I don't have DirectX 12

[SJunyo]

If there is no need for an emulator, why can't the game run with DirectX 10/09 like Sonic Generations? My video card goes up to DirectX 10, as do many that only have up to 11. This game shouldn't require higher requirements than Sonic Generations.

[BlueSwordM]

This is likely the reason why this isn't possible:
https://github.com/hedge-dev/UnleashedRecomp?tab=readme-ov-file#high-performance-renderer

Being a console exclusive game, those development APIs likely use custom functions that are only available in modern APIs like DX11+ and Vulkan (maybe OpenGL); it still runs on weaker hardware as long as they have hardware support for these.

[TorutheRedFox]

This is likely the reason why this isn't possible: https://github.com/hedge-dev/UnleashedRecomp?tab=readme-ov-file#high-performance-renderer

Being a console exclusive game, those development APIs likely use custom functions that are only available in modern APIs like DX11+ and Vulkan (maybe OpenGL); it still runs on weaker hardware as long as they have hardware support for these.

Considering Sonic Team had a fully functional in-house PC port of the game that ran on a laptop running Windows XP, a DX9 renderer is very much possible, just finding someone willing to do it is the issue