Intel's Vulkan Driver Adds Conservative Rasterization - Helps DXVK/VKD3D For Linux Gaming

Intel's open-source "ANV" Vulkan driver now supports the Vulkan EXT_conservative_rasterization extension that is most notably used by DXVK for translating Direct3D atop this graphics API and work is also pending too for VKD3D.

The conservative rasterization extension was introduced back in Vulkan 1.0.67 from early 2018. The conservative rasterization mode allows for over or under estimation for limiting the rasterization process and ensuring certainty over the rendering behavior.

DXVK optionally allows using the extension as part of its Direct3D implementation. The VK_EXT_conservative_rasterization extension is currently needed for the NVIDIA ShadowLabs handling within at least Final Fantasy XV but presumably other games as well. There is also a work-in-progress branch for making use of conservative rasterization within the VKD3D code too for Direct3D 12 over Vulkan.

NVIDIA has been supporting the extension since the day it was introduced in Vulkan. AMDVLK and RADV Radeon Vulkan drivers have both been supporting the extension too.

Now as of today the extension is supported by Intel's Mesa Vulkan driver in Git ahead of Mesa 21.1.