NVIDIA Announces PhysX and APEX Support for Sony PlayStation 4

[btarunr]

NVIDIA today announced support for Sony Computer Entertainment's PlayStation4 with the popular NVIDIA PhysX and NVIDIA APEX software development kits (SDKs). Game designers use PhysX and APEX technologies for collision detection and simulation of rigid bodies, clothing, fluids, particle systems and more across a wide range of platforms, including desktop PCs, game consoles, and mobile and handheld devices.

NVIDIA PhysX technology is the world's most pervasive physics solution for designing real-time, real-world effects into interactive entertainment titles. The PhysX development environment gives developers unprecedented control over the look of their final in-game interactivity.

Taking PhysX technology content creation to the next level, NVIDIA APEX technology lets artists create intricate physics-enabled environments. They can expand the quantity and visual quality of destructible objects; make smoke and other particle-based fluids integral to game play; and create life-like clothing that interacts with the character's body to achieve more realism in their games.

"Great physics technology is essential for delivering a better gaming experience and multiplatform support is critical for developers," said Mike Skolones, product manager for PhysX at NVIDIA. "With PhysX and APEX support for PlayStation4, customers can look forward to better games."

NVIDIA PhysX and APEX technologies are designed to run on a variety of CPU architectures and can be accelerated by any CUDA architecture-enabled NVIDIA GPU, GeForce 8-series or higher.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[dj-electric]

Really? ..... Really?!?!

The irony, is just amazing with this one.

 

[btarunr]

Proof that PhysX can be implemented on AMD Graphics CoreNext if NVIDIA really wanted. With a swelling list of PC games falling under AMD's various developer programs, the only way PhysX can survive is getting open.

 

[Prima.Vera]

Oh, the irony. So Physx on AMD hardware is more than possible, but not for PCs...

 

[W1zzard]

The PR is not clear on whether it will run PhysX on the PS4 shaders or CPU. Already sent an email to NVIDIA with request for clarification

 

[T3RM1N4L D0GM4]

Will it run on the cpu (meh :v ) or (we all hope) on the gpu??

NVIDIA PhysX and APEX technologies are designed to run on a variety of CPU architectures and can be accelerated by any CUDA architecture-enabled NVIDIA GPU, GeForce 8-series or higher.

Edit: ok, W1zz had my exacty doubt and he's trying get some serious answer...

 

[Maban]

This was obviously left ambiguous for a reason. Sneaky, sneaky. There is no way that they would let it run on the GPU.

 

[TheLaughingMan]

Proof that PhysX can be implemented on AMD Graphics CoreNext if NVIDIA really wanted. With a swelling list of PC games falling under AMD's various developer programs, the only way PhysX can survive is getting open.

I can but it will not be. This will be run on the CPU side of the PS4 which means it would work, but not at the level of detail as a Nvidia GPU with CUDA cores.

At least the 8 core CPU will serve a purpose now. I was wondering what they would do with the extra 4 cores during gaming besides download in the background.

 

[vega22]

physx was hacked to run on amd gpu back in the 4k days so we already knew it would work but at that time ati wouldnt offer offical support for an nvidia api.

idk if they can have much say whats ran on the hardware they are selling oem to sony.

 

[nickbaldwin86]

Oh, the irony. So Physx on AMD hardware is more than possible, but not for PCs...

FALSE!!!

You ever tried search before making such false statements?
It is more than possible
You have to run a dedicated NV card but it is very very possible.

I have run it in many systems.

I had 2x5850s at one point with a dedicated NV GPU for physx.

every time I have done it its more than a waste of time and a hassle, neither NV or ATI make it easy and the games that have it are meh games anyways.



The PS4 will no doubt be the same way... it will not run Physx on a AMD chip, Nvidia will have a chip in the PS4 just for the Physx to be processed on, just like dedicating a card to it.

 

[SIGSEGV]

it's time for physx to die

 

[Hillbilly]

I wonder what the new spin will be for not enabling PhysX on AMD hardware will be? Or could it be that Sony's contribution to the custom APU has some NVIDIA sauce in it? This is very interesting.

 

[RejZoR]

Both AMD and NVIDIA should just cut the BS and stop releasing their own proprietary versions of physics. Because until they get that only ones at lose are the gamers and no one else.

 

[TRWOV]

AMD doesn't have a proprietary physics engine

 

[Prima.Vera]

FALSE!!!

