Phoronix reports that NVIDIA has released a new Linux driver build, version 615.78.08, targeting Direct3D 12 titles running through Proton, Steam Play's compatibility layer. According to the report, the update adds a third revision of the company's low-latency Vulkan extension — VK_NV_low_latency2 r3 — alongside a number of other fixes.
What's in the update
Phoronix identifies the r3 revision of VK_NV_low_latency2 as the main change, and says it was written specifically to improve VKD3D-Proton. VKD3D-Proton is the translation layer that converts Direct3D 12 calls into Vulkan, and it sits between a Windows-native DX12 game and a Linux desktop. A low-latency path the layer can use could improve frame pacing and input responsiveness, though real-world benchmarks will determine the actual impact.
The release also includes fixes for driver crashes.
Why it matters for Proton users
The change targets gamers running DX12 titles through Steam Play. VKD3D-Proton has been the weaker link in that chain compared with the more mature DX11 translation path; each revision of the underlying driver support that the layer can use narrows the gap between the Windows and Linux experience.
The update also keeps the stack moving in lockstep. VKD3D-Proton development and NVIDIA's Vulkan extension revisions are separate tracks maintained by separate parties, but they only deliver value when they meet in a shipped driver. A user running an older driver build cannot expose r3 functionality to the translation layer, no matter how current their Proton or VKD3D-Proton version is.
Availability and packaging
Phoronix reports that the 615.78.08 build is available through NVIDIA's usual channels, with packaging covering supported Linux distributions and kernel versions, and release notes published alongside the download.
The crash fixes matter most to users running NVIDIA hardware in long-lived desktop or workstation setups.
The update is an incremental release for desktop Linux users already on a recent branch, and the new functionality activates only for applications that know to use it.
Read the full report at Phoronix.
據 Phoronix 報道，NVIDIA 發佈新版 Linux 驅動 615.78.08，針對透過 Proton（Steam Play 的相容層）執行的 Direct3D 12 遊戲。該報道指，更新加入了該公司低延遲 Vulkan 擴充的第三個修訂版——VK_NV_low_latency2 r3——以及其他多項修復。
更新內容
Phoronix 將 VK_NV_low_latency2 的 r3 修訂版列為主要改動，並指該版本編寫目的是專門改進 VKD3D-Proton。VKD3D-Proton 是將 Direct3D 12 呼叫轉換為 Vulkan 的翻譯層（translation layer），位於 Windows 原生 DX12 遊戲與 Linux 桌面系統之間。該層可用的低延遲路徑或可改善幀率穩定性（frame pacing）及輸入反應速度，實際影響仍須視乎基準測試結果而定。
是次發佈亦包含驅動崩潰的修復。
對 Proton 用戶的意義
相關改動針對透過 Steam Play 執行 DX12 遊戲的玩家。相比較成熟的 DX11 翻譯路徑，VKD3D-Proton 一直是整條鏈中較薄弱的一環；翻譯層每當能利用底層驅動支援的新修訂版，Windows 與 Linux 遊戲體驗之間的差距便會收窄。
更新亦讓整個技術堆疊同步推進。VKD3D-Proton 的開發與 NVIDIA 的 Vulkan 擴充修訂屬不同機構維護的獨立路線，但只有在隨驅動正式發佈並匯合時，才能發揮價值。用戶若使用舊版驅動，無論其 Proton 或 VKD3D-Proton 版本有多新，翻譯層都無法呼叫 r3 功能。
可用性與安裝套件
據 Phoronix 報道，615.78.08 版本已透過 NVIDIA 常規渠道提供，安裝套件涵蓋受支援的 Linux 發行版與核心版本，發佈說明亦隨下載一同刊出。
是次發佈的崩潰修復，對在長期運作的桌面或工作站配置上使用 NVIDIA 硬件的用戶尤為重要。
是次更新屬漸進式版本，適用於已在近期版本分支上的 Linux 桌面用戶，新功能只會對知悉如何使用的應用程式啟用。
如欲閱讀完整報道，請瀏覽 Phoronix。