# Novum/vkQuake

Vulkan Quake port based on QuakeSpasm

Repository: https://github.com/Novum/vkQuake
Canonical: https://ross.abutalabs.com/products/vkquake
Language: C
License: GPL-2.0
License Family: copyleft
Topics: vulkan, quake, gpu, 3d-graphics, hardware-acceleration
Last push: 2026-08-26T04:05:54+00:00

## Health v2 (maintenance only)
Score: 93/100 (v2, computed 2026-09-02T17:46:02.011165+00:00)
- activity 99, release rhythm 80, longevity 100
- inputs: {"age_days": 3696, "days_push": 7, "days_rel": 56, "gap_med": 54.0, "n_releases_24m": 11}
- flags: none
- formula: round(0.45*activity + 0.35*rhythm + 0.20*longevity); archived -> min(score, 10)

## Adoption (not part of the score)
Stars 2259, forks 277 (observed 2026-08-28T04:06:31.677644+00:00)

## What it is
vkQuake is a Vulkan-based source port of id Software's Quake, built on QuakeSpasm and QuakeSpasm-Spiked. It replaces the original OpenGL renderer with Vulkan, adding multithreaded rendering, ray-traced shadows, true color textures, and support for modern model formats while remaining compatible with QuakeSpasm mods.

## Use cases
- play original Quake with a modern Vulkan renderer
- run Quake mods like Arcane Dimensions with hardware acceleration
- get higher frame rates without breaking Quake physics
- enable ray-traced dynamic shadows and lights in Quake
- use true color textures and MD5/MD3 models in Quake
- play Quake on Windows, Linux, or macOS with a maintained port

## When to choose
- you want the best-performing modern Quake client with Vulkan support
- you need compatibility with QuakeSpasm-compatible mods and enhanced model formats
- you have a ray-tracing capable GPU and want dynamic shadows in Quake

## When to avoid
- you need a renderer for Quake II or III rather than the original Quake
- your GPU lacks Vulkan support
- you prefer a minimal vanilla Quake experience without modern enhancements

## Facets
- artifact type: application
- maturity: active
- function: graphics, game-engine, image-processing
- domain: graphics, gaming-tools
- platform: windows, cross-platform
- tags: vulkan, quake, quakespasm, retro-gaming, source-port, ray-tracing, fps, game-development, linux, macos, gpu

## Member repositories
- Novum/vkQuake (main) score 93

## Provenance
- Observed fields: from GitHub, fetched 2026-08-28T04:06:31.677644+00:00.
- Health v2: computed from the inputs above; adoption is never an input.
- Inferred fields (summary, facets, guidance): AI-extracted, prompt v1, taxonomy v1, on 2026-08-30T02:42:39.915825+00:00, confidence not recorded.
  - readme: https://github.com/Novum/vkQuake (fetched 2026-08-28T04:06:31.677644+00:00, sha cdbb5c634bfc)
- Data as of 2026-08-30T08:39:29.467469+00:00.