[Announcement] - Upcoming OS and DirectX Support Changes

Jestersmith · Posted Wed 15 Sep, 2021 3:34 PM

As of February 15, 2022, Star Trek Online and Neverwinter will no longer be supporting Windows 7 and Direct3D Feature Level 10. This decision was made in order to improve game performance, optimize the player experience, and facilitate future development. In order to make this transition as smooth as possible, we have put together some detailed information.

What Operating System should I be upgrading to?

After February 15, Windows 8 or 10 (64-bit) will be required. For the best play experience, we recommend Windows 10.

What will be the updated graphics requirements?

To play Star Trek Online and Neverwinter after February 15, 2022 you will need a video card that supports Direct3D Feature Level 11.0 or better. This includes:

• NVidia GeForce GTX 400 or better

• ATI/AMD Radeon HD 5000 or better

• Intel HD Graphics 4000 or better

Above all, take a close look at the Video Card manufacturer’s documentation for any card you are going to purchase, and ensure that the card specifically says it supports Direct3D Hardware Feature Level 11 or higher.

What happens if I don’t upgrade by February 15?

Starting in November 2021, if you are running on Windows 7 or using a Video Card with a Direct3D Feature Level 10, you will be informed of the upcoming incompatibility via the launcher.

As of February 15, 2022, STO and NW will no longer be supporting Windows 7 or a Video Card with a Direct3D Feature Level less than 11. Players who do not meet the updated requirements will get a pop-up over the launcher indicating this and the launcher will close automatically when clicking OK. It will not be possible to log in or patch without upgrading.

Please post in the respective game forum thread to let us know if you have further questions. We will update this post with any additional notices or clarifications as needed.

Miles · Posted Wed 15 Sep, 2021 4:00 PM

I am not seeing an issue with the graphic cards. GTX 4xx and/or HD5xxx are 10-11 years old; so no limitation here. But the OS could be a problem, as Windows 7 are still in use.

darthnovawave · Posted Wed 15 Sep, 2021 4:56 PM

In fairness, Microsoft ended Windows 7 support in January last year, so anyone still running it 2 years after security patching stopped probably should be more worried about the general security risk of using the machine moreso than game incompatibility concerns. Windows 10 has been around for 6 years itself now, so it is easy enough to find a budget friendly rig that can handle the specs of this game.

Taku · Posted Wed 15 Sep, 2021 5:22 PM

This is getting scary. I am slowly being forced out of my computer.
It won't be able to run Windows 11, and it won't be able to run Star Trek Online on the integrated GPU (the second video card BARELY squeaks by). It's just sad that a computer that is four years old is running into some substantial obsolescence. My computer was assembled in JUN/JUL of 2017. I added an older video card because the power availability is exceedingly limited (25w through the PCI slot) and it has to be a half-height card. And Cryptic almost threw me out.

I have a Dell Optiplex 7470
Windows 10 Professional 21H1 64-bit
i5-6500 quad-core @ 3.20GHz
32.0GB DDR4 RAM
Integrated Intel HD 530 1GB graphics
AMD Radeon R5 235 (HD 7470) 1GB DDR3 video card
2 Dell P1913B 1440x900 monitors
1 M.2 2280 SATA 256GB SSD
1 WD Blue SATA 2TB SSD

But for the addition of an second video card, I would be shut out of the game. I am going to have to switch my monitors, though. STO currently runs on the IG. Thanks, Cryptic.

trekchu · Posted Wed 15 Sep, 2021 5:26 PM

Originally Posted by darthnovawave

In fairness, Microsoft ended Windows 7 support in January last year, so anyone still running it 2 years after security patching stopped probably should be more worried about the general security risk of using the machine moreso than game incompatibility concerns. Windows 10 has been around for 6 years itself now, so it is easy enough to find a budget friendly rig that can handle the specs of this game.

This. As much as it sucks for people who still run older cards, you have to remember, Win7 is half a year older than STO, (july 2009 for Win7, Feb 2010 for STO) and as you have pointed out, not even Microsoft supports Win7 any more. I've seen a number of online MP games that made the same jump years ago, and generally, I was surprised that Cryptic hadn't yet.

Taku · Posted Wed 15 Sep, 2021 5:37 PM

Originally Posted by Taku

Integrated Intel HD 530 1GB graphics
AMD Radeon R5 235 (HD 7470) 1GB DDR3 video card
2 Dell P1913B 1440x900 monitors

Wait. The dxdiag says that my Intel IG HD 530 graphics are D3D 12? Is the HD 530 chipset newer than the HD 4000? Oh, and the R5 235 is D3D 11.2.

Okay. Then never mind. I guess we're all good.

trekchu · Posted Wed 15 Sep, 2021 6:08 PM

Yeah, I was wondering. My PC is also getting on four years old...

Originally Posted by Miles

I am not seeing an issue with the graphic cards. GTX 4xx and/or HD5xxx are 10-11 years old; so no limitation here. But the OS could be a problem, as Windows 7 are still in use.

I know exactly one PC that still runs 7, and it belongs to my dad, bless him. His PC is newer (but slower) than mine, and I put 7 on it because he didn't want to learn a new OS and I would rather tear out what's left of my hair than teach someone who's hard of hearing and refuses to admit that.

Three of Seven · Posted Wed 15 Sep, 2021 6:11 PM

Anyone know if my BBC Micro will be okay? I've had this baby since I was a child, would hate to have to upgrade!

Sul-Matuul · Posted Wed 15 Sep, 2021 6:25 PM

Originally Posted by Three of Seven

Anyone know if my BBC Micro will be okay? I've had this baby since I was a child, would hate to have to upgrade!

Oh my, it's like being back in primary school again!

Petrarch · Posted Wed 15 Sep, 2021 7:15 PM

Originally Posted by Three of Seven

Anyone know if my BBC Micro will be okay? I've had this baby since I was a child, would hate to have to upgrade!

Originally Posted by Sul-Matuul

Oh my, it's like being back in primary school again!

The BBC Micro, with a disk drive from the time that floppy disks actually were floppy!

Sul-Matuul · Posted Wed 15 Sep, 2021 9:14 PM

Originally Posted by Petrarch

The BBC Micro, with a disk drive from the time that floppy disks actually were floppy!

One of those massive big disks, the size of a dinner plate!

Kids these days don't know what they're missing!

Josh Broughm · Posted Wed 15 Sep, 2021 10:04 PM

Originally Posted by Three of Seven

Anyone know if my BBC Micro will be okay? I've had this baby since I was a child, would hate to have to upgrade!

Three, that thing is ANCIENT.

Pedigo · Posted Wed 15 Sep, 2021 10:14 PM

Originally Posted by Three of Seven

Anyone know if my BBC Micro will be okay? I've had this baby since I was a child, would hate to have to upgrade!

Just throw a RTX3090 in there and you should be good to go.

Taku · Posted Wed 15 Sep, 2021 10:53 PM

I was studying Computer Data Programming back in the mid '80s. The school had just replaced its punch card reader with direct access terminals. The hard drives were 2-foot wide platters that had to be switched for every class section. Data sets were entered on completely separate machines from the processing mainframe.

We were learning RPG II, FORTRAN, and COBOL. FORTRAN and COBOL were taught on Commodore 64s.

I WIN!

Palechimera · Posted Thu 16 Sep, 2021 3:10 AM

You think I can get away with still using my old HD 5570?

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