[4.7.1] Vulkan wont initialize
Moderators: GZDoom Developers, LZDoom Developers, UZDoom Developers
Forum rules
Please be as descriptive as possible in your posts (list your hardware and operating system, the version of the source port you are using, any mods you are running and how they're being loaded, etc.)
This will help others to give you a solution!
Please be as descriptive as possible in your posts (list your hardware and operating system, the version of the source port you are using, any mods you are running and how they're being loaded, etc.)
This will help others to give you a solution!
- Xtyfe
- Posts: 1490
- Joined: Fri Dec 14, 2007 6:29 pm
- Preferred Pronouns: He/Him
- Operating System Version (Optional): Windows 11
- Graphics Processor: nVidia with Vulkan support
[4.7.1] Vulkan wont initialize
Vulkan will not initialize when starting gzdoom up.
I have attached a screenshot to show what I get in the console. If there is any more info I can provide, please let me know.
I have attached a screenshot to show what I get in the console. If there is any more info I can provide, please let me know.
Re: [4.7.1] Vulkan wont initialize
Make sure you are using the latest up-to-date drivers from NVidia.
- Xtyfe
- Posts: 1490
- Joined: Fri Dec 14, 2007 6:29 pm
- Preferred Pronouns: He/Him
- Operating System Version (Optional): Windows 11
- Graphics Processor: nVidia with Vulkan support
Re: [4.7.1] Vulkan wont initialize
I just updated actually. GZDoom is the only vulkan-based game that does this.
Re: [4.7.1] Vulkan wont initialize
We need confirmation with other people with this driver that this is a general issue. The reason I'm saying this is basically this is the very first step where the code asks vulkan for its list of devices and then none are returned. It is therefore more likely to be an issue with the driver and/or combination of the driver and those various overlay programs people run that tend to be buggy in one way or another.
Re: [4.7.1] Vulkan wont initialize
Just an update on this. Tried installing this driver on my computer and it works just fine.
My guess is you have some kind of third party software installed that puts itself in between GZDoom and the graphics card. They are often used by communication software (Discord, etc), store software (Steam, etc), video recording software (Discord, etc), or graphical rape software (Reshade, etc). I guess you could also try reinstall the driver on your computer to see if that helps. In any case, it doesn't seem to be triggered by just the driver.
My guess is you have some kind of third party software installed that puts itself in between GZDoom and the graphics card. They are often used by communication software (Discord, etc), store software (Steam, etc), video recording software (Discord, etc), or graphical rape software (Reshade, etc). I guess you could also try reinstall the driver on your computer to see if that helps. In any case, it doesn't seem to be triggered by just the driver.
- Xtyfe
- Posts: 1490
- Joined: Fri Dec 14, 2007 6:29 pm
- Preferred Pronouns: He/Him
- Operating System Version (Optional): Windows 11
- Graphics Processor: nVidia with Vulkan support
Re: [4.7.1] Vulkan wont initialize
I did some digging and it seems like this is related to the fact that I am using a laptop with switchable graphics. What is even weirder is the fact that I was able to get Vulkan to work with GZdoom so long as I started a game straight from clicking on the exe itself. Why is that weird? Because I can't get Vulkan to work if I use a launcher like ZDL. I have no idea why though, but on the bright side, it seems to work in general.
I wonder though if GZDoom has any proper handling for switchable graphics. It seems to be quite common these days.
I wonder though if GZDoom has any proper handling for switchable graphics. It seems to be quite common these days.
Re: [4.7.1] Vulkan wont initialize
It did, but then Microsoft decided "we're going to handle switchable graphics ourselves" and that broke GZDoom's internal handling of it. It has not been repaired since.
- Xtyfe
- Posts: 1490
- Joined: Fri Dec 14, 2007 6:29 pm
- Preferred Pronouns: He/Him
- Operating System Version (Optional): Windows 11
- Graphics Processor: nVidia with Vulkan support
Re: [4.7.1] Vulkan wont initialize
Honestly, if there is anything I have learned from this, it's that microsoft did a shit job of it. 
Re: [4.7.1] Vulkan wont initialize
Yes - it doesn't even work at all, for my laptop.
Anyway you can try this - you can try starting up with "gzdoom +vk_device <#>" starting at 1 and going up - 0 is default. You likely only have 2 devices, so just try 1 and 2.
Anyway you can try this - you can try starting up with "gzdoom +vk_device <#>" starting at 1 and going up - 0 is default. You likely only have 2 devices, so just try 1 and 2.
- Xtyfe
- Posts: 1490
- Joined: Fri Dec 14, 2007 6:29 pm
- Preferred Pronouns: He/Him
- Operating System Version (Optional): Windows 11
- Graphics Processor: nVidia with Vulkan support
Re: [4.7.1] Vulkan wont initialize
Ok, I found the problem. It was neither GZDoom nor my laptop hardware. I was using a desktop dock to launch programs and apparently, it launches dock items in a weird way such as ignoring Vulkan.
