The Mesa 25.1 open-source graphics stack has just been released, introducing numerous enhancements and new features across various open-source graphics drivers. This update aims to optimize support for video games and improve overall performance.
A standout feature is the fully integrated Asahi driver, which has been merged into the kernel, enhancing its usability. The Panfrost driver now supports Mali G720 and G925 GPUs, while the PanVK driver introduces support for YCbCr and dualSrcBlend, along with Vulkan 1.2 compliance for Mali v10+ GPUs.
One of the significant changes includes replacing the older nouveau driver with Zink/NVK as the default driver for NVIDIA GPUs. Additionally, the V3D graphics driver for Raspberry Pi devices has been upgraded, enabling compatibility with several extensions.
The Radeon RADV Vulkan driver includes support for both VK_EXT_device_memory_report and VK_EXT_sample_locations, while the NVK driver sees added functionality through VK_MESA_image_alignment_control. The Etnaviv driver, which supports the Vivante GCxxx series of embedded GPUs, now includes the KHR_partial_update extension.
PanVK has received multiple Vulkan extensions, enhancing the performance and flexibility of ARM Mali GPUs. These include support for depth and stencil layouts, shader float controls, and uniform buffer layouts, among others. Notably, there are separate support additions for Mali v10+ GPUs.
Furthermore, many games have reported improvements due to the Mesa 25.1 update. Titles like "Avowed," "Cyberpunk 2077," and "Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2" are expected to benefit, alongside applications such as Firefox and Blender.
For detailed insights about the update, you can check the release notes. This release undoubtedly marks a significant step forward for open-source graphics support in gaming and application performance.