Nvidia launch two new SDKs for VR developers

Version 1.0 of Nvidia’s GameWorks VR and DesignWorks VR software development kits are out now; they include a few genuinely smart features, like multi-res shading (which renders frames after they’re warped to suit headset lenses) and context priority (which renders scenes with priority given to the polygons in frame) and VR SLI (which uses two graphics cards and outputs video from one to each eye). With this official milestone release Nvidia claims that it will deliver a “massive performance boost for virtual reality”. Considering that delivering VR the right way requires seven times the graphics processing power compared to traditional 3D apps, this is quite a step in the right direction. Apart from other platforms, the SDK also runs on Windows 10. NVIDIA has announced new SDKs specifically aimed at VR design and performance, GameWorks VR and DesignWorks VR. “Available publicly for the first time, Multi-Res Shading is an innovative rendering technique that increases performance by as much as 50 percent while maintaining image quality”. Multi-Res Shading, which VRFocus reported would be making its way to Unreal Engine 4 earlier this month, which prioritises rendering in areas based on where the player is looking using Maxwell’s multi-projection architecture.

DesignWorks VR, meanwhile, is for those developing professional VR applications for a range of different industries.

If you were curious about the company’s GameWorks VR initiatives, especially in light of the fact that they got a former Sucker Punch graphics programmer to start writing detailed technical breakdowns of the tech this summer, now is your opportunity to check things out for yourself. The SDK is only available to registered select VR headset and application developers.