AMD Will Release Mantle Programming Guide, API Reference This Month

This month AMD is planning to finally make their Mantle graphics API more "open" by releasing a 450-page programming guide and API reference for Mantle.

This first major public documentation drop for the AMD Mantle API is said to be coming this month, though it wouldn't be a surprise if they already release it later this week at GDC2015.

AMD's announcement about the future of Mantle also acknowledges the era of DirectX 12 and Next-Generation OpenGL (what we now know is the Vulkan Graphics API. AMD is helping to develop both APIs and as their partners shift their focus towards these newer APIs, AMD says 2015 will be a transitional year for Mantle while still continuing to support Mantle for their trusted partners planning to continue using Mantle for future projects. AMD also says Mantle's definition of "open" will widen this year. Mantle isn't being killed off but will be "a graphics innovation platform available to select partners with custom needs."

More details via this AMD Gaming blog post by Raja Koduri while all of the really exciting details will come later this week at GDC.