Windows 10 users don’t have this link directly available here so, after right-clicking, choose the “Apps and Features” option.Īt Apps and Features Windows, on the right-hand side, Under Related Settings, you will find “ Program and Features”.

If you are using Windows 8/8.1, right click on Windows and from the context menu, choose “Program and Features”.

Enable Direct Play on Windows 8/8.1 and Windows 10ĭirect Play setting is available at the “Program and Features” Windows in Control Panel. So, if you are facing issue regarding DirectX DirectPlay while trying to install or play any old Windows game then here I am telling how to download and enable Direct Play in your Windows to play both new and old Windows games without any issues. The feature was enabled by default in older versions of DirectX but now, it has been automatically disabled and some Windows updates even removed this feature. One important feature deprecated is Direct Play. Now with Windows 10, DirectX version 11 is running, Windows has deprecated some of its old features available with DirectX 8.0 and DirectX 9.0 which however not required by new games but some of them are still required with older games. It’s so much essential that games require to have DirectX specific files in order to make itself run on your PC. Especially for games, it provides smooth performance and better gaming experience.

For simplicity, this documentation will refer to all such applications as 'games.' Can't run on Windows 10 because of DirectPlay When I try to run the game a message appears saying I need to install DirectPlay, if I click Install the process says the installation failed so I can't play.ĭirectX has always been an important graphic software in Windows operating system. The DirectPlay application programming interface (API) provides developers with the tools to develop multiplayer applications such as games or chat clients.

Direct play