It seems a tweet from Michael Marks the development director at porting house Aspyr Media has been taken out-of-context by another well known Linux website, time to clear things up.
Mantle is the new API from AMD developed as an alternative to OpenGL and Direct3D, for those that didn't know.
Here's the tweet in question:
@NThibieroz @FiraxisGames sadly no mantle for SteamOS either, but @grahamsellers will enable #BeyondEarth on AMD linux
— michael_marks (@michael_marks) April 13, 2014
Now, bear in mind this is specifically talking about the new Civilization game that is coming to Linux, it cannot support Mantle on Linux/SteamOS since Mantle isn't yet on Linux.
This will also help clear it up:
@oscarbg81 @michael_marks @FiraxisGames @amd_roy "AMD is actively evaluating other platforms to bring Mantle to". :)
Nick Thibieroz (@NThibieroz) April 14, 2014
That tweet is directly from Nick Thibieroz the Gaming Engineering Manager for AMD.
I hope this clears any confusion up. Mantle isn't even that big of a deal anyway, since it currently will only support AMD hardware which has a bad history on Linux, and AMD, Intel & Nvidia all talked about unlocking 15x more performance with OpenGL anyway, so Mantle seems like a wasted effort.
For all the talk about Mantle being open and yadda yadda, we have yet to see specifications.
Quoting: SilviuYeah, well, this is the company that fired most of their Linux kernel devs in 2012. I won't take seriously anything they *say* until I see some solid stuff.With any luck, Mantle'll end up being killed before too long.
For all the talk about Mantle being open and yadda yadda, we have yet to see specifications.
Quoting: KristianDoes the fact that Apsyr Media is involved in the Linux(and Mac OSX) ports of the new Civ game mean that we will have to select platform on Steam and that it won't support Steamplay?No, they did the Civ ports last time and Borderlands, all Steam Play.
Only issue is we may see delays with patches and DLC.
I find it near impossible they'd be able to manage a whole new API support for Linux. In time they might hire more Linux staff, but until then they will stay behind in performance and support for Linux compared to their Windows side.
I won't be buying another AMD hardware that for sure. Who needs AMD?
Quoting: GuestQuoting: AnonymousAMD sucks... Mantle is a waste effort when they could just use that time to improve their driver.Mantle served its purpose in pointing out how much overhead there is (or has been) with gaming. We can get an awful lot more out of current machines if that overhead is stripped away. There is a reason DX12 is going the same way as Mantle, and there is a reason for a recent collusion between manufacturers on how to reduce driver overhead when using OpenGL. That benefits everyone, not just AMD (though undoubtedly they get the greatest benefit from it with APU systems). For those reasons alone, Mantle has been successful and worth it to the companies and consumers, regardless of whether it comes out on Linux or not.
I won't be buying another AMD hardware that for sure. Who needs AMD?
Also, AMD & FOSS drivers. Enough said.
FOSS drivers are good but dude it not good enough...
Quoting: GuestGeez, I don't know... performance?. We're talking about gaming here.Quoting: AnonymousFOSS drivers are good but dude it not good enough...Alright, I'll bite, how is having FOSS drivers and providing full programmer's documentation not good enough? Intel and AMD both do that, and both contribute to their development. Not really sure what more you're expecting there.
Of course I expect the "it works just fine for me" band wagon to arrive. I mean, somehow you need to justify spending money on AMD's crap and still feel good about it.
Patreon
PayPal
See more from me