Tag Archives: vulkan api
CRYENGINE Update adds Vulkan API Support
Since #CRYENGINE 5.4 Preview includes powerful and simple-to-use features. These include assets for artists, designers, and coders. Yet that’s not all CRYENGINE update 5.4 now includes Vulkan API support. So hopefully this will be a step toward #games with Linux ports and #Windows. Right off the top, Kingdom Come: Deliverance and Prey come to mind. Let alone Homefront The Revolution.
So CRYENGINE update 5.4 opened up preview access. Therefore the suite of major new features that will help developers achieve their vision. Makomg the ever-evolving engine even more accessible. The update is available right now on Github. Where users can also find the full update notes. While also accessing the development roadmap. Which is shaped in conjunction with the CRYENGINE community.
So keep in mind, the Github build does not show Linux native, yet more Windows support. Despite a few key features in the SDK.
Highlights in update 5.4:
Vulkan API Support: In 5.4 the engine includes a beta version of the Vulkan renderer to accompany the DX12 implementation from last year. Vulkan is a cross-platform 3D graphics and compute API. Which enables developers to take advantage of high-performance real-time 3D graphics. With balanced CPU / GPU usage. For the preview release, Vulkan support in CRYENGINE will be compatible for projects on PC. And the aim is to deploy additional Android support in future.
Substance Materials: Users can now use Substance Archive files (*.sbsar) to create Substance Graph instances for texture generation. This is a workflow which was used by Crytek’s development team during the production of the award-winning Robinson: The Journey as well as the current production Hunt: Showdown, and is now available to all users within the Sandbox Editor.
Entity Components: CRYENGINE’s new component entity system provides a modular and intuitive way to create games. It allows level designers to place standard prefabs into the game. which can be used via Schematyc for event updating. This expands the ways in which non-coders can simply and rapidly create entire games with CRYENGINE.
Templates:
C# Templates: Expanding the Launcher improvements, the engine now includes a selection of templates. Getting users up and running quickly. Several templates have been brought over and updated from the C++ template section. Including the Blank Plugin and a C# Third Person Template.
Terrain Upgrades: 5.4 expands the terrain system with upgrades to further raise the fidelity for landscapes. Objects may now be marked to become part of a terrain mesh. Allowing a much higher level of detail and dramatically extending the capabilities. And flexibility of CRYENGINE’s terrain editing tools. Developers can also take advantage of an improved terrain shader. This will support terrain object blending for blends between objects and the terrain with material falloff.
5.4 Feature – Terrain Blending
For full details on everything included in this expansive update, please visit www.cryengine.com and the full release notes contained in the documentation.
So we have reached out to Crytek for further details. Yet this CRYENGINE 5.4 Preview is a step in the right direction. For both Linux and even Windows. While involving more developers and community members to move Vulkan API forward over DX12. Stay tuned for more details.
Dawn of War III to have Vulkan API option [Linux]
Feral Interactive are back in the news. Since announcing that Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War III will have a Vulkan API option. Yes, the latest #RelicEntertainment’s real-time #strategy series will have the option. Which is expected to release via Steam #games for Linux and Mac on Thursday, June 8th.
Here’s the recent news from Feral:
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War III on Linux, the game will launch with OpenGL by default. However, an option to play using the Vulkan graphics API will be available via the Feral pre-game options window.
Using cutting-edge technologies and 3D rendering methods, Metal and Vulkan API will deliver the 40K universe to macOS and Linux in stunning form.
Unity 5.6 Beta publically available with Vulkan API support
So back in September we released news of Unity 5.5 Beta including Vulkan API support. While it is no surprise that Unity 5.6 beta is now available. This is for all Unity users (including those using #PersonalEdition). Consequently with this #release are a host of #newfeatures, starting with support for the Vulkan API again.
So according to the staff at Unity, Vulkan brings up to 60% improvements in rendering performance out-of-the-box. While this is impressive, it also suggests that the boost may be even higher with some clever tweaking.
Unity 5.6 beta:
Vulkan is a new generation graphics and compute API that provides high-efficiency. Cross-platform access to modern GPUs on desktop and mobile platforms. It’s a design that will take advantage of multiple CPU cores by allowing multiple threads to run in parallel. This means increased speed with reduced driver overhead and CPU workload. Leaving the CPU free to do additional computation or rendering. In total, we’ve seen a rendering performance improvement out-of-the box up to 60% using Unity. That is without having to deal with any specifics of the Vulkan API.
In the 5.6 beta, use Vulkan to take the graphics performance to the next level. And at final release, Vulkan will run on Android, Windows, Linux, and Tizen.
While Epic Games became the first game engine maker to support the Vulkan API with Unreal Engine 4, back in February. Crytek was on schedule to introduce Vulkan support to its CRYENGINE in Update 5.3. Which became available yesterday. Vulkan support is now late and will be part of Update 5.4. Due to be released during GDC 2017.
