The Talos Principle - Update 258375 - public beta

[Robert]

Build 258375 for The Talos Principle is now available in beta "publicbeta", which does not require a password.

To install the beta, do this:
- locate the game in the Steam's "Library" panel
- right click and invoke "Properties"
- select the "Betas" tab
- choose "publicbeta"

NOTE: If you want to later change back from publicbeta to default, savegames may be lost! We test for forward upgrades, but not in the other direction.

Here are the changes:

New features:
- Added support for Vulkan graphics API on 64-bit Windows and Linux platforms. To use it, you must start The Talos Principle in 64-bit mode (when prompted by Steam's popup launcher). Then, in the game's menu, select Options / Graphics Options / Graphics API, and choose Vulkan from the drop-down menu. Of course, make sure you have the latest drivers installed prior to starting the game.
- On Linux, it may be necessary to switch to Vulkan via +gfx_strAPI "VLK" command line parameter, as dynamic switching via menus may cause issues. Also, it is recommended to delete Talos.ini file from UserData folder prior to starting the game with Vulkan for the first time on Linux. The path should look something like this:

/home/[user]/Steam/userdata/[userid]/257510/local/Talos.ini

- Added support for newest nVidia, ATI and Intel GPUs.
- Added +safemode launch option.

Bug fixes:
- Fixed a crash on game startup on OSX.
- Fixed shader issues with open source OpenGL drivers on Linux.

[Kordyus]

Nice!

[clint]

Time to test the vulkan stuff? Anything interesting in regards to vulkan support? Guessing not based on this info.

[Serious Sam]

First thing's first. Specs:
FX 6350
R9 280X
Game installed on an SSD.
Latest Vulkan beta drivers installed
Tested with all options maxed, with the exceptions for supersampling and FXAA, which are turned off.

Loading screens are even shorter. The loading sign when starting the game lasts for 6 seconds (compare to 15 during the last update and 30+ in the initial beta). It's still longer than 3 seconds that DX11 takes.

The benchmark demo gives these results:
Vulkan 37.2
OpenGL 34.3
XD11 55.9

In the game itself, the C hub had a big lightning glitch until this update. It's gone now.

I restarted the game three times and played for a few minutes each. These are my observations:
1) Vulkan still stutters a lot. Each time camera turns towards a new object a stutter can be felt. Sometimes it falls to 1.44 or 0.33 frames a second before returning back to middle 30s. Other times it's just noticable.

2) Out of these three times, once game started stuttering and never recovered from 1.33 fps, keeping itself there constantly until the game was restarted.

3) Every time elevator has been used, during the transition between zones lighting went completely flat for at least a few seconds. When using OpenGL or DX9/11, this also happens, but it usually lasts less than a second.

4) When the elevator reaches a different area - be it A/B/C/surface, there's a high chance that lightning will stay flat. I don't know how to explain it but it looks like it would when playing on very low settings. In such a case, game needs to be stopped and reloaded for it to be fixed.

[4Klassic]

This seems almost the same changelog as the last beta changelog.
I mean, there was already support for the vulkan on 64 bits i guess :P

[MASTAN]

Benchmarks of all APIs of this build on GeForce GTX 980 + Core i5-3570K + Win10 x64
Performance options all Ultra/Unlimited
1920x1080 multi-sampling medium 4x

In-game benchmark with 60 seconds duration.

14:35:08 INF: - benchmark results -
14:35:08 INF:
14:35:08 INF: Gfx API: Vulkan
14:35:08 INF: Duration: 60.0 seconds (3285 frames)
14:35:08 INF: Average: 54.8 FPS (56.5 w/o extremes)
14:35:08 INF: Extremes: 82.8 max, 35.7 min
14:35:08 INF: Sections: AI=5%, physics=1%, sound=1%, scene=81%, shadows=8%, misc=5%
14:35:08 INF: Highs: 503 in 7.1 seconds (70.9 FPS)
14:35:08 INF: Lows: 671 in 15.5 seconds (43.2 FPS)
14:35:08 INF: 30-60 FPS: 61%
14:35:08 INF: > 60 FPS: 39%

14:38:30 INF: - benchmark results -
14:38:30 INF:
14:38:30 INF: Gfx API: OpenGL
14:38:30 INF: Duration: 60.0 seconds (2730 frames)
14:38:30 INF: Average: 45.5 FPS (54.3 w/o extremes)
14:38:30 INF: Extremes: 114.7 max, 12.6 min
14:38:30 INF: Sections: AI=4%, physics=1%, sound=1%, scene=79%, shadows=12%, misc=3%
14:38:30 INF: Highs: 261 in 2.9 seconds (91.3 FPS)
14:38:30 INF: Lows: 666 in 23.9 seconds (27.9 FPS)
14:38:30 INF: < 20 FPS: 2%
14:38:30 INF: 20-30 FPS: 12%
14:38:30 INF: 30-60 FPS: 47%
14:38:30 INF: > 60 FPS: 38%

