support, this release delivers:

• Numerous compiler correctness fixes across HLSL front-end, DXIL, and SPIR-V paths.
• Improved handling of edge cases in constant buffers, resources, and control flow.
• General stability and reliability improvements when compiling complex shaders.

More Details

This DX compiler release is also available as a NuGet package Microsoft.Direct3D.DXC.

The new DirectX 12 Agility SDK and a hardware driver with appropriate support are required to run
shader model 6.9 shaders. Please see https://aka.ms/directx12agility for details.

For an itemized list of changes, fixes, and technical details, see the full release notes:

• ReleaseNotes.md

Full release notes »