Introducing Neptune: Direct3D virtualization for QEMU
type: NewsArticle
description: A developer has created Neptune, a Direct3D virtualization extension for QEMU's virglrenderer that transports Direct3D APIs over Virtio GPU, enabling para-virtualized graphics for Windows applications on Linux hosts and guests. The project currently supports DirectX 11 through DXVK on Linux systems and has demonstrated performance comparable to native DXVK in benchmarks including 3DMark Fire Strike and Civilization VI. The developer used AI tools to overcome the complex technical challenges spanning GPU virtualization, Windows kernel, and graphics APIs that had previously prevented implementation.
date published: 2026-05-28 23:55:44+00:00
date modified: 2026-05-29 04:47:09.127047+00:00
language: en
is accessible for free: true
article body: For many years, I had wanted to bring Direct3D virtualization to QEMU. I have tried and given up multiple times because the problem felt intractable. A proper solution required expertise in many niche areas of system design including: virtualization, GPU, Windows kernel, graphics APIs, etc. Each of these topics is deep enough on its own to build an entire career. Now with AI agents getting better each week, I decided to give it another shot. I know using AI is seen as an albatross in some circles. There are [loud](https://www.entrepreneur.com/business-news/ai-ceo-says-software-engineers-could-be-replaced-in-months/502087) [rich](https://www.techradar.com/pro/nvidia-ceo-predicts-the-death-of-coding-jensen-huang-says-ai-will-do-the-work-so-kids-dont-need-to-learn) [AI CEOs](https://www.windowscentral.com/software-apps/openai-sam-altman-ai-will-gradually-replace-software-engineers) who say that programmers will completely be replaced by AI. Meanwhile, [concerned](https://daniel.haxx.se/blog/2026/01/26/the-end-of-the-curl-bug-bounty/) [open source maintainers](https://www.jeffgeerling.com/blog/2026/ai-is-destroying-open-source/) talk about low quality slop being spammed in projects that create extra work for maintainers already stretched thin. In fact, we have experienced this increased stream of low quality submissions to UTM with one egregious example of a “security researcher” submitting a [“bug report”](https://github.com/utmapp/UTM/issues/7695) as a publicity stunt for their new company without taking any time to understand the project’s threat model or trying to communicate with the maintainers before publishing. However, my belief is that AI tools should not replace human thought but instead be used to amplify creativity. AI can complement the gaps in my knowledge and I can direct it with my systems experience. I want this post to both be a technical document describing the history that led up to Neptune as well as a case study on how AI was used to bring that id…
publisher: Web Pulse
keywords: artificial-intelligence, ai-agents, ai-ethics, ai-research, ai-products
mentions: QEMU
mentions: UTM
mentions: Nvidia
mentions: OpenAI
mentions: Jensen Huang
mentions: Sam Altman
mentions: Daniel Stenberg
mentions: Jeff Geerling
citation: CreativeWork