Translate Windows Direct3D calls to Vulkan or OpenGL so games can run on Android hardware through Wine.
Windows games communicate with the GPU through Microsoft’s Direct3D API (part of DirectX). Android hardware has no native Direct3D support, so Winlator uses translation libraries — called DirectX wrappers — to convert those API calls into Vulkan or OpenGL commands that Mesa drivers can execute.
DXVK translates Direct3D 9, 10, and 11 to Vulkan. It is the best-performing wrapper for the majority of modern and semi-modern Windows games.Supported DirectX versions: D3D9, D3D10, D3D11
Backend: Vulkan
Available versions: 0.96, 1.4.2, 1.7.2, 2.2, 2.3.1, 2.5.2, 2.6.1
DXVK requires a Vulkan-capable driver. Use it with Turnip on Adreno devices, or with Zink on other Vulkan-capable GPUs.
DXVK has its own configuration system. Tap the DXVK config button in the container settings (backed by DXVKConfigDialog) to set options such as:
Frame rate limiter (dxvk.maxFrameRate)
HUD overlay elements (dxvk.hud)
Async shader compilation (dxvk.enableAsync)
State cache behaviour
The configuration is stored in the container’s dxwrapperConfig field as a key-value string.
VKD3D translates Direct3D 12 to Vulkan. Use it for games that require DX12.Supported DirectX versions: D3D12
Backend: Vulkan
Available versions: 2.12, 2.14.1
VKD3D requires Vulkan 1.3 support from the GPU driver. On Adreno devices, use Turnip 25.0.0 for the best DX12 compatibility. DX12 games are generally more demanding and may not run well on all devices.
WineD3D is Wine’s built-in software Direct3D implementation. It translates Direct3D calls to OpenGL and does not require Vulkan. It is the most compatible option but typically the slowest.Supported DirectX versions: D3D8, D3D9, D3D10, D3D11 (software path)
Backend: OpenGL
Available versions: 4.21, 7.8, 10.0 (installable)
Internal identifier:wined3d
WineD3D is useful when a game is incompatible with DXVK, or on GPUs that lack Vulkan support. Performance is lower than DXVK but compatibility is broader.
D8VK translates Direct3D 8 to Vulkan. It is a fork of DXVK extended to cover the older DX8 API surface.Supported DirectX versions: D3D8
Backend: Vulkan
Use D8VK for games from 1999–2002 that use Direct3D 8. Examples include early-2000s action games, racing titles, and some RPGs from that era.
CNC DDraw replaces the legacy DirectDraw and Direct3D 1–7 APIs with an OpenGL implementation. It is primarily aimed at real-time strategy games and other titles from the mid-1990s to early 2000s.Supported DirectX versions: DirectDraw, D3D1–D3D7
Backend: OpenGL
CNC DDraw is the right choice for classic RTS games (Command & Conquer series, Age of Empires, StarCraft) and other games that rely on 2D blitting via DirectDraw rather than 3D rendering.
Use DXVK. Most games from this era target D3D9 or D3D11. DXVK’s Vulkan backend delivers the best frame rates with Turnip on Adreno devices.
Game requires DirectX 12
Use VKD3D. Select the latest available version (2.14.1) and pair with Turnip 25.0.0 on Adreno hardware.
Game from 1999–2003 using Direct3D 8
Use D8VK. D8VK covers the DX8 API that DXVK does not handle.
Classic RTS or 2D game using DirectDraw
Use CNC DDraw. It correctly handles the blitting and palette operations that DirectDraw games rely on.
Game crashes or renders incorrectly with DXVK
Try WineD3D as a fallback. While slower, it has broader per-game compatibility because it goes through Wine’s software implementation rather than a Vulkan translation layer.
Non-Vulkan GPU
Use WineD3D (backed by OpenGL via VirGL) if your GPU does not support Vulkan. CNC DDraw is also available for legacy titles.
DXVK, VKD3D, WineD3D, Box64, and Turnip can be installed as optional components from the Winlator in-app component manager. The available packages are stored in the installable_components/ directory:
Older DXVK versions (0.96, 1.4.2, 1.7.2) can improve compatibility with games that have issues on newer DXVK builds. Box64 and Turnip installable components let you update or downgrade these layers independently of the main app.
Tap the DXVK config button to open the configuration editor. Settings are stored in the container’s dxwrapperConfig field.
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Adjust settings for your game
Common adjustments include enabling async shader compilation to reduce stutter, or setting a frame-rate cap.
Changing the DX wrapper after installing a game may require you to reinstall or reconfigure the game. DirectX runtime DLLs are written into the Wine prefix when the game is installed; switching wrappers may leave stale DLLs in place. If you encounter issues after switching, consider re-running the game’s installer.
