DXVK 2.7.1 brings performance improvements for some Direct3D 9 games on Linux

DXVK is a Vulkan-based translation layer for Direct3D 8/9/10/11 to run Windows games on Linux with Wine / Proton. It can also be directly used by developers for Linux ports too.

This is part of what allows Valve's Proton to run Windows games so nicely on SteamOS / Steam Deck. The latest release, version 2.7.1, is out now. You don't need to do anything for Proton as Valve update it themselves. However, you can update it yourself if you wish - see how in the GamingOnLinux guide.

From the full changelog:

Bug fixes and Improvements

• Fixed a regression that would cause MSAA resolves to look like MSAA was not working in a number of D3D9 games.
• Improved performance in some D3D9 games by avoiding unnecessary render pass barriers, such as Dead Space 2 (PR #5112).
• Fixed the way tessellation factors are interpreted for line tessellation. This fixes particle rendering in DCS World and potentially other issues. (#4327)
• Added the d3d9.modeCountCompatibility configuration option to work around buffer overflows in older games that do not expect monitors to support more than ~16 different display modes. This fixes a crash in AquaNox 2.
• Alone in the Dark: Worked around a crash on start. (PR #5158)
• Comanche 4: Worked around an issue where the in-game anti-aliasing option would only be exposed on certain GeForce4 Ti GPUs.
• Crysis 3: Removed GPU vendor override to work around an issue where the game wouldn't start after recent EA app updates.
  Note that this change may cause a noticeable performance regression on AMD systems due to less efficient code paths in the game.
• Dungeon Siege 2: Fixed a regression that would cause character models to not show in the menu. (#5175)
• Everybody's Gone to the Rapture: Worked around poor CPU-bound performance. (PR #5168)
• Fallout New Vegas: Added vendor override to work around an issue with the FNV Reloaded mod using an unimplemented NVAPI function on Nvidia GPUs. (PR #5136)
• Guilty Gear: Added 60 FPS cap to work around the game speeding up at higher frame rates. (#5142, PR #5143)
• PsiOps: Added 60 FPS cap to work around broken physics at higher frame rates. (PR #5145)
• Scarface: Worked around a rendering issue caused by breaking changes in D3D9 API behaviour.
• Team Fortress 2: Fixed an MSAA-related rendering issue. (#5119, PR #5132)
• The Witcher 1: Added 300 FPS cap to work around a game issue where Geralt's hair would not render properly in the inventory menu.
• Top Spin 2004: Fixed a memory leak as well as rendering issues. (PR #5155)

Pictured - Fallout: New Vegas