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Freeman [soylentnews.org] writes:

https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2025/11/new-project-brings-strong-linux-compatibility-to-more-classic-windows-games/ [arstechnica.com]

For years now [arstechnica.com], Valve has been slowly improving the capabilities [arstechnica.com] of the Proton compatibility layer that lets thousands of Windows games work seamlessly on the Linux-based SteamOS [arstechnica.com]. But Valve’s Windows-to-Linux compatibility layer generally only extends back to games written for Direct3D 8, the proprietary Windows graphics API Microsoft released in late 2000.

Now, a new open source project is seeking to extend Linux interoperability further back into PC gaming history. The d7vk project [github.com] describes itself as “a Vulkan-based translation layer for Direct3D 7 [D3D7], which allows running 3D applications on Linux using Wine.”
[...]
Wine [winehq.org]‘s own built-in WineD3D compatibility layer has supported D3D7 in some form or another for at least two decades now [winehq.org]. But the new d7vk project instead branches off the existing dxvk compatibility layer [github.com], which is already used by Valve’s Proton [github.com] for SteamOS and which reportedly offers better performance than WineD3D [reddit.com] on many games.
[...]
The D3D7 games list predictably includes a lot of licensed shovelware, but there are also well-remembered games like Escape from Monkey Island, Arx Fatalis, and the original Hitman: Codename 47. WinterSnowfall writes that the project was inspired by a desire to play games like Sacrifice and Disciples II on top of the existing dxvk framework.
[...]
Don’t expect this project to expand to include support for even older DirectX APIs, either, WinterSnowfall warns. “D3D7 is enough of a challenge and a mess as it is,” the author writes. “The further we stray from D3D9, the further we stray from the divine.”

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