Now you should get even better game graphics on PC and mobile – Tek.no

Soon, games run more efficiently on both PC and mobile devices. The successor to the 25-year-old OpenGL API (API) is actually officially released.

The new API has been named Vulkan, and will give game developers more direct control over the graphics processor (GPU) – which should mean better performance. Vulkan will also make it easier to relieve the CPU and provide better performance while multithreading.

Supported by virtually all

Vulkan supported by almost anyone who can walk and crawl in the industry, including AMD, Nvidia, Intel, ARM, Samsung and Qualcomm. It is the company Khronos Group, which has led the work with the new interface, which is also behind OpenGL.

– We are extremely satisfied with the industry’s rapid work with Vulkan API initiative, said Gabe Newell, managing director and co-founder of the game company Valve, in a press release.

Version 1.0 of Vulkan is based on AMD’s proprietary Mantle solution, but also other companies than AMD has contributed to the development of what has become the final version of Vulcan.

According to Khronos shall Vulkan be a supplement to OpenGL and OpenGL ES, which will be further developed in parallel with the volcano – which is designed for those cases for which more “low-level” access to the GPU.

“Vulkan is a low-level API that provides direct access to the GPU for developers who want absolute control. With a simpler and easier driver, gives Vulkan less delay and overhead compared with traditional OpenGL or Direct3D, “writes Nvidia in a blog post.

game the Talos Principle has already been released in a Vulcan version. Photo: Croteam / Nvidia

Cross-platform

Vulkan will support both Windows 7, 8.1 and 10, SteamOS, Android, Tizen, and Linux. Drivers for Intel graphics solutions and NVIDIA graphics card is already launched, while AMD’s drivers currently in beta.

On Windows will Vulkan be a competitor to the very popular DirectX platform, not least DirectX 12 – which is built-in Windows 10. But unlike DirectX is Vulkan a cross-platform solution.

Qualcomm today announced that they have support for Vulkan in its Adreno 530 GPU which is built into the Snapdragon 820 chip. The tag information will also be used in Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S7, and presumably the HTC One M10. Also planned Vulkan support both the upcoming GPUs in 5xx series and existing Adreno 4xx GPUs. This means that even existing mobile phones will be able to get support before long.

Apple runs its own race

It lacks, however, one player that Vulkan should be quite cross-platform. Apple is a member of the Khronos Group, but according to AnandTech jumped by efforts Vulkan underway to focus on its own API, Metal. This API is used on both Macs and the iPhone and iPad.

PowerVR, which produces the GPU used in both the iPhone and iPad, however, a member of the Khronos – so it is possible that support for Vulcan on Apple’s mobile devices can come in the future.

you can find Vulkan drivers:

• Nvidia (Windows 7, 8 and 10, as well as Linux)

 

• AMD (Windows 7, 8.1 and 10 Linux comes later.)

 

Our sister website Digi.no writes more about what Vulkan will mean for game developers “