DXVK explained

DXVK
Author:Philip "doitsujin" Rebohle
Developer:DXVK Project
Programming Language:C++
Operating System:OS Independent
Platform:x86, x86-64
License:zlib License

DXVK is an open-source translation layer which converts Direct3D 8/9/10/11 calls to Vulkan.[1] [2] [3] [4] It is used by Proton/Steam for Linux, by Intel Windows drivers,[5] [6] [7] VirtualBox 7.x,[8] and it can be used to run Direct3D-based games under Windows using Vulkan. DXVK has been confirmed to support over 80% of Direct3D Windows games "near flawlessly".[9] [10] [11]

History

DXVK was first developed by Philip "doitsujin" Rebohle to support Direct3D 11 games only[12] driven by frustration over poor compatibility and low performance of Wine's Direct3D 11 to OpenGL translation layer.

In 2018, the developer was sponsored by Valve to work on the project full-time in order to advance compatibility of the Linux version of Steam with Windows games.[13]

In 2019, DXVK received Direct3D 9 support by merging with d9vk.[14] [15]

In November 2022, version 2.0 was released, introducing improvements to Direct3D 9 memory management, shader compilation, state cache, and support for Direct3D 11 feature level 12_1.[16] [17] Vulkan 1.3 support is now required.[18]

Released on January 24, 2023, version 2.1 implemented HDR support and improved quality for certain old games.[19]

Released on May 12, 2023, version 2.2 added D3D11On12[20] [21] support.[22] [23] [24]

Released on July 10, 2024, version 2.4 added support for Direct3D 8.[25] [26]

Released on November 11, 2024, version 2.5 features an overhauled memory and resource management which resulted in VRAM savings up to 1 GB in certain games. Direct3D 8 and 9 received support for software cursor.[27]

Forks

D7VK is a DXVK fork that uses its D3D9 back-end to implement support for Direct3D 5, 6 and 7. It does not support games making use of the legacy D3D3 rendering pipeline which use execute buffers. The project does not expect to be upstreamed or merged with the parent.

Controversies

The use of Wine/DXVK has gotten users banned from some online gaming platforms because these layers have been classified as illegitimate by their anti-cheat systems.[28] [29] [30] [31]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Staff . Ars . 2018-08-21 . Valve's "Steam Play" uses Vulkan to bring more Windows games to Linux . 2023-01-01 . Ars Technica . en-us.
  2. Web site: Conway . Adam . 2022-12-23 . How Proton on the Steam Deck works . 2023-01-01 . XDA Developers . en-US.
  3. Web site: Chapter 13. WINE . 2024-04-28 . FreeBSD Documentation Portal . en.
  4. Web site: Proven . Liam . WINE 8.0 and DXVK 2.1 released . 2024-05-31 . www.theregister.com . en.
  5. Web site: Intel using DXVK (part of Steam Proton) for their Windows Arc GPU DX 9 drivers . 2022-12-27 . GamingOnLinux . 7 December 2022 . en.
  6. Web site: Wilson . Jason R. . 2022-11-01 . Intel Arc A750 Shows Boosted Performance In Older Gaming Titles Using Vulkan "DXVK" . 2023-01-01 . Wccftech . en-US.
  7. Web site: Aaron Klotz . 2022-12-08 . Intel Arc Driver Optimizations Leverage Valve's DXVK Translator . 2024-05-31 . Tom's Hardware . en.
  8. Web site: VirtualBox 7.0 is out with their DirectX 11 support using DXVK . 2022-12-27 . GamingOnLinux . 11 October 2022 . en.
  9. Web site: Aaron Klotz . 2021-12-21 . 80 Percent of Steam's Top 100 Games Run 'Nearly Flawlessly' on Linux . 2024-05-31 . Tom's Hardware . en.
  10. Web site: 2023-08-16 . It's Now Even Easier To Check How A Game Runs On Steam Deck . 2024-05-31 . Kotaku . en.
  11. Web site: Conway . Adam . 2022-12-06 . Need more games to play on your Steam Deck? Check out ProtonDB. . 2024-05-31 . XDA Developers . en.
  12. Web site: An interview with the developer of DXVK, part of what makes Valve's Steam Play tick . 2022-12-27 . GamingOnLinux . 11 September 2018 . en.
  13. Web site: Proven . Liam . 2023-02-03 . WINE 8.0 and DXVK 2.1 released . 2023-05-20 . The Register . en.
  14. Web site: D9VK Merged Into Upstream DXVK . 2024-05-31 . Phoronix . en.
  15. Web site: D9VK is no more as it merges with DXVK, making DXVK a D3D 9/10/11 to Vulkan layer . 2022-12-27 . GamingOnLinux . 16 December 2019 . en.
  16. Web site: De Meo . Francesco . 2023-03-06 . Hogwarts Legacy Vulkan DXVK 2.1 ASYNC Mod Reduces Texture Loading Stutter . 2024-05-31 . WCCF Tech . en-US.
  17. Web site: Larabel . Michael . 2022-11-10 . DXVK 2.0 Released With Many Improvements For Direct3D Over Vulkan . 2023-05-20 . Phoronix . en.
  18. Web site: Driver support . 2024-07-17 . GitHub . en.
  19. Web site: Release Version 2.1 · doitsujin/dxvk . 2023-10-21 . GitHub . en.
  20. Web site: microsoft/D3D11On12 . GitHub . 2024-07-07 . 2024-07-08 . Microsoft.
  21. Web site:
  22. Web site: DXVK 2.2 Released With D3D11On12 Support, Many Game Fixes . 2024-05-31 . Phoronix . en.
  23. Web site: Wilson . Jason R. . 2023-05-13 . DXVK 2.2 Launches With D3D11On12 Support For Unity Engine, Game Fixes & More . 2024-05-31 . WCCF Tech . en-US.
  24. Web site: Release Version 2.2 · doitsujin/dxvk . 2023-10-21 . GitHub . en.
  25. Web site: Release Version 2.4 · doitsujin/dxvk . 2024-07-10 . GitHub . en.
  26. Web site: DXVK 2.4 Released With Direct3D 8 Support, Native WSI Improvements . 2024-07-21 . Phoronix . en.
  27. Web site: DXVK 2.5 Brings Memory Management Rewrite & Other Improvements . 2024-11-11 . Phoronix . en.
  28. Web site: Linux Gamers Banned in Battlefield V if Using Wine and DXVK . 2024-05-31 . BleepingComputer . en-us.
  29. Web site: Some Linux Gamers Using Wine/DXVK To Play Blizzard's Overwatch Banned - Updated . 2024-05-31 . www.phoronix.com . en.
  30. Web site: Caution: Playing 'Overwatch' On Linux May Get You Banned . 2024-05-31 . North America . en.
  31. Web site: 2018-09-14 . Some Linux Gamers Using Wine/DXVK To Play Blizzard's Overwatch Banned - Slashdot . 2024-05-31 . tech.slashdot.org . en.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "DXVK".

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