Release 1.55 - March 1st, 2024 - Ephemeris | gpu.data | Many bug fixes and smaller improvements
Ephemeris 2.0 Update
We improved Ephemeris again and support it now on more platforms. Updating some of the algorithms used and adding more features.
Now we are supporting PC, XBOX'es, PS4/5, Android, Steamdeck, iOS (requires iPhone 11 or higher (so far not Switch)
Ephemeris on XBOX Series X
Ephemeris on Android
Ephemeris on PS4
Ephemeris on PS5
IGraphics.h
We changed the graphics interface for cmdBindRenderTargets
// old
DECLARE_RENDERER_FUNCTION(void, cmdBindRenderTargets, Cmd* pCmd, uint32_t renderTargetCount, RenderTarget** ppRenderTargets, RenderTarget* pDepthStencil, const LoadActionsDesc* loadActions, uint32_t* pColorArraySlices, uint32_t* pColorMipSlices, uint32_t depthArraySlice, uint32_t depthMipSlice)
// new
DECLARE_RENDERER_FUNCTION(void, cmdBindRenderTargets, Cmd* pCmd, const BindRenderTargetsDesc* pDesc)
Instead of a long list of parameters we now provide a struct that gives us enough flexibility to pack more functionality in there.
Variable Rate Shading
We added Variable Rate Shading to the Visibility Buffer OIT example test 15a. This way we have a better looking test scene with St. Miguel.
VRS allows rendering parts of the render target at different resolution based on the auto-generated VRS map, thus achieving higher performance with minimal quality loss. It is inspired by Michael Drobot's SIGGRAPH 2020 talk: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1WlntBELCK47vKyOTYI_h_fZahf6LabxS/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=108042338473354174059&rtpof=true&sd=true
The key idea behind the software-based approach is to render everything in 4xMS targets and use a stencil buffer as a VRS map. VRS map is automatically generated based on the local image gradients.
It could be used on a way wider range of platforms and devices than the hardware-based approach since the hardware VRS support is broken or not supported on many platforms. Because this software approach utilizes 2x2 tiles we could also achieve higher image quality compared to hardware-based VRS.
Shading rate view based on the color per 2x2 pixel quad:
- White – 1 sample (top left, always shaded);
- Blue – 2 horizontal samples;
- Red – 2 vertical samples;
- Green – all 4 samples;
PC
Debug Output with the original Image on PC
PC
Debug Output with the original Image on PC
Android
Debug Output with the original Image on Android
Android
Debug Output with the original Image on Android
UI description:
- Toggle VRS – enable/disable VRS
- Draw Cubes – enable/disable dynamic objects in the scene
- Toggle Debug View – shows auto-generated VRS map if VRS is enabled
- Blur kernel Size – change blur kernel size of the blur applied to the background image to highlight performance benefits of the solution by making fragment shader heavy enough.
Limitations:
Relies on programmable sample locations support – not widely supported on Android devices.
Supported platforms:
PS4, PS5, all XBOXes, Nintendo Switch, Android (Galaxy S23 and higher), Windows(Vulkan/DX12), macOS/iOS.
gpu.data
You want to check out those files. They are now dedicated per supported platform. So it is easier for us to differ between different Playstations, XBOX'es, Switches, Android, iOS etc..
Unlinked Multi GPU
The Unlinked Multi GPU example was broken on AMD 7x GPUs with Vulkan. This looks like a bug. We had to disable DCC to make that work.
Vulkan
we track GPU memory now and will extend this to other platforms.
Vulkan mobile support
We support now the VK_EXT_ASTC_DECODE_MODE_EXTENSION_NAME extension
Remote UI
Various bug fixes to make this more stable. Still alpha ... will crash.
Retired:
- 35 Variable Rate Shading ... this went into the Visibility Buffer OIT example 15a.
- Basis Library - after not having found any practical usage case, we remove Basis again.