Crytek Adopts AMD's Mantle API for CRYENGINE

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But can it play Crysis? Oh yes it can.

AMD announced on Wednesday that Crytek is adding native Mantle graphics API support to the developer's latest gaming engine, CRYENGINE. Crytek now joins a number of other developers and publishers using this "closer to the metal" API including Electronic Arts (Battlefield 4), Square Enix (THIEF), Roberts Space Industries (Star Citizen), Oxide (Nitros engine) and Rebellion Developments (Sniper Elite 3).

"AMD is delighted to bring Mantle support to the enormous audience of gamers and game developers reached by Crytek's CRYENGINE," said Ritche Corpus, director of ISV gaming and alliances, AMD. "Together, AMD and Crytek are forging a path for the graphics industry that better utilizes gamers' advanced AMD GPUs through 'closer-to-the-metal' API design."

For the uninitiated, Mantle is the "harmony" of three essential ingredients: a thin driver within the AMD Catalyst software suite that lets applications speak directly to AMD's Graphics Core Next (GCN) architecture; a GPU or APU based on the GCN; and an application or game engine that is written to utilize the Mantle SDK.

"Mantle reduces the CPU's workload by giving developers a way to talk to the GPU directly with much less translation," the company's website explains. "With less work for the CPU to do, programmers can squeeze much more performance from a system, delivering the greatest benefits in gaming systems where the CPU can be the bottleneck."

With the CPU freed up, developers may be able to squeeze extra performance from mid-range and older CPUs; they no longer have the same "handicap." That's good news for gamers on a strict budget.

"Crytek prides itself on enabling CRYENGINE with the latest and most impressive rendering capabilities," said Cevat Yerli, Founder, CEO & President of Crytek. "By integrating AMD's new Mantle API, CRYENGINE will gain a dimension of 'lower level' hardware access that enables extraordinary efficiency, performance and hardware control."

For more information about Mantle, check out AMD's "Four Core Principles of AMD's Mantle" article here.

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Kevin Parrish
41 Comments Comment from the forums
  • irish_adam
    All other developers will use this tech to help reduce CPU over head Crytek will use it to suck more from your PC.They always see it as a challenge to build an engine that cannot be played at full settings without the IT budget of Google and preferably some liquid nitrogen. (not saying thats a bad thing though, they at least push he boundaries of PC hardware rather than pandering just to the consoles)
    Reply
  • firefoxx04
    "Mantle will never take off". Well look here folks. Whether mantle works for your hardware or not, it's getting adopted and it's for the better. Nothing better than free software that can help boost performance and is OPTIONAL for everyone.
    Reply
  • de5_Roy
    does this mean we might see a mantle patch for crysis 3? would be nice.
    Reply
  • DarkSable
    I love it, but pretty soon here microsoft will get enough momentum built up to make DX at least somewhat comparable, meaning that nvidia will have the advantage once again, at least if gsync takes off the way it should.That being said, I would much rather have an API that actually makes a difference for mid/high end hardware, especially those of us who do actually have good cpus.
    Reply
  • David Dewis
    Despite the amount of skeptasism amoungst the pc comunnity, there must be a fairly substantial benefit to see this kind of adoption from big studios. Considering how poorly supported TressFX has been, i was worried this would flop. But now i really hope this takes off. It could make PC gaming cheaper for a those just wanting to get in, with people being able to save money on a lower end CPU and buy a better GPU.
    Reply
  • billgatez
    Interesting as this will mean Cryengen will support DX, Mantle and Open-GL.
    Reply
  • jimmysmitty
    12926381 said:
    All other developers will use this tech to help reduce CPU over head Crytek will use it to suck more from your PC.They always see it as a challenge to build an engine that cannot be played at full settings without the IT budget of Google and preferably some liquid nitrogen. (not saying thats a bad thing though, they at least push he boundaries of PC hardware rather than pandering just to the consoles)

    Ahhhh you forget the folly of Crysis 2 that came out and had worse graphics than Crysis 1. Had half the size textures of Crysis 1 as well. That is until PC gamers made a huge stink and they released a HD texture pack and some other stuff.

    Even Crytek can fall to the temptation of console monies.

    12926388 said:
    "Mantle will never take off". Well look here folks. Whether mantle works for your hardware or not, it's getting adopted and it's for the better. Nothing better than free software that can help boost performance and is OPTIONAL for everyone.

    Except that now we know DX12 and the next OGL is going to integrate the same low level access to them so which API do you think will win out? The one with the history and can easily be ported between console (XB1) and PC or the one that is PC exclusive and is newer meaning learning curve?

    In the end DX will win out again.

    12926502 said:
    Wait, I thought Mantle was never going to be adopted by anyone and that AMD was just paying everyone off and the sky is falling and I'm an elitist who only likes the hardware I own because everyone else is wrong and I like the color green more than the color red and and and....

    I don't think Mantle will go anywhere and I currently have a HD7970 with plans to upgrade to a R9 290X, or I might just wait till the R9 390 series comes out.

    Then again I look at history. DirectX will win out, it always has. Even OGL hasn't taken it down nor will it till it gets the constant support that DirectX does.

    As well if the XB1 does well enough, and it will, it will also boost DirectX because the XB1 uses DX11.X and as well has a Windows 8 kernel. It will make porting to PC so much easier and they will also have better graphics options available to start.
    Reply
  • David Dewis
    12926521 said:
    I love it, but pretty soon here microsoft will get enough momentum built up to make DX at least somewhat comparable, meaning that nvidia will have the advantage once again, at least if gsync takes off the way it should.That being said, I would much rather have an API that actually makes a difference for mid/high end hardware, especially those of us who do actually have good cpus.

    The biggest issue with Gsync is that you need a new, expensive monitor. Love the idea, but i hope DX12 adds more.
    Reply
  • irish_adam
    I love it, but pretty soon here microsoft will get enough momentum built up to make DX at least somewhat comparable, meaning that nvidia will have the advantage once again, at least if gsync takes off the way it should.That being said, I would much rather have an API that actually makes a difference for mid/high end hardware, especially those of us who do actually have good cpus.
    Its still helps you with your processor, it means you will not have to upgrade so much. It will also mean that when you do upgrade you can spend more money on other components as you will not see the need to buy such a top end processor. Hell it may even bring down the cost of high end processors because of a lack of demand
    Reply
  • DarkSable
    12926586 said:
    12926521 said:
    I love it, but pretty soon here microsoft will get enough momentum built up to make DX at least somewhat comparable, meaning that nvidia will have the advantage once again, at least if gsync takes off the way it should.That being said, I would much rather have an API that actually makes a difference for mid/high end hardware, especially those of us who do actually have good cpus.

    The biggest issue with Gsync is that you need a new, expensive monitor. Love the idea, but i hope DX12 adds more.

    That's true - however, I'm hoping that with higher resolutions finally starting to fall to the point where they might be considered, more people will begin to be interested in upgrading their monitor when they upgrade their computer.

    I know that I'm most certainly going to be buying an ASUS Swift 1440p, 120Hz, G-sync monitor when I upgrade to a dual-maxwell 890.

    You're right though, it's going to be slow on the adoption. I'm just hoping it's going to be slow and steady.
    Reply