14:41:11 INF: - benchmark results -
14:41:11 INF:
14:41:11 INF: Gfx API: Direct3D11
14:41:11 INF: Duration: 60.0 seconds (3827 frames)
14:41:11 INF: Average: 63.8 FPS (60.1 w/o extremes)
14:41:11 INF: Extremes: 151.8 max, 35.6 min
14:41:11 INF: Sections: AI=5%, physics=2%, sound=1%, scene=77%, shadows=10%, misc=6%
14:41:11 INF: Highs: 462 in 3.9 seconds (119.1 FPS)
14:41:11 INF: Lows: 26 in 0.5 seconds (47.6 FPS)
14:41:11 INF: 30-60 FPS: 44%
14:41:11 INF: > 60 FPS: 56%

14:43:54 INF: - benchmark results -
14:43:54 INF:
14:43:54 INF: Gfx API: Direct3D9
14:43:54 INF: Duration: 60.0 seconds (5829 frames)
14:43:54 INF: Average: 97.2 FPS (97.8 w/o extremes)
14:43:54 INF: Extremes: 169.0 max, 33.4 min
14:43:54 INF: Sections: AI=8%, physics=2%, sound=1%, scene=67%, shadows=16%, misc=6%
14:43:54 INF: Highs: 880 in 7.6 seconds (115.9 FPS)
14:43:54 INF: Lows: 933 in 11.3 seconds (82.3 FPS)
14:43:54 INF: > 60 FPS: 100%

Strangely DX9 results are much higher than DX11. Shouldn't it be otherwise?

Also after switching from Vulkan to OpenGL there's some dump, though the game was able to recover without crashing:

http://pastebin.com/zgNvwDP1

[mphuZ]

It's... all ? Any optimization for Vulkan?

[El Captian]

With Nividia's driver version 364.47, Vulkan works on mobile GPU's as well. I can confirm the stuttering using Vulkan in this beta. (Tested on Acer Aspire Nitro Black Edition with a 960M, 8GB Ram, i7 6700HQ)

[LotsOPing [B]]

I too ran some benchmarks I used a couple driver versions (its in the log below)

i5 2500K @ 4.4GHZ
Win 10
Geforce 670

16:24:07 INF: - benchmark results -
16:24:07 INF: Driver version: 35645 (required: 30600)
16:24:07 INF: Gfx API: Direct3D11
16:24:07 INF: Duration: 60.0 seconds (3645 frames)
16:24:07 INF: Average: 60.8 FPS (61.2 w/o extremes)
16:24:07 INF: Extremes: 103.9 max, 38.5 min
16:24:07 INF: Sections: AI=4%, physics=2%, sound=1%, scene=80%, shadows=9%, misc=5%
16:24:07 INF: Highs: 663 in 8.8 seconds (75.6 FPS)
16:24:07 INF: Lows: 588 in 12.1 seconds (48.5 FPS)
16:24:07 INF: 30-60 FPS: 42%
16:24:07 INF: > 60 FPS: 58%

16:16:26 INF: - benchmark results -
16:16:26 INF: Driver version: 35645 (required: 30600)
16:16:26 INF: Gfx API: Vulkan
16:16:26 INF: Duration: 57.8 seconds (2895 frames)
16:16:26 INF: Average: 50.1 FPS (53.2 w/o extremes)
16:16:26 INF: Extremes: 176.0 max, 6.1 min
16:16:26 INF: Sections: AI=4%, physics=1%, sound=1%, scene=84%, shadows=7%, misc=4%
16:16:26 INF: Highs: 4 in 0.0 seconds (119.3 FPS)
16:16:26 INF: Lows: 156 in 6.4 seconds (24.5 FPS)
16:16:26 INF: < 20 FPS: 1%
16:16:26 INF: 30-60 FPS: 70%
16:16:26 INF: > 60 FPS: 29%

16:44:19 INF: - benchmark results -
16:44:19 INF: Driver version: 36451 (required: 30600)
16:44:19 INF: Gfx API: Direct3D11
16:44:19 INF: Duration: 60.0 seconds (3661 frames)
16:44:19 INF: Average: 61.0 FPS (61.7 w/o extremes)
16:44:19 INF: Extremes: 112.2 max, 34.3 min
16:44:19 INF: Sections: AI=4%, physics=2%, sound=1%, scene=80%, shadows=9%, misc=5%
16:44:19 INF: Highs: 639 in 8.4 seconds (76.4 FPS)
16:44:19 INF: Lows: 596 in 12.3 seconds (48.5 FPS)
16:44:19 INF: 30-60 FPS: 41%
16:44:19 INF: > 60 FPS: 59%

16:46:53 INF: - benchmark results -
16:46:53 INF: Driver version: 36451 (required: 30600)
16:46:53 INF: Gfx API: Vulkan
16:46:53 INF: Duration: 58.1 seconds (2915 frames)
16:46:53 INF: Average: 50.2 FPS (53.6 w/o extremes)
16:46:53 INF: Extremes: 132.3 max, 6.7 min
16:46:53 INF: Sections: AI=4%, physics=1%, sound=1%, scene=84%, shadows=7%, misc=4%
16:46:53 INF: Highs: 1 in 0.0 seconds (132.3 FPS)
16:46:53 INF: Lows: 200 in 7.4 seconds (26.9 FPS)
16:46:53 INF: < 20 FPS: 1%
16:46:53 INF: 20-30 FPS: 1%
16:46:53 INF: 30-60 FPS: 69%
16:46:53 INF: > 60 FPS: 30%

