DX8 support is in beta and not in an official release. Here is the text from the Forecast link below:

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DIRECTX 8.1 CONVERSION (in beta test)
Required for the implementation of pixel and vertex shaders. The DX8.1
3D card drivers and hardware detection is also more reliable, and the
DirectPlay 8 network system is known to work better through routers or
firewalls. The better instruction set of DX 8 allows a rendering
pipeline optimization that results in up to 30% higher frame rates in
some cases. On that occasion, small improvements like 32 bit sprites
and an improved shadow system will be implemented.

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The following features are not in beta yet, but are planned:

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HARDWARE LIGHTING (priority: high)
At the moment, A5 renders pixel-based lighting by software, instead of
using the lighting hardware of newer 3D cards. Hardware pixel-based
lights offer more flexibility for setting materials and light effects,
but only work with new 3D cards and are limited to a low number of
lights, like 8. We'll implement hardware lighting as an alternative,
but will keep the software lighting for compatibility reasons.

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quote:

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VERTEX AND PIXEL SHADERS (priority: medium)
Providing an interface for controlling texture rendering on a vertex
and pixel basis, using a special machine code language. Supported by
new 3D cards. Hard to use for non-programmers, but can produce
impressive effects.

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