The Mesa 26.0 open-source graphics stack has been officially released, marking a significant update that enhances several graphics drivers with new features and improvements. A standout feature of this version is the improved raytracing performance for the RADV Vulkan driver optimized for AMD GPUs.
Among the most notable additions is KosmicKrisp, a new Vulkan to Metal layered driver tailored for macOS environments. Users can also expect better GPU performance and reduced compile times as the RadeonSI driver now supports ACO by default.
The RADV driver has also expanded its capabilities by incorporating new Vulkan extensions, which include VK_KHR_maintenance10, VK_EXT_shader_uniform_buffer_unsized_array, VK_VALVE_video_encode_rgb_conversion, and VK_EXT_custom_resolve. Similarly, the ANV Intel Vulkan driver has adopted VK_KHR_maintenance10 and VK_EXT_shader_uniform_buffer_unsized_array.
Collabora’s NVK Vulkan driver for NVIDIA GPUs now supports several new Vulkan extensions, including VK_EXT_discard_rectangles, VK_KHR_maintenance10, and VK_EXT_shader_uniform_buffer_unsized_array. The same extent of support extends to Collabora’s PanVK graphics driver for ARM Mali GPUs, adding new functionality with extensions such as VK_EXT_external_memory_acquire_unmodified and VK_KHR_sampler_ycbcr_conversion.
In addition to AMD and NVIDIA, the PowerVR Vulkan drivers have received updates to include VK_KHR_relaxed_block_layout and VK_KHR_dynamic_rendering among others. The release also includes broad support for Vulkan extension maintenance widely used throughout various drivers.
Mesa 26.0 further improves game compatibility, providing support for popular titles like Ghost of Tsushima, Resident Evil Village, Alan Wake II, Forza Horizon 5, among many others.
For details on the full range of changes and to download the source tarball, you can refer to the release notes.