OpenGL

AppWizard
May 3, 2025
The gaming community has revived underperforming hardware, successfully running Minecraft on a 20-year-old GPU, the 3D Phantom XP-2800, with only 8MB of VRAM. A video from Budget-Builds Official details this achievement using an antiquated desktop with Windows XP. Initially, Minecraft Alpha 1.2.6 faced OpenGL compatibility issues, which were resolved by using Microsoft-provided SiS drivers for the card, allowing it to display the game on a CRT monitor. After updates, the game ran, but attempts to run Minecraft 1.6.4 resulted in it loading at one frame per second before crashing. The team optimized performance by removing visual effects, lowering the resolution, and hosting the world server on a nearby laptop, along with using an 8x8 texture pack to stabilize the game.
BetaBeacon
April 4, 2025
Most Android devices now support Vulkan, with the latest version, Vulkan 1.4, introducing a feature called Host Image Copy that can greatly improve game performance on upcoming Android 16 devices. Host Image Copy allows for faster app loads, reduces stutter, and lowers GPU memory usage by enabling the CPU to copy image data directly between host memory and GPU image memory.
BetaBeacon
March 26, 2025
- ePSXe provides a straightforward setup and stable performance for PlayStation emulation on Android. - DuckStation offers broad compatibility with PlayStation games and enhances graphics with OpenGL and Vulkan rendering. - My Boy! is primarily a Game Boy Advance emulator but includes features useful for PlayStation fans. - Lemuroid works as a multi-console emulator supporting PlayStation and other gaming systems. - RetroArch supports multiple consoles, including PlayStation, but requires individual downloads for each system as plugins.
BetaBeacon
March 16, 2025
Google has introduced Vulkan as the new default graphics API for Android, replacing OpenGL. This change brings advanced rendering features like ray tracing and multithreading, promising richer visuals for games. The shift to Vulkan could influence the choice of gaming handhelds for consumers, especially those running on older versions of Android. There is hope for devices with more recent hardware to benefit from performance enhancements with the adoption of Vulkan. The move is expected to have a positive impact on gaming handhelds, smartphones, and tablets in the long run.
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