SCSKiller 1.4.0-alpha.1: Linux, Vulkan and DLSS games (Patreon)

SCSKiller on Linux

SCSKiller now runs on Linux. It works like on Windows: it compiles a game's shaders before you play, so the game doesn't stutter while it builds them.

- It works with Steam games under Proton, and with non-Steam games you added to Steam, on NVIDIA, AMD and Intel graphics cards.

- SCSKiller puts the compiled shaders into Steam's own shader cache folder for each game, where the game already reads them. There's nothing to set up per game.

- It comes as an AppImage. It installs for your user only, without root, adds itself to the application menu and updates itself.

Vulkan games, on Windows and Linux

SCSKiller now compiles Vulkan games, not only DirectX ones!

- On Windows with NVIDIA and AMD, Vulkan games from Steam such as No Man's Sky compile from Steam's own shader cache, with no recording needed. Playing with the recorder on adds what Steam's cache doesn't have.

- On Linux, Vulkan games on Steam are compiled on NVIDIA, AMD and Intel.

- Before and after works for Vulkan games too, with the in-game countdown, on Windows and Linux.

- The recorder adds only one small settings file to the game's folder, plus one registry value per game on Windows or one file in your Vulkan layer folder on Linux. Turning it off removes them.

DLSS games can be recorded on NVIDIA

Games that load DLSS before DirectX 12 used to say "needs a recording, which DLSS on NVIDIA blocks". Now they can be recorded, such as Star Wars Outlaws. SCSKiller adds a small winmm.dll, version.dll or dinput8.dll next to the recorder, which loads it before DLSS does. It never replaces a file of the game or of a mod.

The alpha goes to Patreon backers first. The download and everything else in this alpha are in the backer post.

Games

- Star Wars Outlaws is supported, and compiles without a recording. SCSKiller builds the game's own pipeline layouts from its files.

- Crimson Desert compiles from a recording, or without one once you paste the game's key on its page. It also compiles its shadow shaders and the shaders its render passes share. On AMD it no longer has failed shaders, and every PC with the same game version gets the same community recording.

- Unsupported games no longer show a Community data line on their page, which made them look supported.

Linux

- Before and after works on NVIDIA, AMD and Intel. The game's Steam shader cache is set aside for the before run and put back after it.

- Settings has Remove recorders, to use before you delete the AppImage. Start when you sign in works, and so does When idle for driver updates, Game Mode included.

Recorder and anti-cheat

- Ubisoft Connect games no longer close at start with the recorder on, such as Assassin's Creed Valhalla. In these games and in DLSS games, the recorder records shaders but doesn't time frames, so Before and after isn't offered there.

- Forza Horizon 5 contains anti-cheat. The recorder stays out unless you enable it at your own risk. SCSKiller isn't responsible for bans.

Faster and steadier

- A stopped compile no longer starts over at 0% after a restart when nothing in its plan changed.

- A game set to DirectX 11 no longer compiles the DirectX 12 pipelines of its community recording.

- An update download that was cut off continues where it stopped.

- The window and the game pages stay responsive while a scan, a compile or a big shader read runs (thanks @misutesu-desu).

- Reading the shaders of big Unreal Engine games like Days Gone uses less memory.

Fixed

- Send report no longer fails with AMD graphics drivers.

- Clear cache on a Vulkan game from Steam with NVIDIA or AMD also deletes Steam's shader cache of the game, so it frees the size it shows.

- On AMD, when Clear cache can't delete a driver cache file that no app holds, it says that Reset Shader Cache in AMD Software removes it.

- The game page and the queue warn when this PC's DirectX 12 can't compile a game's shaders, for example Shader Model 6.6 on Windows 10.

- Unity games started with -force-d3d11, -force-d3d12 or -force-vulkan are compiled for that API.

- A game is no longer compiled without its middleware shaders when their DLL couldn't be read.

- The recorder files of a game you uninstall while SCSKiller runs are removed right away.

- SCSKiller no longer writes through a link someone placed in a game's folder.

- Wuthering Waves and other Unreal games no longer show as not supported when their files are busy while you play.

Known issues

- Vulkan games aren't supported on Intel under Windows yet.

- Recording games with anti-cheat isn't on Linux yet.SHA-256

SCSKiller-Setup.exe 00a64643ccb4158f929181f5f2418097d60a564edd019f2f0e94c853696c4ac0

SCSKiller-x86_64.AppImage e503ff295e960bde2726d946e3361f77e3f60faa5d462bf51d2f988f7474a247

SCSKiller-1.4.0-alpha.1-Portable.zipff8a8b2ec5ad0c4f196927e4e34983ce7e7074a7f2dca84188eeed3db6abd9c9