PS4 to include Nvidia ApeX and PhysX

[PorkPieCat]

http://www.slashgear.com/nvidia-announces-physx-and-apex-support-for-ps4-07272935/

It's probably worth nothing that the Xbox 360 also had an AMD gpu and PhysX.

I guess Nvidia figure consoles will sell the same amount whether or not they have PhysX, whereas the development and adoption of the technology could either slow down or grow depending on whether next gen consoles are capable or incapable of utilizing it.

 

[PorkPieCat]

That's quite interesting, so it seems that Physx can work on AMD hardware, I hope this is the start of Physx being non Nvidia exclusive on pc to.

Yeah, since PhysX is just an API it's not hardware dependent. Nvidia also use similar locks to exclude non-certified 3D monitors from 3D Vision. Both to decent marketing effect.

I don't think it's consistent with Nvidia's modus operandi to open up PhysX for PC, and it probably makes more sense for them to just allow consoles to use it. Allowing Physx on consoles won't improve console sales (and therefore AMD revenue), but it will keep PhysX relevant for game developers and gamers alike, ultimately allowing Nvidia to sell more cards.

It's interesting to see that despite AMD and Nvidia's polar opposite approaches to marketing and development (open vs proprietary), gamers don't seem to care about it enough to make a difference in either company's wallets. Thing about PhysX is it's a double edged sword - Nvidia pump money into it and it doesn't give them significantly more market share than AMD because developers don't want to commit resources to a comparatively nascent technology only half or fewer gamers can use. I agree it should either be abolished or made open, but Nvidia probably don't see it that way. At some point if it doesn't die it will definitely get so good that developers would be foolish not to include it in their games. At that stage or preferably sooner AMD will have to respond with some kind of proper physics API. Will probably be expensive for them since Nvidia's been developing PhysX for years now. Anyway with the advent of TressFX, there's hope for interesting things to come

 

[PorkPieCat]

originally you had a standalone physx card (forgot what the comnpany was called) which work with both nvidia and ati cards but then nvidia decided to buy the company making physx card to intergrate it into their own hardware so that it be a nvidia only. now when this happen it was abit of a good thing but at the same time a bad thing for physx, what should happen in my opinion is that nvidia shouldn't of bought physx outright, it remain a standalone card and have both ati/nvidia in a partnership so to promote it and to develop it better. it would have most likely work a hell of a lot better that way but again big company see somthing they like, that a little company has develops so they take it by buy the little company up. it an age old story.

it's true it would be better for gamers, but evidently nvidia felt it was easy money for them.

frankly despite my personal annoyance about it it was obviously a smart move for nvidia. they got to buy an entire technology for what i assume was a paltry sum for them. ever since they've been putting aside a small amount of money for it every year in the knowledge that it will eventually be a hot commodity. if it fails, they don't really lose much. and it already generates them profit: there are plenty of gamers who pay a premium to buy an nvidia card just for this feature, and there are people who buy nvidia addon cards to enable physx using a main amd card.

nvidia made a move and the onus is on amd to make a response. gamers can shout all they want at nvidia, they won't budge while they make profit. unfortunately the longer amd waits the more expensive it will be for them later to counter what might by then be a very potent technology.

 

[PorkPieCat]

Proper lol'd but if AMD are now taking PhysX on board their GPU's, this should be a good thing all round. I did say ages ago that Nvidia did open up PhysX to everyone but I got shot down for saying and linking the chap that said it.

Anyways, that is history and this is now. I for one would love to see PhysX working fully on AMD GPU's but not sure if that is the idea or not. That link is a little vague.

only on the ps4. as i said in first post they gave xbox 360 physx, and that was based on an amd gpu as well. while i'd love to be optimistic i think more realistically nvidia's just securing physx' future rather than letting everyone use it. we'll see!