Even as Microsoft is gearing up to launch DirectX 12, and to hopefully make it the industry standard API for game development, especially on PC and Xbox platforms, OpenGL, which has steadily gained in popularity as non Microsoft platforms have correspondingly become targets for game development- such as PlayStation, Nintendo, Mac, Linux, and mobiles and smartphones- has continued to make strides. Now, the next major update to OpenGL is due to be unveiled (and presumably go head to head with DirectX 12 in a battle of the APIs), and Valve will be the one to unveil it at GDC next month.
We know this because of the panel titled glNext: The Future of High Performance Graphics, which Valve will be presenting.
“Join us for the unveiling of Khronos’ glNext initiative, the upcoming cross-platform graphics API designed for modern programming techniques and processors. glNext will be the singular choice for developers who demand peak performance in their applications,” they say.
“We will present a technical breakdown of the API, advanced techniques and live demos of real-world applications running on glNext drivers and hardware.”
So, of course, assuming that the next iteration of OpenGL is as accomplished and capable as DirectX 12 is, then the ball should be right back in Microsoft’s court.
All of this said, I do hope that this does not take away from Valve’s Steam Machines, which are allegedly due for a (yet another) re-reveal at GDC. We’ll see.