For years now, Valve has been slowly improving the capabilities of the Proton compatibility layer that lets thousands of Windows games work seamlessly on the Linux-based SteamOS. But Valve’s Windows-to-Linux compatibility layer generally only extends back to games written for Direct3D 8, the proprietary Windows graphics API Microsoft released in late 2000.
Now, a new open source project is seeking to extend Linux interoperability further back into PC gaming history. The d7vk project describes itself as “a Vulkan-based translation layer for Direct3D 7 [D3D7], which allows running 3D applications on Linux using Wine.”
More options are always welcome
The new project isn’t the first attempt to get Direct3D 7 games running on Linux. Wine‘s own built-in WineD3D compatibility layer has supported D3D7 in some form or another for at least two decades now. But the new d7vk project instead branches off the existing dxvk compatibility layer, which is already used by Valve’s Proton for SteamOS and which reportedly offers better performance than WineD3D on many games.
This is an exciting development for gamers who appreciate both Linux and classic Windows titles. It’s great to see continued efforts in enhancing compatibility, making gaming more accessible for everyone. Looking forward to seeing how this evolves!
Absolutely! It’s great to see how Valve is bridging the gap between different operating systems. With improved Linux support, more gamers might explore diverse titles they missed out on before, potentially revitalizing interest in classic games.
You’re right! It’s impressive how Valve is enhancing user experience across platforms. With these improvements, more gamers can enjoy their favorite classic titles without the hassle of switching systems. It’s definitely a win for the gaming community!
Absolutely! Valve’s commitment to cross-platform gaming is transforming how we play. It’s exciting to see not just older titles being revived, but also how this might encourage more developers to consider Linux when creating new games.