diff --git a/renderdoc/driver/gl/gl_common.cpp b/renderdoc/driver/gl/gl_common.cpp
index eff962695..2f6db95ea 100644
--- a/renderdoc/driver/gl/gl_common.cpp
+++ b/renderdoc/driver/gl/gl_common.cpp
@@ -773,6 +773,41 @@ void GLMarkerRegion::End()
   gl->glPopDebugGroup();
 }
 
+GLInitParams::GLInitParams()
+{
+  colorBits = 32;
+  depthBits = 32;
+  stencilBits = 8;
+  isSRGB = 1;
+  multiSamples = 1;
+  width = 32;
+  height = 32;
+}
+
+bool GLInitParams::IsSupportedVersion(uint64_t ver)
+{
+  if(ver == CurrentVersion)
+    return true;
+
+  // we can check other older versions we support here.
+
+  return false;
+}
+
+template <typename SerialiserType>
+void DoSerialise(SerialiserType &ser, GLInitParams &el)
+{
+  SERIALISE_MEMBER(colorBits);
+  SERIALISE_MEMBER(depthBits);
+  SERIALISE_MEMBER(stencilBits);
+  SERIALISE_MEMBER(isSRGB);
+  SERIALISE_MEMBER(multiSamples);
+  SERIALISE_MEMBER(width);
+  SERIALISE_MEMBER(height);
+}
+
+INSTANTIATE_SERIALISE_TYPE(GLInitParams);
+
 size_t BufferIdx(GLenum buf)
 {
   switch(buf)
diff --git a/renderdoc/driver/gl/gl_driver.cpp b/renderdoc/driver/gl/gl_driver.cpp
index 2f74a8d8f..e88911e4d 100644
--- a/renderdoc/driver/gl/gl_driver.cpp
+++ b/renderdoc/driver/gl/gl_driver.cpp
@@ -44,74 +44,6 @@ const float charPixelHeight = 20.0f;
 
 stbtt_bakedchar chardata[numChars];
 
-
-GLInitParams::GLInitParams()
-{
-  SerialiseVersion = GL_SERIALISE_VERSION;
-  colorBits = 32;
-  depthBits = 32;
-  stencilBits = 8;
-  isSRGB = 1;
-  multiSamples = 1;
-  width = 32;
-  height = 32;
-}
-
-// handling for these versions is scattered throughout the code (as relevant to enable/disable bits
-// of serialisation and set some defaults if necessary).
-// Here we list which non-current versions we support, and what changed
-const uint32_t GLInitParams::GL_OLD_VERSIONS[GLInitParams::GL_NUM_SUPPORTED_OLD_VERSIONS] = {
-    0x000010,    // from 0x10 to 0x11, we added a dummy marker value used to identify serialised
-                 // data in glUseProgramStages (hack :( )
-    0x000011,    // We added initial contents for buffers in this version, we don't have to do
-                 // anything special to support older logs, just make sure we don't open new logs
-                 // in an older version.
-    0x000012,    // Added support for GL-DX interop
-    0x000013,    // Serialised vertex attribute and fragdata bindings for programs as initial
-                 // contents data
-    0x000014,    // Added support for primitive bounding boxes on GLES
-    0x000015,    // Changed serialisation of client-side index buffers which removed a bool even
-                 // when they aren't used.
-};
-
-ReplayStatus GLInitParams::Serialise()
-{
-  SERIALISE_ELEMENT(uint32_t, ver, GL_SERIALISE_VERSION);
-  SerialiseVersion = ver;
-
-  if(ver != GL_SERIALISE_VERSION)
-  {
-    bool oldsupported = false;
-    for(uint32_t i = 0; i < GL_NUM_SUPPORTED_OLD_VERSIONS; i++)
-    {
-      if(ver == GL_OLD_VERSIONS[i])
-      {
-        oldsupported = true;
-        RDCWARN(
-            "Old OpenGL serialise version %d, latest is %d. Loading with possibly degraded "
-            "features/support.",
-            ver, GL_SERIALISE_VERSION);
-      }
-    }
-
-    if(!oldsupported)
-    {
-      RDCERR("Incompatible OpenGL serialise version, expected %d got %d", GL_SERIALISE_VERSION, ver);
-      return ReplayStatus::APIIncompatibleVersion;
-    }
-  }
-
-  m_pSerialiser->Serialise("Color bits", colorBits);
-  m_pSerialiser->Serialise("Depth bits", depthBits);
-  m_pSerialiser->Serialise("Stencil bits", stencilBits);
-  m_pSerialiser->Serialise("Is SRGB", isSRGB);
-  m_pSerialiser->Serialise("MSAA samples", multiSamples);
-  m_pSerialiser->Serialise("Width", width);
-  m_pSerialiser->Serialise("Height", height);
-
-  return ReplayStatus::Succeeded;
-}
-
 void WrappedOpenGL::BuildGLExtensions()
 {
   m_GLExtensions.push_back("GL_ARB_arrays_of_arrays");
@@ -554,7 +486,7 @@ void WrappedOpenGL::BuildGLESExtensions()
   std::sort(m_GLESExtensions.begin(), m_GLESExtensions.end());
 }
 
