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The Talos Principle [Steam] is currently one of the two Linux games to use Vulkan right now, so it's great to see them keep updating it.

They just released a new beta and here's the changelog:
QuoteNew features:
- Added support for latest ATi and nVidia cards.

Improvements:
- Improved stability and performance on Vulkan API.

Bug fixes:
- Fixed issues with fullscreen rendering on Vulkan on Linux.
- Fixed a rare crash when exiting the game.


Let me know in the comments how you get on with it, I found it to be much better on Vulkan that it was on OpenGL.

Croteam really are an awesome developer to have supporting Linux with their games. Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Tags: Beta, Puzzle, Steam, Vulkan
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Nel Nov 11, 2016
@ stan

Try this in game launch options
%command% +gfx_strAPI "VLK"
cRaZy-bisCuiT Nov 11, 2016
Quoting: sub
QuoteNew features:
- Added support for latest ATi and nVidia cards.

What does this mean?
I thought Vulkan, done right, should not require such quirks.
Actually I'd assume they do mean they checked back things are working. Or maybe some additional features are enabled for newer gen cards? Unless that's the case I thought the same as you do.


EDIT: In addition, you wouldn't need to modify the drivers to much for every single GPU. Still the game devs have a closer connection to the actual hardware now.


Last edited by cRaZy-bisCuiT on 11 November 2016 at 3:03 pm UTC
Aimela Nov 11, 2016
Quoting: EhvisWith the Vulkan renderer, performance was almost instantly at DX11 levels. So very good for Linux users. Unfortunately, it's also very unstable for me (hard lock ups). From what I've seen on the beta threads, this instability is specific to the GTX970. Any others here have the same experience?
The game froze badly enough for me that I couldn't access the CLI to end the game's process(had to hard reset my PC), and I'm using a GTX 1080 so it doesn't seem to be GPU specific.
Shmerl Nov 11, 2016
What's going on with Croteam games by the way? Why don't they sell them on GOG (besides two old Serious Sam games)?


Last edited by Shmerl on 11 November 2016 at 3:44 pm UTC
Lordpkappa Nov 11, 2016
Quoting: GuestStill fails to switch to Vulkan… When I select the Vulkan API then Apply, the screen stays black and then the game reverts to OpenGL. So I have to Alt-F4 when the screen is black (at the moment the mouse pointer reappears), restart the game, reselect the correct performance settings, Alt-F4 again, and THEN the game is in Vulkan mode with the correct settings.

Benchmark in Ultra/Ultra/Ultra/Ultra on my GTX 1060 + i5 4690K in 1920×1200:
OpenGL: 62.2 FPS
Vulkan: 81.3 FPS (+30.7%)

I ran each test twice so that the game could cache stuff the first time and each second round was a bit faster than the first one.

I had +60% the last time I tried but that was maybe with different settings.

Huge improve, thanks for the test, in pair with DX12 performance now.
edo Nov 11, 2016
dx11 is still faster on the benchmark, and I tried to play a bit using vulkan and the game crashed. But this was on w10, on linux I cant use it since its an optimus laptop


Last edited by edo on 11 November 2016 at 8:53 pm UTC
Vash63 Nov 12, 2016
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Quoting: GuestStill fails to switch to Vulkan… When I select the Vulkan API then Apply, the screen stays black and then the game reverts to OpenGL. So I have to Alt-F4 when the screen is black (at the moment the mouse pointer reappears), restart the game, reselect the correct performance settings, Alt-F4 again, and THEN the game is in Vulkan mode with the correct settings.

Benchmark in Ultra/Ultra/Ultra/Ultra on my GTX 1060 + i5 4690K in 1920×1200:
OpenGL: 62.2 FPS
Vulkan: 81.3 FPS (+30.7%)

I ran each test twice so that the game could cache stuff the first time and each second round was a bit faster than the first one.

I had +60% the last time I tried but that was maybe with different settings.

Are you on 375.10 Nvidia drivers? I used to have this issue but with everything updated now I can switch back and forth in the menu without issue.
kon14 Nov 12, 2016
Quoting: ShmerlWhat's going on with Croteam games by the way? Why don't they sell them on GOG (besides two old Serious Sam games)?

Here's what the devs had to say about this: [url=steamcommunity.com/app/257510/discussions/0/626329186809171707/]steamworks alternative + having to support an additional build[/url].

Although their supporting linux kinda collides with the latter :S. I was hoping I'd be able to get talos' sequel from gog, but then I found the link posted above.

edit: link tag not working? http://steamcommunity.com/app/257510/discussions/0/626329186809171707/


Last edited by kon14 on 12 November 2016 at 8:38 am UTC
melkemind Nov 12, 2016
So, this is the publictesting branch in Steam? Is it safe to switch to that with current saves on the main branch?
Ehvis Nov 12, 2016
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Quoting: Guest
Quoting: dubigrasu
Quoting: EhvisWith the Vulkan renderer, performance was almost instantly at DX11 levels. So very good for Linux users. Unfortunately, it's also very unstable for me (hard lock ups). From what I've seen on the beta threads, this instability is specific to the GTX970. Any others here have the same experience?
I had similar lockups with a GTX 780.

And 645M.

I tried the new build and it froze in a couple of minutes. In that couple of minutes the performance was rock solid though.

Quoting: melkemindSo, this is the publictesting branch in Steam? Is it safe to switch to that with current saves on the main branch?

Yes, but you may not be able to switch back with the same savegames.
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