AMD Lays Out Future of Mantle: Changing Direction In Face of DX12 and glNext
by Ryan Smith on March 2, 2015 10:45 PM EST
Much has been made over the advent of low-level graphics APIs over the last year, with APIs based on this concept having sprouted up on a number of platforms in a very short period of time. For game developers this has changed the API landscape dramatically in the last couple of years, and it’s no surprise that as a result API news has been centered on the annual Game Developers Conference. With the 2015 conference taking place this week, we’re going to hear a lot more about it in the run-up to the release of DirectX 12 and other APIs.
Kicking things off this week is AMD, who is going first with an update on Mantle, their in-house low-level API. The first announced of the low-level APIs and so far limited to AMD’s GCN’s architecture, there has been quite a bit of pondering over the future of the API in light of the more recent developments of DirectX 12 and glNext. AMD in turn is seeking to answer these questions first, before Microsoft and Khronos take the stage later this week for their own announcements.
In a news post on AMD’s gaming website, AMD has announced that due to the progress on DX12 and glNext, the company is changing direction on the API. The API will be sticking around, but AMD’s earlier plans have partially changed. As originally planned, AMD is transitioning Mantle application development from a closed beta to a (quasi) released product – via the release of a programming guide and API reference this month – however AMD’s broader plans to also release a Mantle SDK to allow full access, particularly allowing iit to be implemented on other hardware, has been shelved. In place of that AMD is refocusing Mantle on being a “graphics innovation platform” to develop new technologies.
As far as “Mantle 1.0” is concerned, AMD is acknowledging at this point that Mantle’s greatest benefits – reduced CPU usage due to low-level command buffer submission – is something that DX12 and glNext can do just as well, negating the need for Mantle in this context. For AMD this is still something of a win because it has led to Microsoft and Khronos implementing the core ideas of Mantle in the first place, but it also means that Mantle would be relegated to a third wheel. As a result AMD is shifting focus, and advising developers looking to tap Mantle for its draw call benefits (and other features also found in DX12/glNext) to just use those forthcoming APIs instead.
Mantle’s new focus in turn is going to be a testbed for future graphics API development. Along with releasing the specifications for “Mantle 1.0”, AMD will essentially keep the closed beta program open for the continued development of Mantle, building it in conjunction with a limited number of partners in a fashion similar to how Mantle has been developed so far.
Thie biggest change here is that any plans to make Mantle open have been put on hold for the moment with the cancelation of the Mantle SDK. With Mantle going back into development and made redundant by DX12/glNext, AMD has canned what was from the start the hardest to develop/least likely to occur API feature, keeping it proprietary (at least for now) for future development. Which is not to say that AMD has given up on their “open” ideals entirely though, as the company is promising to deliver more information on their long-term plans for the API on the 5th, including their future plans for openness.
Mantle Pipeline States
As for what happens from here, we will have to see what AMD announces later this week. AMD’s announcement is essentially in two parts: today’s disclosure on the status of Mantle, and a further announcement on the 5th. It’s quite likely that AMD already has their future Mantle features in mind, and will want to discuss those after the DX12 and glNext disclosures.
Finally, from a consumer perspective Mantle won’t be going anywhere. Mantle remains in AMD’s drivers and Mantle applications continue to work, and for that matter there are still more Mantle enabled games to come (pretty much anything Frostbite, for a start). How many more games beyond 2015 though – basically anything post-DX12 – remains to be seen, as developers capable of targeting Mantle will almost certainly want to target DX12 as well as soon as it’s ready.
Update 03/03: To add some further context to AMD's announcement, we have the announcement of Vulkan (aka glNext). In short Mantle is being used as a building block for Vulkan, making Vulkan a derivative of Mantle. So although Mantle proper goes back under wraps at AMD, "Mantle 1.0" continues on in an evolved form as Vulkan.
