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v2.0.0

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@mchughalex mchughalex released this 24 Jul 12:59
v2.0.0
a37e74f

v2.0.0 release of Skate 3 Recomp for Windows, Linux, and macOS (ARM / Experimental).

Skate 3 now renders natively. This release replaces the emulated Xbox 360 GPU with a new renderer built directly on Direct3D 12 and Vulkan: more than double the frame rate at around a quarter of the GPU power draw, and on macOS a jump from roughly 25 FPS to 250 FPS at 4K. The entire game renders natively at close visual parity with the console output, with a set of optional modern graphics enhancements that seek to go beyond it.

The new native renderer is early and is likely to have issues, I haven't tested the game all the way through.

Downloads

  • Windows: Skate3Recomp-Windows.zip
  • Linux: Skate3Recomp-Linux.zip
  • macOS: Skate3Recomp-macOS.zip

Changes

Native renderer

  • New native renderer on Direct3D 12 and Vulkan, enabled by default, replacing the emulated Xbox 360 GPU
  • More than 2x the frame rate at about a quarter of the GPU power draw; macOS goes from ~25 FPS to ~250 FPS (at 4K render scaling, excluding the optional enhancements like PCSS shadows)
  • The whole game renders natively: gameplay, menus, HUD, loading screens, videos etc.
  • Exact runtime ports of the game's own material shading: world surfaces, characters, hair, NPCs, vehicles, glass, transparency, reflections, and water
  • Switch renderers live via Settings > Video > Renderer or the F5 key; on any unrecoverable failure the game falls back to the emulated renderer with an on-screen indicator, and F5 retries
  • One Windows build ships both graphics API backends: Settings > Video > Graphics API selects DirectX 12 or Vulkan; Linux uses Vulkan and macOS uses Vulkan through MoltenVK

Graphics enhancements (native renderer)

  • Anti-aliasing up to 8x MSAA
  • Enhanced Shadows: real-time sun shadows cast by buildings, trees, and props at up to 8192 resolution, with contact-hardening PCSS Soft Shadows
  • Ambient occlusion
  • HDR rendering pipeline with real bloom
  • Volumetric lighting: sun shafts and directional haze
  • Draw Distance up to 5x with extended World Streaming pre-load
  • Render Scale up to 3x (2160p)
  • True ultrawide 21:9 (experimental): the world renders at the display's full aspect ratio with a wider field of view while the HUD stays centered and undistorted

Settings and interface

  • Fully redesigned in-game settings menu with Video, Controls, Audio, Profile, and System categories; most graphics options apply live
  • Framerate Cap setting with an Auto option that removes display-beat judder
  • Graphics Device picker, and the game now automatically prefers the discrete GPU (fixes poor performance when the integrated GPU was selected)
  • Settings menu now fits low-resolution displays such as the Steam Deck
  • Restyled installer and setup wizards; the title update download verifies its size and retries on unstable connections
  • The intro movie can be skipped with A or Start
  • FPS counter and renderer indicator toggles (both off by default)

Input

  • Controller Backend setting on Windows: XInput (default) or SDL for native DualSense, Switch, and generic controller support; Linux and macOS always use SDL
  • Attempted a fix for triggers sticking in Mouse & Keyboard mode when a mouse button was released outside the game window
  • The controller shortcut for the settings menu is configurable (default RB + Start)

System and stability

  • Portable saves: a saves folder next to the executable holds saved games, and a portable.txt file next to the executable keeps all user data beside it
  • DLC packages load from a dlc folder next to the executable, in the game folder, or in the user data folder
  • Settings saves are now atomic and recover from corrupted files (fixes lost settings and repeated sign-in prompts)
  • Fixed video memory growth when repeatedly switching maps
  • Further audio underrun fixes for crackling and robotic audio
  • macOS: launches from Finder as a proper app, exits cleanly, Retina-sharp UI, and dialog text input works on Apple Silicon
  • Emulated renderer: fixed the blurry horizontal seam across the middle of the screen at Render Scale 2

Known issues:

  • Occasional texture and asset pop-in or brief flicker while streaming quickly around the map (also present in the emulated renderer)
  • Issues with rendering skater customization options in the edit skater mode (skin, hair, clothing etc.)
  • Hall of Meat currently not rendered properly (missing bone highlights etc.)
  • Skate parks and park editing currently have some general visual parity / rendering issues

Notes

This project does not include Skate 3 retail game files. You must provide files from your own legally obtained Xbox 360 copy of Skate 3.

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