Battlefield 4 Mantle patch delayed to January

[seanR3D]

AMD's performance-saving Mantle API was said back in September to debut with Battlefield 4 as of this month. With December about come and gone, AMD has now announced Mantle will be delayed until some time next month.

"After much consideration, the decision was made to delay the Mantle patch for Battlefield 4," writes AMD. "[We continue] to support DICE on the public introduction of Mantle, and we are tremendously excited about the coming release for Battlefield 4! We are now targeting a January release and will have more information to share in the New Year."

Source: PC Perspective

[Dr. Zhivago]

Why isn't Dice making this announcement? It's too bad Dice has had so many problems with the non-Mantle version of the game. I doubt the delay of Mantle is AMD's fault, but I bet they don't want Dice to put out Mantle unless the rest of the problems with the game are fixed first.

[seanR3D]

Originally Posted by Dr. Zhivago

Why isn't Dice making this announcement? It's too bad Dice has had so many problems with the non-Mantle version of the game. I doubt the delay of Mantle is AMD's fault, but I bet they don't want Dice to put out Mantle unless the rest of the problems with the game are fixed first.

I believe the source of the news is PC Per making the query to AMD, which makes more sense than them going to DICE.

[Dr. Zhivago]

K

[metroidfox]

The Mantle performance analysis videos really showed how much overhead can happen with DirectX. I'll be curious to see what the effects of this on Battlefield 4 are. I don't think it's a CPU limited game, is it?

[Redeemed]

Originally Posted by metroidfox

The Mantle performance analysis videos really showed how much overhead can happen with DirectX. I'll be curious to see what the effects of this on Battlefield 4 are. I don't think it's a CPU limited game, is it?

Hmm... interesting point. I have to confess I've stopped following the game. But from what I recall it doesn't seem to be entirely CPU limited.

However, I'm sure that's with the latest and greatest from Intel. Maybe it is with an FX series? So maybe Mantle would grant a massive performance boost to FX users, while not so much for folks using higher-end Intel CPUs?

Very interesting point. You'd think they'd choose a launch title that'd really showcase Mantle's pontential, if BF4 isn't very CPU-limited, how good of a showcase will it really be?

[metroidfox]

Heh, yeah. I think in that Mantle performance talk, they said that in the benchmark they were running an FX-8350/8320 downclocked to 2Ghz was equivalent to the 4770k, so yeah, huge boost in CPU-bound situations. For some reason, I also think they said that it would help with the minimum frame situations, which may or may not make sense? That would be pretty significant itself if true.

[seanR3D]

Originally Posted by metroidfox

The Mantle performance analysis videos really showed how much overhead can happen with DirectX. I'll be curious to see what the effects of this on Battlefield 4 are. I don't think it's a CPU limited game, is it?

It's not.

[The PyroPath]

You can be CPU limited without loading the CPU 100% you know. Have a look at the live demo/presentation in the news section and you'll see what I mean.

[Qb2k5]

With all the crap that DICE is getting from lawsuits and such due to BF4 technical issues, I wasn't surprised at all by this news. I hope Mantle does see the day of light one day. If not mid year of next year.

[noko]

I wonder if some Mantle demo's are in the works from AMD? Would make sense to have some demo's released showing benefits. Waiting on a whole AAA game to show case Mantle seems to be a first. While a collaborative effort between parties it is suppose to be open in the end for anyone to use is how I understand it.

It does look like BF4 was launched before ready and to me that is solely EA's fault. BF4 rapidly has been improved in a rather short period of time by Dice to their credit.

[seanR3D]

Originally Posted by Qb2k5

With all the crap that DICE is getting from lawsuits and such due to BF4 technical issues, I wasn't surprised at all by this news. I hope Mantle does see the day of light one day. If not mid year of next year.

I've heard rumors this is why it was delayed, yes. Makes sense.

Originally Posted by noko

I wonder if some Mantle demo's are in the works from AMD? Would make sense to have some demo's released showing benefits. Waiting on a whole AAA game to show case Mantle seems to be a first. While a collaborative effort between parties it is suppose to be open in the end for anyone to use is how I understand it.

It does look like BF4 was launched before ready and to me that is solely EA's fault. BF4 rapidly has been improved in a rather short period of time by Dice to their credit.

Have you not seen this?

You're grossly misattributing blame and credit due to bias. DICE has stated the issues are ultimately their fault, and I'm very inclined to agree given every game they've ever released has been rushed and severely lacking in polish (EA has rushed some studios and caused issues, but plenty of games they've published have come out very polished, too). DICE has fixed the major issues in relatively short order, but this should be merely expected as the least they can do after releasing a broken game in the first place, not lauded.

[noko]

Originally Posted by seanR3D

I've heard rumors this is why it was delayed, yes. Makes sense.


Have you not seen this?

You're grossly misattributing blame and credit due to bias. DICE has stated the issues are ultimately their fault, and I'm very inclined to agree given every game they've ever released has been rushed and severely lacking in polish (EA has rushed some studios and caused issues, but plenty of games they've published have come out very polished, too). DICE has fixed the major issues in relatively short order, but this should be merely expected as the least they can do after releasing a broken game in the first place, not lauded.

No bias, yes DICE is doing a great job in fixing the game rapidly. Still think EA is has a big culprit in how tested, expectations and maybe just demands from them due to time.

[AluminumHaste]

Originally Posted by Qb2k5

With all the crap that DICE is getting from lawsuits and such due to BF4 technical issues, I wasn't surprised at all by this news. I hope Mantle does see the day of light one day. If not mid year of next year.

From my understanding it's EA getting sued, not Dice.
Dice better not go ANYWHERE! I NEED Mirror's Edge 2!
Played the first one to death so much that I feel like I'm becoming a necrophiliac.

[Akumajo]

For your video gaming sakes EA better not go anywhere either...they are the publisher who funds these devs with $$$$$$ and who no doubt are pushing the software tech to stand out from rival Activision' CoD cash cow.

First year console games will always have flaws at least EA is supporting DICE here for tapping and mastering these current gen consoles as early as possible and PC gamers will benefit huge.