Everyone is climbing onboard the physics train as Microsoft appears to have plans in place to incorporate physics support in the next version of its Direct X application interface. The information comes from a job posting for a Software Development Engineer to join Microsoft's Direct Physics team.
Following the success of the Havok engine which optimized physics to run on contemporary graphics cards, Ageia developed dedicated hardware for physics and an SDK. The Ageia hardware add-on is currently available for PCs while Sony's PS3 console will come with one attached. Graphics card manufacturers ATI and nVidia support Havok's physics SDK while Microsoft has already licensed Ageia's SDK for its Robotics Development Kit.
The integration of physics onto the Direct X application interface however, will allow physics to run on GPUs according to the job details, You will be a member of the core engine team who will be primarily responsible for working closely with our Direct3D team, helping to define, develop and map optimized simulation and collision algorithms onto data structures that are optimized for the GPU.
Microsoft has always made it clear that it sees physics as the next, natural step in the evolution of gaming and the job details confirm this approach, Physics and real time, accurate simulation is a key part of the next generation gaming experience, bringing increased realism, greater immersion and more interesting experiences.
It is not yet clear how all the separate efforts regarding in-game physics simulation will come together or whether different games will support different types of hardware physics. The approach announced by ATI suggested that the Canadian company will use GPUs for Physics related calculations and this would seem to suggest that its setup will support Microsoft's Direct Physics. This might suggest that Ageia may become a console only, or PS3 only device although that would also rely on the quality of the products offered by all competing sides.
Until we have official confirmation from MS however, we cannot be certain of how all these plans will come together.