-WrappedOpenGL::WrappedOpenGL(const char *logfile, const GLHookSet &funcs, GLPlatform &platform)
+WrappedOpenGL::WrappedOpenGL(const GLHookSet &funcs, GLPlatform &platform)
     : m_Real(funcs), m_Platform(platform)
 {
   if(RenderDoc::Inst().GetCrashHandler())
diff --git a/renderdoc/driver/gl/gl_driver.h b/renderdoc/driver/gl/gl_driver.h
index f5ec4c0f1..fb23febf0 100644
--- a/renderdoc/driver/gl/gl_driver.h
+++ b/renderdoc/driver/gl/gl_driver.h
@@ -40,10 +40,9 @@
 
 using std::list;
 
-struct GLInitParams : public RDCInitParams
+struct GLInitParams
 {
   GLInitParams();
-  ReplayStatus Serialise();
 
   uint32_t colorBits;
   uint32_t depthBits;
@@ -53,16 +52,13 @@ struct GLInitParams : public RDCInitParams
   uint32_t width;
   uint32_t height;
 
-  static const uint32_t GL_SERIALISE_VERSION = 0x0000016;
-
-  // backwards compatibility for old logs described at the declaration of this array
-  static const uint32_t GL_NUM_SUPPORTED_OLD_VERSIONS = 6;
-  static const uint32_t GL_OLD_VERSIONS[GL_NUM_SUPPORTED_OLD_VERSIONS];
-
-  // version number internal to opengl stream
-  uint32_t SerialiseVersion;
+  // check if a frame capture section version is supported
+  static const uint64_t CurrentVersion = 0x17;
+  static bool IsSupportedVersion(uint64_t ver);
 };
 
+DECLARE_REFLECTION_STRUCT(GLInitParams);
+
 enum CaptureFailReason
 {
   CaptureSucceeded = 0,
@@ -123,6 +119,7 @@ private:
   RDCDriver m_DriverType;
 
   GLInitParams m_InitParams;
+  uint64_t m_SectionVersion;
 
   map<uint64_t, GLWindowingData> m_ActiveContexts;
 
@@ -511,10 +508,10 @@ private:
   WrappedOpenGL &operator=(const WrappedOpenGL &);
 
 public:
-  WrappedOpenGL(const char *logfile, const GLHookSet &funcs, GLPlatform &platform);
+  WrappedOpenGL(const GLHookSet &funcs, GLPlatform &platform);
   virtual ~WrappedOpenGL();
 
-  uint32_t GetLogVersion() { return m_InitParams.SerialiseVersion; }
+  uint64_t GetLogVersion() { return m_SectionVersion; }
   static const char *GetChunkName(uint32_t idx);
   GLResourceManager *GetResourceManager() { return m_ResourceManager; }
   ResourceId GetDeviceResourceID() { return m_DeviceResourceID; }
@@ -538,7 +535,7 @@ public:
 
   void AddMissingTrack(ResourceId id) { m_MissingTracks.insert(id); }
   // replay interface
-  void Initialise(GLInitParams &params);
+  void Initialise(GLInitParams &params, uint64_t sectionVersion);
   void ReplayLog(uint32_t startEventID, uint32_t endEventID, ReplayLogType replayType);
   void ReadLogInitialisation();
 
diff --git a/renderdoc/driver/gl/gl_hooks_egl.cpp b/renderdoc/driver/gl/gl_hooks_egl.cpp
index b9254c081..5bcaead68 100644
--- a/renderdoc/driver/gl/gl_hooks_egl.cpp
+++ b/renderdoc/driver/gl/gl_hooks_egl.cpp
@@ -309,7 +309,7 @@ public:
   {
     if(m_GLDriver == NULL)
     {
-      m_GLDriver = new WrappedOpenGL("", GL, *this);
+      m_GLDriver = new WrappedOpenGL(GL, *this);
       m_GLDriver->SetDriverType(RDC_OpenGLES);
     }
 
diff --git a/renderdoc/driver/gl/gl_hooks_linux.cpp b/renderdoc/driver/gl/gl_hooks_linux.cpp
index 58d220048..648213faa 100644
--- a/renderdoc/driver/gl/gl_hooks_linux.cpp
+++ b/renderdoc/driver/gl/gl_hooks_linux.cpp
@@ -375,7 +375,7 @@ public:
   WrappedOpenGL *GetDriver()
   {
     if(m_GLDriver == NULL)
-      m_GLDriver = new WrappedOpenGL("", GL, *this);
+      m_GLDriver = new WrappedOpenGL(GL, *this);
 
