LunarG Releases Vulkan SDK 1.4.321.0

Vulkan SDK 1.4.321.0 Released: New Extensions, SPIR-V Tools Update, and Molten VK 1.3

Released 15 July, 2025

We’re thrilled to announce the release of the Vulkan SDK 1.4.321.0, packed with exciting new features, extensions, and improvements to empower developers with greater flexibility and performance in graphics and compute applications. This release, announced on July 15, 2025, aligns with the Vulkan Working Group’s ongoing commitment to advancing the Vulkan API. Let’s dive into the key updates in this release!

Vulkan 1.4.321.0 SDK released

New Extensions in Vulkan 1.4.321.0

The Vulkan headers now include a robust set of new extensions, offering developers optional features to enhance rendering, presentation, and video processing capabilities. Note that these extensions are optional and depend on support from the underlying driver or Installable Client Driver (ICD). Applications can query for the presence of these extensions to leverage their functionality. The new extensions are:

• VK_KHR_present_mode_fifo_latest_ready: Introduces a tear-free presentation mode (VK_PRESENT_MODE_FIFO_LATEST_READY_KHR) similar to VK_PRESENT_MODE_FIFO_KHR, optimized for time-based presentation APIs. Developed by NVIDIA and Google, this extension enhances frame pacing for smoother visuals.
• VK_KHR_surface_maintenance1: Adds window system integration features omitted from the original VK_KHR_surface extension, including querying min/max image counts, scaled presentation capabilities, and switchable presentation modes without swapchain recreation.
• VK_KHR_swapchain_maintenance1: Enhances VK_KHR_swapchain with features like per-present mode changes, fence signaling for resource cleanup, and deferred memory allocation for better startup performance and memory efficiency.
• VK_KHR_video_encode_intra_refresh: Expands Vulkan Video encoding with intra-refresh capabilities, enabling advanced video encoding workflows.
• VK_SEC_pipeline_cache_incremental_mode: Introduces incremental pipeline cache updates for improved performance.
• VK_ARM_data_graph: Provides ARM-specific data graph functionality for optimized processing.
• VK_OHOS_surface: Adds support for OHOS (Huawei’s operating system) surface integration.
• VK_VALVE_fragment_density_map_layered: Enables layered fragment density mapping for advanced rendering techniques.
• VK_KHR_maintenance9: Includes minor maintenance updates to improve API robustness.
• VK_KHR_present_id2: Enhances presentation identification for better frame tracking.
• VK_KHR_present_wait2: Replaces VK_KHR_present_wait, offering per-surface queryable wait functionality for improved latency control.
• VK_KHR_unified_image_layouts: Simplifies image layout management for more efficient resource handling.
• VK_KHR_video_decode_vp9: Adds VP9 video decoding support to Vulkan Video.
• VK_ARM_tensors: Introduces ARM-specific tensor processing capabilities.
• VK_EXT_shader_float8: Enables 8-bit floating-point operations in shaders for reduced memory usage.
• VK_ARM_format_pack: Optimizes format handling for ARM architectures.
• VK_EXT_zero_initialize_device_memory: Allows zero-initialized device memory for simplified resource management.
• VK_KHR_robustness2: Enhances robustness features for more reliable application behavior.

Developers can query these extensions using vkEnumerateDeviceExtensionProperties to check for driver support, ensuring compatibility across diverse hardware.

SPIR-V Tools Update: Canonicalize-IDs Pass

The spirv-remap utility from glslang has been ported to the SPIRV-Tools repository as a new optimization pass called canonicalize-ids, available in spirv-opt. This pass offers functionally equivalent ID canonicalization for SPIR-V code, streamlining shader processing. Developers can access usage details by running spirv-opt –help. The spirv-remap utility in glslang is now deprecated and will be removed in the next SDK release, so we encourage transitioning to the canonicalize-ids pass for future-proofing your workflows.

Improved Validation Coverage

Validation layers have been enhanced with updated VUID (Valid Usage ID) coverage. The accompanying documentation (validation_error_database.csv and validation_error_database.html) now reflects the latest validation layer status, helping developers identify and resolve API usage issues more effectively. These updates ensure robust error checking and compliance with Vulkan specifications.

MoltenVK Updated to Version 1.3.0

MoltenVK, the Vulkan implementation for Metal on macOS and iOS, has been upgraded to version 1.3.0. This update brings full support for Vulkan 1.3 along with multiple new extensions, significantly boosting compatibility and performance for Apple platforms. For detailed changes, refer to the MoltenVK release notes.

Thank You to Vulkan Ecosystem Contributors!

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the contributors in the Vulkan ecosystem—developers, engineers, designers, and community members—who have played a vital role in making the Vulkan SDK 1.4.321.0 release possible. Your dedication to advancing the Vulkan API through innovative extensions, robust tools, and rigorous validation ensures that developers worldwide can create cutting-edge graphics and compute applications. Special thanks to the teams at NVIDIA, Google, ARM, Valve, and countless others for their contributions to the new extensions, MoltenVK updates, and SPIR-V tools enhancements. Your collaborative spirit drives the Vulkan community forward, and we’re excited to see what you’ll help us achieve next!

Get Started with Vulkan SDK 1.4.321.0

The Vulkan SDK 1.4.321.0 is a significant step forward, offering new tools and extensions to enhance graphics and compute development. Whether you’re optimizing video encoding, improving presentation latency, or targeting new platforms like OHOS, this release has something for every Vulkan developer. Download the SDK today from the Vulkan SDK download page and explore the full potential of these updates. Tell us how we can assist you! Share your feedback, questions, or project ideas with the Vulkan community to help shape the future of this powerful API. Stay tuned for more updates, and happy coding!

Release Notes

• Release Notes for Linux
• Release Notes for Windows
• Release Notes for macOS

About LunarG

GPU software development teams often run into roadblocks they can’t move on their own. LunarG is the industry’s leading problem-solving partner for GPU programming. We provide the tools, expertise, and passion you need to keep moving forward and deliver innovative, quality products. Visit the LunarG website to learn more.