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-dxlevel is a Steam launch option used by some GoldSrc and Source games to request a DirectX feature level at startup. It is mainly a compatibility and troubleshooting setting—not a universal graphics upgrade, and not a switch to an older Direct3D renderer.
What does -dxlevel do?
Steam documents -dxlevel [level] as a launch option that forces a specific DirectX version when a supported game starts. Steam’s launch-option guidance applies to games built on the GoldSrc and Source engines; it does not establish that the option works in every Steam game. Steam’s launch-options documentation lists values including 80, 81, 90, 95, and 98.
The number is best understood as a requested feature level or compatibility setting. Valve Developer Community explains that changing dxlevel or the related mat_dxlevel variable does not make Source render with Direct3D 8 or an earlier version. Source uses Direct3D 9, while some third-party branches use Direct3D 11 or 12; a lower requested level can instead disable graphics features or cause assets and shaders to use fallbacks. Valve Developer Community’s DirectX Versions page describes this distinction.
Is -dxlevel supported in your game?
Support depends on the game and its engine branch. Valve Developer Community says Source branches beginning with Left 4 Dead dropped the old DirectX-level system. Steam also warns that its games no longer support DirectX 7 as a launch option and that using it can cause crashes. Do not assume a value listed for one Source game will work in another.
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For the affected game, check its current official support instructions before changing the option. Steam’s general troubleshooting page gives -dxlevel 90, -dxlevel 81, and -dxlevel 80 as examples for supported games, not as universally valid choices. Steam’s video and display troubleshooting instructions provide that guidance. For Garry’s Mod specifically, Facepunch says DXLevel 81 may be unstable and DirectX 8 is not officially supported. Facepunch’s startup-problem guidance is game-specific.
How to set a recommended dxlevel in Steam
Use this procedure only if the game’s support page recommends a particular value. The path below is Steam’s documented method:
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- Open Steam and go to Library.
- Right-click the affected game and select Properties.
- Open Launch Options.
- Enter the exact argument recommended for that game, such as
-dxlevel 90only when the game’s instructions call for it. - Close the Properties window and start the game to check whether the issue is resolved.
Steam’s instructions describe the argument as a launch setting; they do not make every sample value appropriate for every title. Avoid -dxlevel 70: Steam warns it can cause crashes.
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-dxlevel <value> is the startup argument entered in Steam’s Launch Options. mat_dxlevel is a related Source console variable referenced by Valve Developer Community. They are related ways of referring to a DirectX level setting, but the available evidence does not establish that every game exposes or honors both in the same way. Follow the instructions for the exact title rather than substituting one form for the other.
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- 1000Hz Polling Rate (for 2.4G and wired connection). Customizable 6-Axis Motion Control. Turbo function. Rumble vibration. Support 8BitDo Ultimate Software V2.
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What to do if the game becomes unstable
- Remove the value you added from the game’s Launch Options and try starting it again.
- If the game still fails, consult that game’s current official troubleshooting page; engine branch and updates can change which values are accepted.
- Do not keep testing unsupported levels based on a generic list. Steam specifically warns that DirectX 7 can cause crashes, and Facepunch notes instability risks for DXLevel 81 in Garry’s Mod.
Changing this setting is a software configuration step. The cited support instructions do not establish a need to buy a graphics card or other hardware.
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