Chrome’s new WebGPU tech promises new era for browser games

Harnessing the power of your GPU for next-gen gaming

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Googleis rolling out the first iteration of WebGPU which will allow theChrome browserto use a computer’s graphics card to enhance web-based video games and their graphical fidelity.

The new API (Application Programming Interface) is the result of a six-year development cycle by theGPU for the Web Community Groupwith contributions from several tech giants like Mozilla,Apple, andMicrosoft. As a successor to the current WebGL model,WebGPUis said to lessen the “JavaScript workload” for its browser as well as triple the performance of “machine learning model inferences.” The end goal is to have browser games sporting “highly-detailed scenes with many different objects” as “many modern rendering techniques” will be now possible. Pre-existing titles like those found on Javascript 3D libraries like Babylon.js will see an improvement too.

Outside of gaming, the API can be used byproductivity appsto “offload computations to the GPU. Teleconferencing platforms like Google Meet can utilize the improved machine learning to run more efficiently,according to the WebGPU Explainer.

WebGPU is currently available as a default setting on thebeta version of Chrome 113,which is available for download on Windows, ChromeOS, andmacOS. However, at least for the first two systems, you’ll have to meet a few system requirements.Windows devicesmust support Direct3D 12 whileChromeOSdevices must have the Vulkan API enabled. If you prefer to wait for a stable launch instead,Chrome 113 will officially launchwith WebGPU on April 26.

For early adopters like us, Google provides a couple of resources so people can see the API in action. We tried out several games found in theBabylon.js libraryon both Chrome 111 and the Chrome 113 beta to see if there were any significant upgrades. Single-player titles likeTemple Run 2didn’t really have a big performance boost apart from being slightly faster. However, with Shell Shockers, a free FPS (first-person shooter) multiplayer game, we did notice faster load times and a smoother frame rate. Graphics-wise, none of the games looked any different, but keep in mind, adoption is just beginning. To see what WebGPU is graphically capable of, Babylon.js has afree tech demo on its website.

As for other browsers, Google states WebGPU support forFirefoxandSafariis still “a work in progress”. Linux and Android devices are also slated to get the API later down the line. No official word for iOS release, but considering the macOS support, it’s probably only a matter of time.

If you’re looking for another way to procrastinate, check outTechRadar’s list of the best free web browser games.

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Cesar Cadenas has been writing about the tech industry for several years now specializing in consumer electronics, entertainment devices, Windows, and the gaming industry. But he’s also passionate about smartphones, GPUs, and cybersecurity.

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