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AMD driver work ongoing to help Halo Infinite on Linux and Steam Deck

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Developer Bas Nieuwenhuizen has a new blog post up about some of the work going into the radv AMD GPU driver on Linux, and they're taking steps towards doing "A driver on the GPU" which should help Halo Infinite get working.

One of the problems with Halo Infinite on Linux and Steam Deck with Proton, is to do with the Direct3D 12 to Vulkan translation layer VKD3D-Proton and how a certain part of Direct3D 12 is being used in a "non-trivial" way. Getting that properly supported sounds like it has been difficult.

The full blog post goes into some highly technical details that most people won't understand, but what they're doing is sending a bunch of the work to the GPU by adding some support for the Vulkan extension VK_NV_device_generated_commands. Sounds like some parts of the Vulkan specification may need some tweaks or adjustments based on what they're doing, and what's actually "allowed".

A key point though is not to expect this to come any time soon, as Nieuwenhuizen explains:

Don’t expect this upstream very quickly. The main reason for exploring this in radv is ExecuteIndirect support for Halo Infinite, and after some recent updates we’re back into GPU hang limbo with radv/vkd3d-proton there. So while we’re solving that I’m holding off on upstreaming in case the hangs are caused by the implementation of this extension.

Furthermore, this is only a partial implementation of the extension anyways, with a fair number of limitations that we’d ideally eliminate before fully exposing this extension.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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7 comments

StalePopcorn Apr 26, 2022
Well, although I don't believe that blog post could have been any more succinct, it was a mind boggling read (to me). I won't hold my breath on playing Halo Infinite any time soon but, I imagine, this R&D is highly beneficial in the long run for the VKD3D team and us end users—I'm preemptively grateful.
tohur Apr 26, 2022
well once they add support to VKD3D seems to me Nvidia should work also see as that is an Nvidia VK extension. heres to hoping hoping as Infinite is about the only game I have been booting into windows for lol


Last edited by tohur on 26 April 2022 at 7:36 pm UTC
tohur Apr 27, 2022
Quoting: GuestIIRC, Halo: Infinite doesn't work because of the changes made to DirectX, meaning Proton (and WINE) can't translate the API calls to something GNU+Linux can understand.

No amount of work done to the AMD driver's will change that as it's up to Microsoft to actually reverse the API changes (highly unlikely).

If you check the github issue on proton some folks have gotten the game to load kinda of buggy but fact is the changes need to happen in proton/WINE and the rest of the stack.
ElectricPrism Apr 28, 2022
I hope they succeed, but I'm not holding my breath.

For me the glory days of Halo was Halo 3 which can be played on MCC at least (single-player) I can't recall if they ever sorted out the multiplayer issue with EAC.

I would love to play some Halo on my Linux, but it seems like development has been a car-crash in terms of delivering to fans as it is with no plans for DLC or community building / seasons from the get-go.

If they do it, I'll totally play.
tohur Apr 28, 2022
Quoting: ElectricPrismI hope they succeed, but I'm not holding my breath.

For me the glory days of Halo was Halo 3 which can be played on MCC at least (single-player) I can't recall if they ever sorted out the multiplayer issue with EAC.

I would love to play some Halo on my Linux, but it seems like development has been a car-crash in terms of delivering to fans as it is with no plans for DLC or community building / seasons from the get-go.

If they do it, I'll totally play.

They working on EAC now for Linux. they added the Linux file to make it work but at the same time mistakenly published an old EAC build that doesn't work. so for now you have to delete the EAC Linux file to be able to play single player. hopefully they fix the EAC build in next update for MCC


Last edited by tohur on 28 April 2022 at 5:35 am UTC
DanglingPointer May 12, 2022
In the meantime I'm enjoying the series on TV! Episode 8 out today!

Only gripe with the TV series is that Master Chief is a lot more fleshed out emotional (human) in the TV series than being more stoic and decisive like in the video games. Still the best ever live action real representation of the game ever though!

My favourite TV series atm.
Purple Library Guy May 18, 2022
Quoting: DanglingPointerIn the meantime I'm enjoying the series on TV! Episode 8 out today!

Only gripe with the TV series is that Master Chief is
Doh! I got the wrong TV series. I was watching one about a Master Chef!
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