Google Chrome Adds Native WebGPU Support

Google Chrome Adds Native WebGPU Support for All Users

Web Development
June 03, 2025

Introduction of WebGPU in Chrome
- Google has rolled out native WebGPU support in Chrome across all major platforms (Windows, macOS, and ChromeOS).
- This enables direct access to the user’s GPU from the browser, facilitating significantly improved graphics and compute performance.
Why WebGPU Matters
- WebGPU is the next-gen graphics API for the web, succeeding WebGL and WebGL2.
- It offers better performance, modern GPU capabilities, and more efficient memory and thread management.
Key Benefits for Developers
- Developers can build real-time 3D games, physics simulations, and AI-powered visualizations that run directly in the browser.
- Reduced CPU overhead and improved parallelism for computational tasks.
- Supports machine learning models directly in the browser without relying on cloud compute.
Cross-Platform Availability
- Currently available on:
  - Chrome 121+ (Stable channel)
  - Windows (Direct3D 12), macOS (Metal), and ChromeOS (Vulkan)
- Planned future support for Linux and Android.
Security Considerations
- WebGPU uses a permission model to prevent unauthorized access to GPU hardware.
- Google emphasizes sandboxing and safety to protect end-user systems from abuse.
Impact on Web-Based Applications
- Will revolutionize browser-based game engines, 3D modeling tools, and ML apps.
- Web developers can now tap into near-native performance for complex applications.
Example Use Cases
- Games: Next-gen 3D games with enhanced rendering fidelity.
- AI: Run on-device ML tasks like face recognition, object tracking.
- Tools: CAD and design tools with smooth interaction and real-time rendering.
Community and Ecosystem Response
- Developers and open-source projects are already integrating WebGPU into tools like Babylon.js, TensorFlow.js, and Unity WebGL.
How to Enable WebGPU (if not yet available)
- Visit chrome://flags
- Search for WebGPU
- Enable it and restart the browser.
What’s Next?
- Ongoing improvements in developer tooling and support.
- Wider adoption expected across Firefox and Safari in the coming year.
- Google encourages feedback and experimentation through Chrome DevTools.