Two of the biggest games to make use of Vulkan on Linux are The Talos Principle and DOTA 2. Which should be interesting to see if AAA developers will pick the API next year over Microsoft’s DirectX 12. Since Vulkan is not vendor specific and does support Intel, AMD and NVIDIA. Marking a significant advantage across the board for Linux adoption.
For more on DirectX 12, check out Penguin Recordings latest video.
The Unity 5.6 beta has several big improvements, beginning with the Particle System and GPU Instancing. Since there’s even a brand new Video Player which has been rebuilt from scratch. Now able to handle smooth 4K playback and support 360 degree VR videos.
Unity 5.6 even supports new platforms like Google Daydream/Cardboard VR and Facebook Gameroom. While the subsequent beta update will add the new Progressive Lightmapper, which has been shown off at UNITE 2016. The main goal is to therefore reduce baking times and improve iteration times on lighting.
After the Unity 5.6 the next big update is Unity 2017. Hence the focus will be on a fully multi-threaded job system to improve multicore CPU usage. A new Timeline tool to deliver improved storytelling and cinematics. The full details for the Unity 5.6 beta release are here.
Serious Sam VR: The Last Hope and Linux?
The Linux #community seems to be all a-buzz over the recent #announcement of Serious Sam VR: The Last Hope and native VR support. Developer Croteam issued a direct post outlining support for SteamVR on Linux using the Vulkan API.
“Yes, seen that demo. We will be supporting SteamVR on Linux via Vulkan as soon as it becomes available.”
The coming release looks to be visually impressive, as seen in the trailer below.
The performance of Vulkan on Linux let alone SteamVR has us curious. What is the expected frame rate? What are the hardware specifications compared to Windows?
All of these details are yet to be answered, as the current instalment of the Early Access release for Serious Sam VR: The Last Hope looks interesting. Especially the system requirements below. While taking into considering the somewhat apparent hardware overhead typically associated with Linux games, at present. One must wonder if the suggested specifications will be the same or moreso on Linux?
Serious Sam VR: The Last Hope System Requirements
- OS: Windows 7 64bit
- Processor: Intel Core i5 – 4590 equivalent
- Memory: 6 GB RAM
- Graphics: AMD R9 290 or NVIDIA GTX 970
- DirectX: Version 11
- Storage: 10 GB available space
- Additional Notes: HTC Vive VR headset plus hand controllers
RECOMMENDED:
- OS: Windows 10 64bit
- Processor: Intel Core i7-6800 equivalent
- Memory: 8 GB RAM
- Graphics: AMD Fury or NVIDIA GTX 1070
- DirectX: Version 11
- Storage: 10 GB available space
- Additional Notes: HTC Vive VR headset plus hand controllers
The recommended specifications show a six-core i7 6800 CPU with a GTX 1070.
How many gamers are running that sort of hardware right now, honestly? Unless you’re a hardcore gamer, chances are you will not be running the later hardware.
The minimum requirements are a bit more realistic, where a current i7 4790 CPU and a GTX 970 could have a decent advantage to test out some gameplay. We are aware the spec’s outlined a higher end i5, and AMD graphics may or may not play into the VR support factor on Linux.
So we can definitely outline, that to get the better experience for SteamVR on Linux there will have to be a hardware upgrade. Plus the price of the HTC Vive at roughly $799 USD on top of that. And Serious Sam VR: The Last Hope gameplay will have to be on par with your expectations after making your purchase on Steam.
One point we can be sure of here, Croteam have their work cut out for them. Depending on your CPU and system build, all these factors could vary, but Vulkan support will have to be on-point in order to keep up with similar hardware performance as the whole VR gaming experience on Linux is obviously still new. But our advice, WAIT!!
Cryengine 5.3 release to get Vulkan support later
#Crytek‘s CryEngine is once again in discussion due to the #upcoming #support for the Vulkan API. A plan originally outlined for release in mid-October, which will also implement some significant changes for the development engine.
CryEngine, a popular royalty free, game development platform has been used for the Crysis series, Ryse, Star Citizen, the Sniper series, the new VR friendly titles like Snow and The Climb has further changes.
The Vulkan API support schedule we thought was in place has been changed to mid-November for the coming CryEngine 5.3 release. A setback for the community, but one that could help developers enable future support of their games on both Linux and Mac. You will also notice a new feature in 5.3, the support for Mobile GPUs using Vulkan. Google has also announced its use of the Vulkan API for 3D Graphics in Android. Hopefully with Crytek updating its engine to support Vulkan other popular development platforms, namely Unreal Engine 4 and Unity, will also see updates and pass on the benefits of Vulkan.
This change is significant due to the upcoming release of Homefront The Revolution, which was expected sometime in October. This new Vulkan schedule will likely mean a later release for the first-person shooter, possibly late November.
We will post more details as information becomes available.
