Roadmap for Plex Linux Hardware Transcoding with Intel Arc GPUs (OneVPL Support)

Plex Media Server Desktops & Laptops
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Server Version#: 1.41.7.9717
Player Version#: multiple including web, iOS, android

Player Version#: multiple including web, iOS, and android

Hello Crew (and hopefully Plex team),

I’m testing Plex Media Server on Ubuntu 24.04 with newer Intel Arc hardware (B580 Battlemage GPU), and I’ve run into a deeper driver/API issue regarding Linux hardware transcoding

Current setup:

  • Hardware: Intel Arc B580 + Ubuntu 24.04 LTS
  • Plex Version: 1.41.7.9717
  • Driver: intel-media-driver (VAAPI / iHD driver) with xe DRM kernel module
  • VAAPI: Working under vainfo; codecs detected (H.264, HEVC, VP9, AV1)

Problem:

  • When attempting hardware transcoding in Plex, Plex’s embedded FFmpeg fails VAAPI initialization with “invalid parameter” errors.
  • Plex falls back to software transcoding on CPU.

Root Cause:

  • Arc GPUs fit awkwardly into VAAPI today — VAAPI drivers offer limited support for Arc.
  • Intel is actively shifting toward oneVPL and Level Zero APIs for Arc GPUs, moving beyond VAAPI as the preferred hardware acceleration path.
  • Plex’s current transcoder appears tied to older VAAPI-based FFmpeg builds, and thus cannot fully utilize Arc hardware even though the system VAAPI stack is operational.

Questions:

  • Is there a roadmap or timeline for Plex to integrate oneVPL (and/or newer FFmpeg builds supporting Level Zero/oneVPL dispatch)?
  • Should Linux Plex users with Arc GPUs expect hardware transcoding support once Plex moves beyond VAAPI reliance?
  • Any interim advice for Plex users trying to bridge this hardware-software gap in 2025?

Thanks for all the hard work — looking forward to seeing Plex modernize Linux transcoding support as GPU and API ecosystems evolve!

Otherwise if anyone else has suggestions to try, I’m all ears!

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Adding link to the Intel forums post I created on the same topic: https://community.intel.com/t5/Graphics/Intel-Arc-VAAPI-Driver-Support-on-Linux-Ubuntu-24-04-B580-GPU/m-p/1686412#M141582

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Hi,

  1. Plex Engineering doesn’t publish roadmaps
  2. I can share again here: (already stated elsewhere in the forum)
  • FFMPEG 6.1 is coming ( very close to forum preview final test )
  • Intel Compute Runtime and Intel Media Driver update after FFMPEG 6.1
    – ARC GPUs need all three pieces.
    – LunarLake / Battlemage need at least IMD and ICR

Your suggestion / statement about modernizing transcoding support is already well underway. ( Can’t share all the details )

  • FFMPEG
  • IMD
  • ICR
  • PMS

Future updates / bug fixes for FFMPEG from upstream more easily integrated

If you look around the forum, searching for FFMPEG 6.1, you’ll see the chatter.

There’s more coming beyond what I can mention here.

3 Likes
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Many thanks @ChuckPa !

I really appreciate the transparency and the context.

It’s great to hear that FFmpeg 6.1 integration is nearly complete and that the stack needed for Arc support (FFmpeg + IMD + ICR) is already being validated internally. That confirms a lot of what I suspected based on current behavior with VAAPI on the Arc B580.

Glad to know the transcoder modernization work is actively underway. Looking forward to seeing oneVPL support come together as the new standard for Intel GPU acceleration.

I’ll keep tracking updates around FFmpeg 6.1 and Intel runtime integration, and will be happy to test as things land.

Thanks again! :blush:

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