Source: AMD
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D. Lister - Tuesday, March 3, 2015 - link
lol, so the marketing bough finally breaks, eh? Now let the apologetics commence.yannigr2 - Tuesday, March 3, 2015 - link
Letting OpenGL Next and DirectX 12 to take the wheel is the most open source option they could made. And also is in the interest of the consumer. The only way to see Mantle in games in the future, is if consumers reject Windows 10 and stay with Windows 7.FlushedBubblyJock - Friday, March 27, 2015 - link
When open source is ZERO COMPETITION, how is it so great ?Would one of you amd fans (or not) please answer me that ?
Mikmike86 - Tuesday, March 3, 2015 - link
Anyone else notice anything related to AMD provokes NVIDIA fan boys to start bashing?They'll be wishing they hadn't if AMD goes under.
CiccioB - Tuesday, March 3, 2015 - link
It depends on the point of view.. are nvidia fanboys that bash emtpy AMD marketing or are AMD fanboys that fall in an make-belive state each time AMD publish a colored slide?It was clear since the beginning that Mantle could not survive DX12. AMD's move was just a marketing move to make the world notice it can do something. Most people that have been in the IT world for a while (or do not possess 2 interactive neurons) could not really believe anything of what was said about the purpose of that library. And infact only donkeys believed them.
formulav8 - Tuesday, March 3, 2015 - link
You are so right. Its sickening as to how many NVidia (Even Intel to an extent) stooges are out there. Paid/Volunteer to bash competitors like AMD. Attached to a Corp like they are their mommy, or that NVidia likes them. Look at how many have been sticking up for NVidia even though they outright, and knowingly lied.Some people just have no morals or ethics. And don't even care they are that way. Very sad.
gruffi - Wednesday, March 4, 2015 - link
Don't mind. Nvidia goes under before AMD. ;)The sad thing is, Nvidia fangirls still don't realize that Mantle is the reason why Vulkan and DX12 have been developed. Mantle was never intended to be OGL or DX competition. AMD always said it is intended to coexist. And nothing changed with that. Now they achieved their first main goal, making Mantle an open industry standard. It's just not called Mantle but Vulkan. The technology under the hood is the same.
FlushedBubblyJock - Friday, March 27, 2015 - link
I don't know how much thc was in that one fella: " Mantle was never intended to be OGL or DX competition. AMD always said it is intended to coexist. "Wow, the blown brain gasketing is an incredible amd outfitting skill.
Let's see, competition is great, it made intel and nvidia jump and work and lower prices for consumers, cause amd kicked their backsides -! Competition !"!!
But now: " Mantle was never intended to be OGL or DX competition. AMD always said it is intended to coexist. "
Now competition is bad, because "mantle" DIED. But instead of declaring it dead, we (YOU) claim amd always said it "coexists", not competes !
R O F L with boatloads of mayonnaise! !!!!!!!!!
My my... please send a sample to the new government grow labs...
lefty2 - Tuesday, March 3, 2015 - link
Mantle still works on Windows7 and Windows 8, something that DirectX can't do.I know game developers really hate Microsofts tying of the OS version to the API. It means they can't progress to the latest graphics without losing half their customer base.
CiccioB - Tuesday, March 3, 2015 - link
Yes, so a game developer that using Mantle now covers just a bit more than 25% of the potential gaming market, and that will have the share narrowed to a lower percentage after Win10, will still invest money in supporting Mantle?Mantle is now used because AMD invested some money in DICE to make them develop and adopt it in their engine. As soon as DX12 comes into play, AMD will for sure stop feeding this dying horse and so the horse will die for real.
It's just a question of how much money you can bring on the table. AMD has not enough.
And as a game engine could be modified to adopt low level Mantle API, so it can be modified to adopt DX12 API. That move does not require any "artificial feed" by MS or anyone else as it is a natural evolution of the game market. Engine will be DX11/DX12 capable for a while, until Win10 takes the most of the game market.
Earlier or later everyone will have a DX12 capable engine. None will be interested in Mantle anymore, even thinking about those that are left with pre Win10 version of the OS.