WebGPU is a successor of sorts to WebGL, a much older API that allows OpenGL-based graphics to be rendered in your browser without requiring additional third-party plugins like Adobe's Flash. What is WebGPU?įurther Reading New WebGL standard aims for 3D Web without browser plugins Once Safari and Firefox add support, virtually all web browsers everywhere will be able to run WebGPU code, so it's worth explaining in brief what WebGPU is and why it exists. Chrome accounts for roughly two-thirds of browser market share worldwide, according to StatCounter data, and nearly 80 percent of all browser market share if you count other Chromium-based browsers. Support in Chrome is a big boost for any new standard, whether it's a new or updated API, image format, or video codec. Google says that Mozilla and Apple will eventually support WebGPU in Firefox and Safari, and browsers like Microsoft Edge and Opera that rely on the Chromium browser engine can presumably choose to switch it on just as Google has.Ĭhrome 113 supports WebGPU on Windows, macOS, and ChromeOS to start, with 'support for other platforms' like Linux and Android 'coming later this year.' This browser version should roll out to all Chrome users sometime in May. WebGPU support has been available but off by default in Chrome for a while now, because the API wasn't finalized and things could break from update to update.

In development since 2017, WebGPU is a next-generation graphics API that aims to bring the benefits of low-overhead APIs like Microsoft's Direct3D 12, Apple's Metal, and Vulkan to web browsers and other apps. Google announced today that it would enable WebGPU support in its Chrome browser by default starting in version 113, currently in beta. Andrew Cunningham/Google reader comments 80 with

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