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Valheim's announcement of Vulkan API support is a really significant step in further optimizing the game for a variety of PCs. The biggest advantage most PC games have over console games is just how customizable they are in terms of performance. While Valheim isn't a super demanding game, this update will allow players with Vulkan to have an even smoother experience if they so choose.

Android is enabling a host of useful new Vulkan extensions for mobile.These new extensions are set to improve the state of graphics APIs for modern applications, enabling new use cases and changing how developers can design graphics renderers going forward. VK_KHR_buffer_device_address is a monumental extension that adds a unique feature to Vulkan that none of the competing graphics API support. This blog describes the extension in detail and how it is used in mobile.

In the latest update of SteamVR, version 1.16, full support for OpenXR 1.0 is included. SteamVR’s support for OpenXR 1.0 is a huge step forward towards industry adoption of the standard. SteamVR is the leading platform for PC VR thanks to its wide ranging support for every major PC-compatible headset. Full support for OpenXR 1.0 will make it easier for developers to create applications that work seamlessly across a variety of headsets.

Android is enabling a host of useful new Vulkan extensions for mobile. These new extensions are set to improve the state of graphics APIs for modern applications, enabling new use cases and changing how developers can design graphics renderers going forward. VK_EXT_descriptor_indexing landed in Vulkan 1.2 as a core feature. This blog describes the extension in detail and how it is used in mobile.

The Khronos Group and Web3D Consortium have entered into a liaison agreement to advance Web-based 3D visualization, modeling and streaming. The liaison is designed to foster interoperability and synergy between the X3D and glTF open standards. The organizations will begin collaborating with a shared goal to integrate glTF 2.0 into X3D V4 to improve visualization and streaming of 3D data.

The Khronos Group and the European Machine Vision Association (EMVA), the leading European industry association dedicated to vision technology, jointly announce the formation of an Embedded Camera API Exploratory Group, open to all at no cost, to explore industry interest in the creation of open royalty-free API standards for controlling embedded cameras and sensors. All participants will be able to discuss use cases and requirements for new interoperability standards to accelerate market growth and reduce development costs in embedded markets using vision and sensor processing and associated acceleration. If the Exploratory Group reaches significant consensus then Khronos and EMVA will work to initiate the proposed standardization projects at the appropriate organizations. Learn more about this new exploratory group and how you can participate.

In blog #2 of Arm‘s Vulkan Extensions for Mobile series, Hans-Kristian Arntzen describes legacy support extensions that Android has enabled for mobile, including:

• VK_EXT_transform_feedback
• VK_EXT_line_rasterization
• VK_EXT_index_type_uint8

Cesium has announced that Cesium for Unreal will be available for download on March 30, 2021.  It will be free and open source under Apache 2.0 license. The plugin is built to unlock the entire 3D geospatial ecosystem in the Unreal Engine by combining a high-accuracy, full-scale WGS84 globe, open standards, 3D Tiles and glTF.

In this blog from University of Bristol, Tom Deakin, takes a look at the new features of SYCL 2020 and how they are being used in BabelStream. You can see the transformation at the GitHub Pull Request.

Updating BabelStream from SYCL 1.2.1 to SYCL 2020 resulted in fewer lines of code and 22% fewer characters thanks to some simplifications brought into the latest version of SYCL.

Collabora has announced the Monado now provides an officially conformant OpenXR implementation, based on running the OpenXR conformance test suite on a simulated device.

Note that OpenXR 1.0 conformant status applies only to the simulated device. Anyone building a product using Monado with non-simulated hardware still needs to go through the full, normal adopter and conformance process to be OpenXR conformant and take advantage of the benefits.

Established in 2013, HONOR is a leading global provider of smart devices. We are committed to becoming a global iconic tech brand and enabling a smart life across all scenarios and all channels, for all people. With a strategic focus on innovation, quality and service, HONOR is dedicated to developing technology that empowers people around the globe to go beyond through its R&D capabilities and forward-looking technology, as well as creating a new intelligent world for everyone with its portfolio of innovative products.

Over the next couple of weeks, Arm will be releasing a series of blogs on Vulkan extensions for mobile and Android R. The new extensions improve the state of graphics APIs for modern applications. The first of the series highlights Maintenance Extensions.

The new Vulkan extensions include:

• VK_KHR_uniform_buffer_standard_layout
• VK_KHR_separate_depth_stencil_layouts
• VK_KHR_spirv_1_4
• VK_KHR_shader_subgroup_extended_types
• VK_KHR_imageless_framebuffer

In the blog, Hans-Kristian Arntzen describes each extension and discusses their highlights.

Zink has announced that it now supports OpenGL 4.5 over Vulkan with Mesa 21.1.

Tohoku University is renowned for its achievements in technological innovation and for the practical application of these technologies to the advancement of society. It was selected as a Designated National University and a Top Type university of Top Global University Project by the Japanese government. In 2020, the Times Higher Education ranked Tohoku University the top university in Japan.

For developers using Vulkan layered over the Metal graphics API, this tool enumerates all the hardware capabilities and limitations of the device it is run on. A report of the current device is uploaded to a central Vulkan Capabilities database at gpuinfo.org where other developers can use this information to ensure their games and 3D apps are ready for as wide a variety of iOS device generations as possible.