     return m_GLDriver;
   }
diff --git a/renderdoc/driver/gl/gl_hooks_win32.cpp b/renderdoc/driver/gl/gl_hooks_win32.cpp
index 663d3e5bc..f68edbdcc 100644
--- a/renderdoc/driver/gl/gl_hooks_win32.cpp
+++ b/renderdoc/driver/gl/gl_hooks_win32.cpp
@@ -832,7 +832,7 @@ private:
   WrappedOpenGL *GetDriver()
   {
     if(m_GLDriver == NULL)
-      m_GLDriver = new WrappedOpenGL("", GL, *this);
+      m_GLDriver = new WrappedOpenGL(GL, *this);
 
     return m_GLDriver;
   }
diff --git a/renderdoc/driver/gl/gl_replay_apple.cpp b/renderdoc/driver/gl/gl_replay_apple.cpp
index a7ab6f86c..c474095c8 100644
--- a/renderdoc/driver/gl/gl_replay_apple.cpp
+++ b/renderdoc/driver/gl/gl_replay_apple.cpp
@@ -23,10 +23,11 @@
  ******************************************************************************/
 
 #include "gl_replay.h"
+#include "serialise/rdcfile.h"
 #include "gl_driver.h"
 #include "gl_resources.h"
 
-ReplayStatus GL_CreateReplayDevice(const char *logfile, IReplayDriver **driver)
+ReplayStatus GL_CreateReplayDevice(RDCFile *rdc, IReplayDriver **driver)
 {
   RDCUNIMPLEMENTED("GL_CreateReplayDevice");
   return ReplayStatus::APIHardwareUnsupported;
diff --git a/renderdoc/driver/gl/gl_replay_egl.cpp b/renderdoc/driver/gl/gl_replay_egl.cpp
index beabeef90..20128faba 100644
--- a/renderdoc/driver/gl/gl_replay_egl.cpp
+++ b/renderdoc/driver/gl/gl_replay_egl.cpp
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 
 #include "gl_replay.h"
 #include <dlfcn.h>
+#include "serialise/rdcfile.h"
 #include "gl_driver.h"
 #include "gl_resources.h"
 
@@ -64,7 +65,7 @@ PFN_eglGetProcAddress eglGetProcAddressProc = NULL;
 const GLHookSet &GetRealGLFunctionsEGL();
 GLPlatform &GetGLPlatformEGL();
 
-ReplayStatus GLES_CreateReplayDevice(const char *logfile, IReplayDriver **driver)
+ReplayStatus GLES_CreateReplayDevice(RDCFile *rdc, IReplayDriver **driver)
 {
   RDCDEBUG("Creating an OpenGL ES replay device");
 
@@ -101,16 +102,44 @@ ReplayStatus GLES_CreateReplayDevice(const char *logfile, IReplayDriver **driver
   }
 
   GLInitParams initParams;
-  RDCDriver driverType = RDC_OpenGLES;
-  string driverName = "OpenGLES";
-  uint64_t machineIdent = 0;
+  uint64_t ver = GLInitParams::CurrentVersion;
 
-  if(logfile)
+  // if we have an RDCFile, open the frame capture section and serialise the init params.
+  // if not, we're creating a proxy-capable device so use default-initialised init params.
+  if(rdc)
   {
-    auto status = RenderDoc::Inst().FillInitParams(logfile, driverType, driverName, machineIdent,
-                                                   (RDCInitParams *)&initParams);
-    if(status != ReplayStatus::Succeeded)
-      return status;
+    int sectionIdx = rdc->SectionIndex(SectionType::FrameCapture);
+
+    if(sectionIdx < 0)
+      return ReplayStatus::InternalError;
+
+    ver = rdc->GetSectionProperties(sectionIdx).version;
+
+    if(!GLInitParams::IsSupportedVersion(ver))
+    {
+      RDCERR("Incompatible D3D11 serialise version %llu", ver);
+      return ReplayStatus::APIUnsupported;
+    }
+
+    StreamReader *reader = rdc->ReadSection(sectionIdx);
+
+    ReadSerialiser ser(reader, Ownership::Stream);
+
+    SystemChunk chunk = ser.ReadChunk<SystemChunk>();
+
+    if(chunk != SystemChunk::DriverInit)
+    {
+      RDCERR("Expected to get a DriverInit chunk, instead got %u", chunk);
+      return ReplayStatus::FileCorrupted;
+    }
+
+    SERIALISE_ELEMENT(initParams);
+
+    if(ser.IsErrored())
+    {
+      RDCERR("Failed reading driver init params.");
+      return ReplayStatus::FileIOFailed;
+    }
   }
 
