Adobe enables 3D web games with Flash Player 11

Won't change Apple's and Microsoft's stance, but will be welcomed by casual online gamers.

Over the years, Adobe Flash has become the standard for video, animation and gaming on the web.

More recently, of course, it has had its serene progress halted by Apple and now Microsoft, both of which are refusing to support the platform on their phone and tablet OSs, preferring HTML5.

Still, Adobe ploughs on – and it's now confirmed that its imminent Flash Player 11 will include an interface called Molehill for hardware-accelerated 3D and 2D graphics.

It also claims that rendering will be up to 1,000 times faster that some prior versions of Flash, leading to games that can match the quality of Xbox or PS3, but in a web browser.

Other updates in Flash Player 11 include:

* Native extensions that allow developers to tap into hardware features such as light sensors, dual screens and NFC
* Captive runtime so developers can package AIR 3 with applications. That move will simplify installations on Android, Windows, Mac and Apple’s iOS. On many platforms, a user would have to download AIR separately to run an app.
* Content protection that enables services like TV Everywhere as well as rental and subscription support.
* Improved video and 2D/3D support.