DXVK has proven to be a huge success for improving the experience of running Windows Direct3D 9/10/11 games on Linux by translating those D3D calls to Vulkan. DXVK-Native meanwhile is the newer spin-off effort around providing a DXVK-based build native for Linux to help in game ports that still can then rely on their Direct3D renderer path.

DXVK-Native is what Valve is already using for offering a Vulkan rendering path with Portal 2 and Left 4 Dead 2 on Linux and even Windows. There are also a few other games so far relying on DXVK-Native for Linux and/or Google Stadia support.

DXVK-Native complements DXVK for helping those game studios wanting to offer a native Linux build or "Vulkan" support but still going through their Direct3D code path. DXVK-Native is described as replacing "certain Windows-isms with a platform and framework-agnostic replacement".

More details on DXVK-Native and its first release can be found via the project's GitHub . DXVK Native 1.9.1a is the inaugural release with binaries for the Steam Runtime being provided and Windows. The updated DXVK-Native will be shipping out soon to updated Portal 2 and Left 4 Dead 2 game updates.