What is the modern way to get emulated 3D on headphones in a video game (PC)?

Question

For the past decade or so I've been playing video games with an X-Fi Creative Sound card which has the ability to convert a 3D surround sound signal into a very believable emulation for 2 ears. Basically I specify on my computer I'm running 5.1 or 7.1 surround (so Windows thinks I'm running surround), but specify in the sound card console that it should convert a surround signal into headphones. It's called CMSS-3D Headphone and it sounds like those binaural recording demonstrations on Youtube (not as good as those, but still good).

I have been looking into building a new gaming PC and read everywhere that sound cards are no longer needed; they are yesterday's technology. But then how do I get 3D sound to my headphones? Do people just not do this anymore?

Even more perplexing is I came across a 5-year-old reddit thread that asks, "Why isn't binaural audio used in gaming?" But that is exactly how I have been playing my video games for the last 10 years! Is this some sort of lost forgotten technology, like the myths of Atlantis or something? https://www.reddit.com/r/truegaming/comments/126fjp/why_isnt_binaural_audio_used_in_gaming/

Answer 1

While it's not something I've looked deeply into, it appears that virtual surround sound has moved to the headset itself. Hesdsets in combination with their software drivers are simulating the surround sound experience.

I recently purchased a new gaming headset from Logitech and it offered virtual surround sound. The software that came with it, provides the emulated surround sound. It works, somewhat. However it is not a high end headset. Perhaps more expensive model will provide a better experience.