DXVK version 2.3.1 released with more efficient shader code generation on NVIDIA GPUs

The Vulkan-based translation layer for Direct3D 9/10/11 used for Wine and Proton has a new release out, and it sounds like a good one if you're an NVIDIA GPU user on Linux.

In the version 2.3.1 release notes they said if you have at least the Vulkan Beta driver version 550.40.55 or above and Proton Experimental, DXVK will use VK_NV_raw_access_chains "to allow more efficient shader code generation" which is "intended to close the gap to Windows performance drivers specifically in D3D11 games in GPU-bound scenarios" but not for every game.

There's also various other improvements with the full changelog below:

• Fixed invalid SPIR-V being generated for Renderdoc internal D3D11 shaders.
• Fixed undefined behaviour with out-of-bounds constant buffer loads with dynamic indices.
• Fixed HDR not being enabled for DXGI_FORMAT_R16G16B16A16_FLOAT swap chains.
• Reworked the dxgi.syncInterval option to also apply to D3D12 games.
• Reverted the use of VK_FORMAT_A8_UNORM due to rendering issues in some games.
• D3D9 games will now set the VkApplicationInfo::applicationVersion field to 1.
• Reworked how dynamic system memory buffers are copied to the GPU in D3D9 games. (PR #3765)
  This improves performance in games such as Shank 2 (#3755), Flammable Freddy (#2375) and Blood Rayne (#1828).
• Only enable alpha to coverage when rendering to a multisampled render target in D3D9. (#3815)
  This fixes broken lighting in Flatout 3 (#3798) and incorrect dithering in Injustice: Gods Among Us. (#3617)
• Ace Combat Assault Horizon: Fixed GPU hang on RADV. (#3715, PR #3716)
• Assassin's Creed 2: Fixed crash on alt tab. (#3653, PR #3763)
• Battlefield 2, Battlefield 2142: Fixed disappearing spawn and gear selection UI on alt tab. (#3651, PR #3797)
• Battlestations Midway: Improved performance. (PR #3683)
• Codename Panzers Phase One/Two: Improved performance. (PR #3812)
• Dead Space (2008): Fixed diagonally sliced menu on RADV. (Mesa Issue 9126, PR #3764)
• Granblue Fantasy Relink: Work around a game bug that would cause broken rendering with AMDAGS enabled.
  Also enabled the dxvk.ignoreGraphicsBarriers option to increase performance in case neither NVAPI nor AGS are loaded.
• Gujian 2: Fix invisible geometry. (#3838, PR #3839)
• Kenshi: Improved performance (PR #3776)
• MySims: Fix mouse selection being off. (#3825, PR #3840)
• Operation Flashpoint: Red River: Fix missing main menu UI elements. (#2184, PR #3852)
• SkyDrift: Work around OOM crash on alt tab. (#3639, PR #3689)
• Sonic CD: Limit to 60 FPS because game speed is tied to the frame rate. (PR #3771)
• Supreme Ruler Ultimate: Work around game bug causing a freeze on alt tab (#3784, PR #3816)
• Tales from the Borderlands: Fixed crash. (PR #3664)
• The Settlers: Fixed crash. (PR #3734)
• Total War: Medieval 2: Fix black loading screen in windowed mode. (#3724, PR #3843)
• UK Train Simulator 1: Fix black foliage. (#3780, PR #3782)
• War Thunder: Fix particle effects not rendering properly.