Don't want to see articles from a certain category? When logged in, go to your User Settings and adjust your feed in the Content Preferences section where you can block tags!
We do often include affiliate links to earn us some pennies. See more here.

X-Plane 11, the detailed flight simulator is finally closing in on an update that will bring in Vulkan support as detailed in a new developer blog post.

Firstly though, the upcoming X-Plane 11.40 update is going to be focusing on the physics. They've spent a good six months going over their physics system as part of an upgraded and currently experimental flight model. The new system will not be the default in the 11.40 update but it will eventually replace the current flight model. If you're interested in learning more about that side of it, see the video included below (Vulkan info below the vid):

YouTube Thumbnail
YouTube videos require cookies, you must accept their cookies to view. View cookie preferences.
Accept Cookies & Show   Direct Link

The more exciting part for Linux fans of this sim is likely the Vulkan API addition coming with X-Plane 11.50. This is going to be a huge change, making it more modern and prepares X-Plane 11 for future enhancements as the foundation of what comes next.

It won't be done quickly though, as they said they expect the beta period for Vulkan to "be a relatively long one" but they want to get it out the door and started this year. Sounds like their team are quite excited about using Vulkan (and Metal for macOS) as they say a lot more of what happens compared to OpenGL will be directly inside their own code. They claim what happens inside the drivers are "more predictable, bounded, and can be viewed via modern profiling tools". They think it "should be straightforward to get the information we need to really make the Vulkan renderer scream".

For those of you interested, I've started following their developer blog posts to keep an eye on it for more information on when X-Plane 11.40 and X-Plane 11.50 will actually release in full.

You can pick up X-Plane 11 on Steam and the official site.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
22 Likes
About the author -
author picture
I am the owner of GamingOnLinux. After discovering Linux back in the days of Mandrake in 2003, I constantly came back to check on the progress of Linux until Ubuntu appeared on the scene and it helped me to really love it. You can reach me easily by emailing GamingOnLinux directly. Find me on Mastodon.
See more from me
The comments on this article are closed.
34 comments
Page: 1/4»
  Go to:

rustybroomhandle Oct 15, 2019
I shot them an email for access to the Vulkan alpha/beta.
Ehvis Oct 15, 2019
View PC info
  • Supporter Plus
They have already said that we shouldn't expect an immediate fps boost with the new Vulkan system. The current focus is to get the basic engine functional and stable before making better use of multi-core rendering.

A big issue is also that X-Plane is not just the sim, but also a platform for third party add-ons. Some of those add-ons do direct OpenGL rendering. For the overlay stuff they're basically still rendering things on an OpenGL surface which is then displayed over the main screen. For the plugins that do actual 3D rendering there is little hope and they will break. Which pretty much guarantees that Vulkan will never be default for X-Plane 11 since there is a policy to maintain compatibility through major versions.

I'm still unsure if the beta will immediately allow Vulkan use for VR, which is what I'm looking forward to most.
Mountain Man Oct 15, 2019
Quoting: GuestThey had talked about preliminary tests and some improvement in performance actually. They also said miracles should not be expected. It was long ago. :)
X-Plane 11 is actually extremely well optimized at this point. In fact, it runs better for me than X-Plane 10 ever did. So in my case, Vulkan could only deliver small improvements.
iiari Oct 16, 2019
View PC info
  • Supporter Plus
I have the most hours on X-Plane 11 than any other title I own, and it's a tremendous Linux sim that anyone with any interest in flight should buy. I anticipate Vulkan will provide very little in improvement on the Linux end which, as others have alluded to, is very well optimized, as Linux XP 11 runs at or better FPS than Windows XP 11 in testing.

What I am hoping Vulkan WILL help is how well Windows XP 11 works on Wine/Proton. This is actually important, as some of the best XP 11 add-ons (like xEnviro and xVision) are Windows only right now. Via Wine, Windows XP 11 actually right now runs beautifully, but its FPS drops substantially with rendering add-on's. That will hopefully change for the better once Vulkan comes and renders via GPU rather than CPU, as it is now...

Sadly, XP development tends to be somewhat glacial. I'm thinking 11.4 by year's end, and 11.5 by summer 2020. The bigger question for the flight sim world is when does MS 2020 come out, which is the only title that will bring me back to Windows for gaming if it does not run on Wine/Proton and which looks bonkers amazing and which could make XP 11 somewhat irrelevant...

Also, is this maybe the only group jazzed about working with Metal? XP 11 coding is actually done on Macs....


Last edited by iiari on 16 October 2019 at 12:10 am UTC
iiari Oct 16, 2019
View PC info
  • Supporter Plus
Quoting: rustybroomhandleI shot them an email for access to the Vulkan alpha/beta.
Did you do that on your own or is there a open request for beta testers? I'd love to test the Vulkan beta as well...
Skipperro Oct 16, 2019
Man... I'm collecting everything with Vulkan support and I have X-Plane on my wishlist for a long time, but I'm not as big of the simulator fan to pay freaking 65$ for it. I would rather save it for Kerbal Space Program 2.
Ardje Oct 16, 2019
X-Plane looks a bit dull to me, but this got me excited: X-Plane almost twice as fast on Linux than on Windows.
Ardje Oct 16, 2019
Quoting: SkipperroMan... I'm collecting everything with Vulkan support and I have X-Plane on my wishlist for a long time, but I'm not as big of the simulator fan to pay freaking 65$ for it. I would rather save it for Kerbal Space Program 2.
I have X-Plane also on my wishlist. I did have some fun with Euro Truck Simulator, but I guess X-Plane is more realistic. And I actually don't want that. Unless someone funds me the gear to drive a HMD.
So a buy would be a supporter buy. But since the performace of X-Plane is better on Linux than on Windows, I allow it to be a bit more pricy.
rustybroomhandle Oct 16, 2019
Quoting: iiari
Quoting: rustybroomhandleI shot them an email for access to the Vulkan alpha/beta.
Did you do that on your own or is there a open request for beta testers? I'd love to test the Vulkan beta as well...

It's explained in the video linked in the article. Only for their installer, not Steam yet.
Ehvis Oct 16, 2019
View PC info
  • Supporter Plus
Quoting: ArdjeI have X-Plane also on my wishlist. I did have some fun with Euro Truck Simulator, but I guess X-Plane is more realistic. And I actually don't want that.

Completely different beasts. ETS2 is still a game. It's open ended, but the simulation level and mechanics are still geared to have fun even without skill. X-Plane is not a game, it is just a simulator. I think most flight simulator enthusiasts will tell you that flight simulation is a hobby. With matching time consumption and expenses. I have many hours in various X-Plane version, but haven't done too much of it lately and I'm getting rusty to a degree where I couldn't even get my B727 started any more. :D
While you're here, please consider supporting GamingOnLinux on:

Reward Tiers: Patreon. Plain Donations: PayPal.

This ensures all of our main content remains totally free for everyone! Patreon supporters can also remove all adverts and sponsors! Supporting us helps bring good, fresh content. Without your continued support, we simply could not continue!

You can find even more ways to support us on this dedicated page any time. If you already are, thank you!
The comments on this article are closed.