You ever tried search before making such false statements?
It is more than possible
You have to run a dedicated NV card but it is very very possible.

I have run it in many systems.

I had 2x5850s at one point with a dedicated NV GPU for physx.

every time I have done it its more than a waste of time and a hassle, neither NV or ATI make it easy and the games that have it are meh games anyways.



The PS4 will no doubt be the same way... it will not run Physx on a AMD chip, Nvidia will have a chip in the PS4 just for the Physx to be processed on, just like dedicating a card to it.

You on mushrooms?? :shadedshu

 

[SIGSEGV]

NVIDIA should just cut the BS and stop releasing their own proprietary versions of physics. Because until they get that only ones at lose are the gamers and no one else.

Fixed.
AMD doesn't have proprietary physics processor. AMD is using directcompute to process their own physics (TressFX).

 

[cadaveca]

it will not run Physx on a AMD chip, Nvidia will have a chip in the PS4 just for the Physx to be processed on, just like dedicating a card to it.

Nvidia isn't a hardware company. They are now a software company, that also makes hardware. Hardware is no longer their primary focus.

http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/graphics/display/20091023135737_Nvidia_CEO_We_Are_Software_Company.html

Nvidia is a software company, [software] will be what will drive our growth. We just don’t write the application, but we create all the core technology, we create more core technology for visual computing than any other company in the world. […] What you are and how you make money doesn’t have to be the same. […] Apple is a software company but they make money by selling hardware. […] Nvidia is an integrated complete visual computing and parallel computing solution technology company

Jen Hsun Huang should take his own advice though:

But his advice to young entrepreneurs today took the form of a series of questions: Is this an important problem to solve? Are you the one to solve it? Are you more passionate about it than the competition? Are you more prepared?

http://blogs.nvidia.com/2012/05/nvidia-ceo-shakes-out-future-of-tech/

 

[Mindweaver]

Nvidia isn't a hardware company. They are now a software company, that also makes hardware. Hardware is no longer their primary focus.

I don't know Dave, I think there primary focus is on tegra, and then software. But there software is for there hardware.

EDIT: You edited.. hehehe I stand corrected. Thanks for the link.

 

[cadaveca]

Read the quote. I didn't say that....Nvidia's CEO and owner did. I'd not make any such claims without backup.

 

[W1zzard]

Official response:

Currently, most features in the PhysX SDK run only on the CPU, regardless of platforms. Certain features, such as particle systems and clothing, can be accelerated on a CUDA-capable GPU. We will continue to study the feasibility of alternate implementations, and welcome any feedback from the developer community regarding the value of GPU-accelerated PhysX on all architectures.

 

[cadaveca]

Official response:

The funny thing about that response, to me, is that Sony highlighted porting physics calculation off of the CPU, and onto the GPU, in it's premiere(1 million physics objects, or something). What Nvidia is offering, seemingly, is the exact opposite.

Puzzling.

I smell a $3-$5 per-copy licensing fee for devs that use it.

 

[Maban]

Currently, most features in the PhysX SDK run only on the CPU, regardless of platforms. Certain features, such as particle systems and clothing, can be accelerated on a CUDA-capable GPU. We will continue to study the feasibility of alternate implementations, and welcome any feedback from the developer community regarding the value of GPU-accelerated PhysX on all architectures.

IE: We will never let it be more than x86 and CUDA, but we will string you along so you believe it could happen soon.

 

[Xzibit]

So all of it was just a headline grab.

Nvidia saying to consoles please dont forget us.

Fits in to what BSN is saying about Nvidia

Furthermore, in off-the-record discussions with the developers, we learned that Nvidia no longer invests as much in PC gaming developer teams as it used to, as Tegra is viewed as the main growth driver for the company. Naturally, this is purely one sided view, but a view coming from several game development companies which combined shipped over 100 million units.

 

[TheMailMan78]

So all of it was just a headline grab.

Nvidia saying to consoles please dont forget us.

Fits in to what BSN is saying about Nvidia

Of course not. PC gaming is a dying market. Tablet, mobile, console is the only way to survive in their situation.

 

[Fluffmeister]

I think people are just reading too much into this, PhysX was licensed and used on the current gen consoles and it will be no different with the new consoles.

It's just about giving your developers more options, nothing more nothing less.