Civilization VI: How to Select DirectX 11 or 12 on Steam and Epic

Choose the renderer through Steam

After removal of the 2K Launcher, Steam offers DirectX 11 and DirectX 12 through its own launch menu. You can also save a choice with Always use this option. This is the supported selection flow; the old 2K Launcher is no longer the place to select it. [1]

Steps

1. Click Play for Civilization VI in the Steam client, then choose Dx11 or Dx12 from the launch menu. [1]
2. If you want to save that choice, select Always use this option. Change a saved preference later through Properties, General. [1]

Use the Steam client for DirectX 11

Steam’s desktop shortcut continues to use DirectX 12 even when DirectX 11 is the saved preference. Launch from the Steam client for DirectX 11 so the launch method matches your intended renderer. [1]

Set the Epic launch option for DirectX 12

Epic uses DirectX 11 by default. Support’s DirectX 12 procedure uses the game’s Manage window and the -dx12 option. [1]

Steps

1. Right-click Civilization VI in the Epic library, or open its three-dot menu, then select Manage. [1]
2. Turn Launch Options on, enter -dx12 without quotation marks, close Manage, and launch the game. [1]