Under the codename Project Mantle, AMD is developing a new standard graphics API that would allow PC developers to access low level GPU functions directly without incurring the overhead associated with DirectX and Open GL calls.
AMD claims that Mantle is capable of performing nine times the number of draw calls per second than DirectX and Open GL. The API is designed in collaboration with leading game developers. Battlefield's Frostbite engine has been confirmed to support it and there are rumors regarding CryEngine and Unreal Engine support.
Despite the fact that both PlayStation 4 and Xbox One are powered by AMD's GPUs, the company has confirmed that neither of the 2 consoles will support Mantle. "The Xbox One graphics API is "Direct3D 11.x" and the Xbox One hardware provides a superset of Direct3D 11.2 functionality. Other graphics APIs such as OpenGL and AMD’s Mantle are not available on Xbox One," the company explained.
When asked for more explanation, AMD elaborated that "What Mantle creates for the PC is a development environment that’s *similar* to the consoles, which already offer low-level APIs, close-to-metal programming, easier development and more (vs. the complicated PC environment)."
"By creating a more console-like developer environment, Mantle: improves time to market; reduces development costs; and allows for considerably more efficient rendering, improving performance for gamers. The console connection is made because next-gen uses Radeon, so much of the programming they’re doing for the consoles are already well-suited to a modern Radeon architecture on the desktop; that continuum is what allows Mantle to exist."