[BUG] vkCreateInstance fails with ERROR_INCOMPATIBLE_DRIVER on RX 9060 XT (RDNA4) using AMDVLK v2025.Q2.1

[LloydNicholson]

Description:
On a system with Radeon RX 9060 XT (RDNA4), AMDVLK initialization fails with:

vkCreateInstance failed with ERROR_INCOMPATIBLE_DRIVER
Found no drivers!

This occurs even when using AMDVLK v2025.Q2.1 on Linux kernel 6.15.7 and Mesa 25.3.0-devel. RADV (Mesa Vulkan driver) works and launches Vulkan, but causes severe stutter in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle—which I expected AMDVLK to fix and that's why I tried to use AMDVLK rather than radv in this instance for that game only.

⸻

System Information:
• GPU: AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT (RDNA4 / Navi48)
• Kernel: 6.15.7‑200.nobara.fc42.x86_64
• Distribution: Nobara Linux 42
• Mesa / RADV Version: 25.3.0-devel
• Vulkan Tools: vulkan-tools 1.4.313.0
• AMDVLK Version: v2025.Q2.1
• ICD JSON Path: /etc/vulkan/icd.d/amd_icd64.json

⸻

Reproduction Steps:
1. Install only AMDVLK v2025.Q2.1 (both x64 and lib32 if needed).
2. Ensure ICD JSON is at /etc/vulkan/icd.d/amd_icd64.json
3. Export environment variables:

export DISABLE_LAYER_AMD_SWITCHABLE_GRAPHICS_1=1
export VK_ICD_FILENAMES=/etc/vulkan/icd.d/amd_icd64.json

4. Run
   vulkaninfo

5. Failure Message:

WARNING: [Loader Message] Code 0 : terminator_CreateInstance: Received return code -13 … vkCreateInstance …
ERROR_INCOMPATIBLE_DRIVER
Found no drivers!

⸻

Expected Behavior:
• AMDVLK should initialize properly on RDNA4 GPUs with v2025.Q1.3 or newer.
• vulkaninfo should succeed without errors and list available Vulkan capabilities (including RT extensions).
• Indiana Jones and the Great Circle should run smoothly without stutter when navigating to new areas after patch 4

⸻

References & Context:
Edit
I realise now that 9060XT is actually Navi44 not 48. Is there support yet for Navi 44?

I saw a Reddit discussions confirm that RX 9060 XT functions normally on Linux with Mesa 25.x and kernel 6.15+, but AMDVLK often fails due to config issues. I am not able to get it to work.

Happy to provide additional logs or environment details if needed.

[BooniChan]

Hey,
I also have this card just tried AMDVLK for the first time and getting the same issue. I'm on Gentoo Linux.
The Radv drivers work and can play games but the AMDVLK gives the problem.
Where you able to solve it by any chance?
Regards,

[LloydNicholson]

@BooniChan I created a PR that solves the issue on my card and seems to be working on others as well.
PAL: GPUOpen-Drivers/pal#109
LLPC: GPUOpen-Drivers/llpc#2917

You need to build this repo and then set the upstream remote to my 2 forks of the pal and llpc submodules. Pull those branches I created the two PRs on and build the repo again. It has worked for others so it might work for you as well.