Independent UK developer Rebellion today announced that summer chart-topper Sniper Elite 3 is the latest in a small but growing list of high-profile games to include support for AMD’s advanced Mantle API.
Released today as a free Steam update timed to coincide with AMD’s recent Catalyst™ 14.9 WHQL driver release, the Sniper Elite 3 update also includes a new Benchmark mode for both Mantle and DX11.
Console control
Writing in an in-depth analysis of Mantle’s performance impact on Sniper Elite 3 for the Rebellion website, the studio’s Head of Programming, Kevin Floyer-Lea explained why Rebellion was so keen to support the API from the beginning:
“This brings the PC closer to console programming, where developers are used to having direct control over available resources and squeezing the most out the hardware.”
Floyer-Lea continues “Whatever else may happen with Mantle in the future, it’s most definitely kick-started a move to more lightweight APIs”, referencing the recent announcements made around Microsoft’s DirectX 12, Apple’s Metal, and Khronos’ Next Generation OpenGL initiative.
A bright future
Like most Rebellion games, Sniper Elite 3 was developed using the studio’s in-house Asura engine, and Floyer-Lea’s analysis highlights immediate improvements seen since Mantle’s implementation, including reduced CPU drain despite frame rate increases, even with real-world GPU heavy test cases.
However it’s Mantle’s future that most excites the studio, with the potential of “completely new approaches” to previously thorny development hurdles including multiple GPU support, and the potential for leveraging Asynchronous Compute.
Key facts
•Update 1.11 for Sniper Elite 3 is out now on Steam for PC.
•The update includes Mantle support and new Benchmark mode.
•Mantle requires supporting hardware, AMD Catalyst™ 14.9, Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 (Windows 8 users can update to 8.1 for free).