Published release of the project D7VK 1.12, focusing on developing the implementation of graphics APIs Direct3D 3, 5, 6 and 7 offered by Microsoft in the late 1990s. D7VK functions by translating calls to the Vulkan API, enabling users to play retro games on Linux using the Direct3D 3, 5, 6, and 7 APIs with the help of Wine. The project, coded in C++, is distributed under the Zlib license. The development of D7VK was built upon the d3d9 backend code from the project DXVK by converting older Direct3D APIs into Direct3D 9 calls, which are then translated into the Vulkan API.
In the new release of D7VK 1.12, several enhancements have been implemented, focusing mainly on improving CPU performance. Notable improvements include a performance boost for D3D6’s 3DMark 99 Max, jumping from 70,685 to 75,283, and for D3D7’s 3DMark 2000 v1.1, from 45,267 to 69,566. Micro-optimizations have significantly boosted FPS on systems with lower CPU capabilities, such as increasing FPS in Unreal Tournament from 256 to 484 and reducing GPU load from 37% to 18%.
- Simplified the implementation of transparency based on the Color Key without using a full alpha channel.
- Optimized color conversions when clearing the viewport in D3D6/5/3.
- Allocated texture and material handles after application requests to reduce the number of handles used.
- Migrated to work on top of the DXVK 3.0.1 release.
- Implemented fixes to enhance support for Matrox TechDemo 3D, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, and The Sims: Complete Collection.