DXVK

Last updated
DXVK
Original author(s) Philip Rebohle
Developer(s) DXVK Project
Initial release14 January 2018;7 years ago (14 January 2018)
Stable release
2.5.3 / 13 January 2025;1 day ago (13 January 2025)
Repository DXVK on GitHub
Written in C++
Operating system OS Independent
Platform x86, x86-64
License zlib License
Website github.com/doitsujin/dxvk

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 [5] for Linux, by Intel Windows drivers, [6] [7] [8] VirtualBox 7.0, [9] 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". [10] [11] [12]

Contents

History

DXVK was first developed by Philip Rebohle to support Direct3D 11 games only [13] as a result of 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] [14]

In 2019, DXVK received Direct3D 9 support by merging with d9vk. [15] [16]

In November 2022, version 2.0 was released, introducing improvements to Direct3D 9 memory management, shader compilation, state cache, as well as, support for Direct3D 11 feature level 12_1. [17] [18] Vulkan 1.3 support is now required. [19]

Released on January 24, 2023, version 2.1 implemented HDR support and improved quality for certain old games. [4] [20]

Released on May 12, 2023, version 2.2 added D3D11On12 [21] [22] support. [23] [24] [25]

Released on July 10, 2024, version 2.4 added support for Direct3D 8. [26] [27]

Released on November 11, 2024, version 2.5 features an overhauled memory and resource management which resulted in VRAM savings up to 1GB in certain games. Direct3D 8 and 9 received support for software cursor. [28]

Controversies

The use of Wine/DXVK has been associated with users getting banned [29] [30] [31] [32] from online gaming platforms because game publishers have no way of verifying game integrity for people using Linux.

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References

  1. ↑ Staff, Ars (2018-08-21). "Valve's "Steam Play" uses Vulkan to bring more Windows games to Linux". Ars Technica. Retrieved 2023-01-01.
  2. ↑ Conway, Adam (2022-12-23). "How Proton on the Steam Deck works". XDA Developers. Retrieved 2023-01-01.
  3. ↑ "Chapter 13. WINE". FreeBSD Documentation Portal. Retrieved 2024-04-28.
  4. 1 2 Proven, Liam. "WINE 8.0 and DXVK 2.1 released". www.theregister.com. Retrieved 2024-05-31.
  5. ↑ Compatibility tool for Steam Play based on Wine and additional components: ValveSoftware/Proton, Valve, 2019-04-03, retrieved 2019-04-03
  6. ↑ "Intel using DXVK (part of Steam Proton) for their Windows Arc GPU DX 9 drivers". GamingOnLinux. 7 December 2022. Retrieved 2022-12-27.
  7. ↑ Wilson, Jason R. (2022-11-01). "Intel Arc A750 Shows Boosted Performance In Older Gaming Titles Using Vulkan "DXVK"". Wccftech. Retrieved 2023-01-01.
  8. ↑ Aaron Klotz (2022-12-08). "Intel Arc Driver Optimizations Leverage Valve's DXVK Translator". Tom's Hardware. Retrieved 2024-05-31.
  9. ↑ "VirtualBox 7.0 is out with their DirectX 11 support using DXVK". GamingOnLinux. 11 October 2022. Retrieved 2022-12-27.
  10. ↑ Aaron Klotz (2021-12-21). "80 Percent of Steam's Top 100 Games Run 'Nearly Flawlessly' on Linux". Tom's Hardware. Retrieved 2024-05-31.
  11. ↑ "It's Now Even Easier To Check How A Game Runs On Steam Deck". Kotaku. 2023-08-16. Retrieved 2024-05-31.
  12. ↑ Conway, Adam (2022-12-06). "Need more games to play on your Steam Deck? Check out ProtonDB". XDA Developers. Retrieved 2024-05-31.
  13. 1 2 "An interview with the developer of DXVK, part of what makes Valve's Steam Play tick". GamingOnLinux. 11 September 2018. Retrieved 2022-12-27.
  14. ↑ Proven, Liam (2023-02-03). "WINE 8.0 and DXVK 2.1 released". The Register. Retrieved 2023-05-20.
  15. ↑ "D9VK Merged Into Upstream DXVK". www.phoronix.com. Retrieved 2024-05-31.
  16. ↑ "D9VK is no more as it merges with DXVK, making DXVK a D3D 9/10/11 to Vulkan layer". GamingOnLinux. 16 December 2019. Retrieved 2022-12-27.
  17. ↑ Meo, Francesco De (2023-03-06). "Hogwarts Legacy Vulkan DXVK 2.1 ASYNC Mod Reduces Texture Loading Stutter". Wccftech. Retrieved 2024-05-31.
  18. ↑ Larabel, Michael (2022-11-10). "DXVK 2.0 Released With Many Improvements For Direct3D Over Vulkan". www.phoronix.com. Retrieved 2023-05-20.
  19. ↑ "Driver support". GitHub. Retrieved 2024-07-17.
  20. ↑ "Release Version 2.1 · doitsujin/dxvk". GitHub. Retrieved 2023-10-21.
  21. ↑ microsoft/D3D11On12, Microsoft, 2024-07-07, retrieved 2024-07-08
  22. ↑ stevewhims (2021-12-30). "Direct3D 11 on 12 - Win32 apps". learn.microsoft.com. Retrieved 2024-07-08.
  23. ↑ "DXVK 2.2 Released With D3D11On12 Support, Many Game Fixes". www.phoronix.com. Retrieved 2024-05-31.
  24. ↑ Wilson, Jason R. (2023-05-13). "DXVK 2.2 Launches With D3D11On12 Support For Unity Engine, Game Fixes & More". Wccftech. Retrieved 2024-05-31.
  25. ↑ "Release Version 2.2 · doitsujin/dxvk". GitHub. Retrieved 2023-10-21.
  26. ↑ "Release Version 2.4 · doitsujin/dxvk". GitHub. Retrieved 2024-07-10.
  27. ↑ "DXVK 2.4 Released With Direct3D 8 Support, Native WSI Improvements". www.phoronix.com. Retrieved 2024-07-21.
  28. ↑ "DXVK 2.5 Brings Memory Management Rewrite & Other Improvements". www.phoronix.com. Retrieved 2024-11-11.
  29. ↑ "Linux Gamers Banned in Battlefield V if Using Wine and DXVK". BleepingComputer. Retrieved 2024-05-31.
  30. ↑ "Some Linux Gamers Using Wine/DXVK To Play Blizzard's Overwatch Banned - Updated". www.phoronix.com. Retrieved 2024-05-31.
  31. ↑ "Caution: Playing 'Overwatch' On Linux May Get You Banned". North America. Retrieved 2024-05-31.
  32. ↑ "Some Linux Gamers Using Wine/DXVK To Play Blizzard's Overwatch Banned - Slashdot". tech.slashdot.org. 2018-09-14. Retrieved 2024-05-31.
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