Advanced Micro Devices has begun an initiative to create an open source and cross-platform solution for GPU physics.
Dubbed “Bullet Physics,” AMD has partnered with Pixelux Entertainment to end the clash between proprietary physics solutions like AMD’s Havok and NVIDIA’s PhysX. The new engine is written in OpenCL, a vendor-neutral platform which simplifies the process of coding for today’s processor-like GPUs. The duo is also working to develop Bullet Physics for DirectCompute, or the DirectX 11 standard for GPU offloading.
AMD’s CTO of Graphics Eric Demers said that an open physics engine will end the petty war between incompatible physics engines.
“Proprietary physics solutions divide consumers and ISVs, while stifling true innovation; our competitors even develop code that they themselves admit will not work on hardware other than theirs,” he said. “By working with Pixelux and others to enable open support of physics on OpenCL and DirectX 11 capable devices we are taking the exact opposite approach.”
The move is an obvious slap at rival firm NVIDIA which moved in June to disable PhysX offloading if a GeForce is not the primary renderer. While that change and its motivations are only just now coming to light, AMD seems to have short-circuited the brewing conflict with an engine that will run on GeForces and Radeons alike.
“Pixelux wants ensure that our technology can take advantage of the computing resources that any particular hardware platform offers without locking in our users to any single platform,” said Mitchell Bunnell, CEO of Pixelux. “By working with AMD to run our software in OpenCL we stay true to that goal.”
The maturity of the engine and a list of supporting developers were not immediately available. We have also contacted NVIDIA for a statement regarding their perspective on the new initiative.
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