The Pixel 10 goes viral for suffering with a big Android sport

Videos appearing the Pixel 10 Pro XL glitching whilst working one of the widespread Android video games — Genshin Impact — were circulating on social media over the weekend. In those clips, textures flicker, controls misbehave, and the display screen tears aside after the newest replace to the sport, giving folks one more reason to closely criticize Google’s selection of GPU this yr. But are issues actually as unhealthy as they seem?

The factor it seems that stems from Genshin Impact dropping support for PowerVR GPUs with its August replace (v5.0, which presented the Natlan area within the sport). Google switched from ARM’s Mali GPUs to Imagination Technologies’ PowerVR collection for the Pixel 10 lineup, in particular the PowerVR DXT-48-1536. This connection has fueled hypothesis that the Pixel 10 collection is totally incompatible with the sport.

However, in our early checking out, PUBG Mobile, Call of Duty: Mobile, Genshin Impact, Honkai: Star Rail, and Diablo Immortal all put in and ran as it should be at the Pixel 10 Pro XL. Android Authority’s Robert Triggs performed every name with out noticing any efficiency or graphical problems very similar to the ones showing within the movies circulating on-line.

To test if the problem with Genshin Impact is contemporary, we additionally put in the sport, entire with its newest replace on our Pixel 10 Pro XL, and it kind of feels to run simply tremendous.

Does that imply the movies are faux? Not actually. The system faults may well be brought about by means of explicit sport builds, sure areas or content material/gameplay components, or old-fashioned drivers. Still, the distinction between the ones clips and our checking out means that the issue might not be as common as it kind of feels on-line.

It is, on the other hand, a warning call for Google. Many customers have criticized the Pixel 10’s GPU efficiency on boards like Reddit. The problems could also be associated with the telephone transport with an older driving force (v24.3) for the PowerVR DXT-48-1536 GPU. Imagination Technologies launched an up to date driving force (v25.1) in August, which provides Android 16 compatibility, Vulkan 1.4 improve, and extra. However, Google hasn’t rolled it out to the Pixel 10 collection but.

The corporate in most cases updates GPU drivers for Tensor chips when it rolls out new tool variations. A equivalent replace for the Pixel 10’s PowerVR GPU may arrive in long term Pixel Drops, most likely even the following one, which is scheduled to roll out in December.

For now, our early checking out displays that the Pixel 10 Pro XL can care for a few of Android’s maximum tough video games with out main problems. However, if builders proceed to drop PowerVR improve, Google might wish to rethink its GPU technique for long term Pixel telephones.