[Lomkey]

Windows 10 AMD 6300+ CPU, Nivida 760 GTX Drivers 356.45.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

18:14:50 INF: - benchmark results -
18:14:50 INF:
18:14:50 INF: Gfx API: Vulkan
18:14:50 INF: Duration: 60.0 seconds (3320 frames)
18:14:50 INF: Average: 55.3 FPS (60.0 w/o extremes)
18:14:50 INF: Extremes: 88.3 max, 5.7 min
18:14:50 INF: Sections: AI=6%, physics=1%, sound=1%, scene=77%, shadows=10%, misc=5%
18:14:50 INF: Highs: 6 in 0.1 seconds (86.4 FPS)
18:14:50 INF: Lows: 371 in 10.9 seconds (34.0 FPS)
18:14:50 INF: 30-60 FPS: 43%
18:14:50 INF: > 60 FPS: 56%

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

18:16:33 INF: - benchmark results -
18:16:33 INF:
18:16:33 INF: Gfx API: Direct3D11
18:16:33 INF: Duration: 60.0 seconds (4061 frames)
18:16:33 INF: Average: 67.7 FPS (68.5 w/o extremes)
18:16:33 INF: Extremes: 116.2 max, 32.0 min
18:16:33 INF: Sections: AI=7%, physics=1%, sound=1%, scene=72%, shadows=13%, misc=5%
18:16:33 INF: Highs: 679 in 8.0 seconds (84.6 FPS)
18:16:33 INF: Lows: 763 in 13.7 seconds (55.5 FPS)
18:16:33 INF: 30-60 FPS: 21%
18:16:33 INF: > 60 FPS: 79%

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

18:18:56 INF: - benchmark results -
18:18:56 INF:
18:18:56 INF: Gfx API: OpenGL
18:18:56 INF: Duration: 55.9 seconds (1101 frames)
18:18:56 INF: Average: 19.7 FPS (20.5 w/o extremes)
18:18:56 INF: Extremes: 98.7 max, 1.9 min
18:18:56 INF: Sections: AI=2%, physics=0%, sound=1%, scene=91%, shadows=4%, misc=2%
18:18:56 INF: Highs: 94 in 1.5 seconds (62.5 FPS)
18:18:56 INF: Lows: 66 in 8.5 seconds (7.8 FPS)
18:18:56 INF: < 20 FPS: 46%
18:18:56 INF: 20-30 FPS: 37%
18:18:56 INF: 30-60 FPS: 11%
18:18:56 INF: > 60 FPS: 5%

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

18:20:32 INF: - benchmark results -
18:20:32 INF:
18:20:32 INF: Gfx API: Direct3D9
18:20:32 INF: Duration: 59.9 seconds (3953 frames)
18:20:32 INF: Average: 65.9 FPS (66.9 w/o extremes)
18:20:32 INF: Extremes: 117.5 max, 7.1 min
18:20:32 INF: Sections: AI=5%, physics=1%, sound=1%, scene=76%, shadows=11%, misc=6%
18:20:32 INF: Highs: 99 in 1.1 seconds (91.7 FPS)
18:20:32 INF: Lows: 128 in 3.2 seconds (40.0 FPS)
18:20:32 INF: 30-60 FPS: 16%
18:20:32 INF: > 60 FPS: 84%

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Channing]

The DLC : The Talos Principle: Road To Gehenna ，When to add Chinese ，just language is OK，need not voice

[Serious Sam]

Steam just added Vulkan support, so I made a some screenshots of various bugs that sometimes happen:

https://i.imgur.com/x9NMNIu.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/s8sO8Jx.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/QRkd8qE.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/VUoqCcb.jpg

[fgsfds]

Not Vulcan related, but Steam Controller settings missing Camera Switch and Zoom actions.

[notasas]

This beta still has problems with latest open source Intel drivers on Linux. Stable version of the game is fine with the same setup. Radeon open source drivers also work fine on Radeon 5750 (same machine and mesa version).

[Speedy☆☺]

What happened to the demo? It's not longer listed in steam? I was going to help test Vulkan. I can't afford to buy the game, but I'd love to test the game for Croteam!

[Kapteeni Moukku]

When i play on Vulkan GPU-Z shows 3.5 gb of dedicated memory usage and 2.1 gb of dynamic memory usage, while the dynamic memory usage is only 64 mb in DX11 mode. I have assumed a game should only use dynamic memory after the real Vram is completely filled because using the slower ram would cause stuttering. Tho i don't know how Vulkan uses memory so this could be normal, or GPU-Z is giving wrong data. Hardware: gpu is 390 with 8gb vram, 3570k 4.4 ghz, ram 1333 mhz 8 gb.