 #if ENABLED(RDOC_ANDROID)
@@ -195,19 +224,13 @@ ReplayStatus GLES_CreateReplayDevice(const char *logfile, IReplayDriver **driver
     return ReplayStatus::APIHardwareUnsupported;
   }
 
-  WrappedOpenGL *gl = new WrappedOpenGL(logfile, real, GetGLPlatformEGL());
+  WrappedOpenGL *gl = new WrappedOpenGL(real, GetGLPlatformEGL());
   gl->SetDriverType(RDC_OpenGLES);
-  gl->Initialise(initParams);
-
-  if(gl->GetSerialiser()->HasError())
-  {
-    delete gl;
-    return ReplayStatus::FileIOFailed;
-  }
+  gl->Initialise(initParams, ver);
 
   RDCLOG("Created OPEN GL ES replay device.");
   GLReplay *replay = gl->GetReplay();
-  replay->SetProxy(logfile == NULL);
+  replay->SetProxy(rdc == NULL);
   GLWindowingData data;
   data.egl_dpy = eglDisplay;
   data.egl_ctx = ctx;
diff --git a/renderdoc/driver/gl/gl_replay_linux.cpp b/renderdoc/driver/gl/gl_replay_linux.cpp
index fef9a3b8a..f534bc07a 100644
--- a/renderdoc/driver/gl/gl_replay_linux.cpp
+++ b/renderdoc/driver/gl/gl_replay_linux.cpp
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
 
 #include "gl_replay.h"
 #include <dlfcn.h>
+#include "serialise/rdcfile.h"
 #include "gl_driver.h"
 #include "gl_resources.h"
 
@@ -53,7 +54,7 @@ int NonFatalX11ErrorHandler(Display *display, XErrorEvent *error)
 
 typedef int (*X11ErrorHandler)(Display *display, XErrorEvent *error);
 
-ReplayStatus GL_CreateReplayDevice(const char *logfile, IReplayDriver **driver)
+ReplayStatus GL_CreateReplayDevice(RDCFile *rdc, IReplayDriver **driver)
 {
   RDCDEBUG("Creating an OpenGL replay device");
 
@@ -91,15 +92,44 @@ ReplayStatus GL_CreateReplayDevice(const char *logfile, IReplayDriver **driver)
   }
 
   GLInitParams initParams;
-  RDCDriver driverType = RDC_OpenGL;
-  string driverName = "OpenGL";
-  uint64_t machineIdent = 0;
-  if(logfile)
+  uint64_t ver = GLInitParams::CurrentVersion;
+
+  // if we have an RDCFile, open the frame capture section and serialise the init params.
+  // if not, we're creating a proxy-capable device so use default-initialised init params.
+  if(rdc)
   {
-    auto status = RenderDoc::Inst().FillInitParams(logfile, driverType, driverName, machineIdent,
-                                                   (RDCInitParams *)&initParams);
-    if(status != ReplayStatus::Succeeded)
-      return status;
+    int sectionIdx = rdc->SectionIndex(SectionType::FrameCapture);
+
+    if(sectionIdx < 0)
+      return ReplayStatus::InternalError;
+
+    ver = rdc->GetSectionProperties(sectionIdx).version;
+
+    if(!GLInitParams::IsSupportedVersion(ver))
+    {
+      RDCERR("Incompatible D3D11 serialise version %llu", ver);
+      return ReplayStatus::APIUnsupported;
+    }
+
+    StreamReader *reader = rdc->ReadSection(sectionIdx);
+
+    ReadSerialiser ser(reader, Ownership::Stream);
+
+    SystemChunk chunk = ser.ReadChunk<SystemChunk>();
+
+    if(chunk != SystemChunk::DriverInit)
+    {
+      RDCERR("Expected to get a DriverInit chunk, instead got %u", chunk);
+      return ReplayStatus::FileCorrupted;
+    }
+
+    SERIALISE_ELEMENT(initParams);
+
+    if(ser.IsErrored())
+    {
+      RDCERR("Failed reading driver init params.");
+      return ReplayStatus::FileIOFailed;
+    }
   }
 
   int attribs[64] = {0};
@@ -259,18 +289,12 @@ ReplayStatus GL_CreateReplayDevice(const char *logfile, IReplayDriver **driver)
     }
   }
 
-  WrappedOpenGL *gl = new WrappedOpenGL(logfile, real, GetGLPlatform());
-  gl->Initialise(initParams);
-
-  if(gl->GetSerialiser()->HasError())
-  {
-    delete gl;
-    return ReplayStatus::FileIOFailed;
-  }
+  WrappedOpenGL *gl = new WrappedOpenGL(real, GetGLPlatform());
+  gl->Initialise(initParams, ver);
 
   RDCLOG("Created device.");
   GLReplay *replay = gl->GetReplay();
-  replay->SetProxy(logfile == NULL);
+  replay->SetProxy(rdc == NULL);
   GLWindowingData data;
   data.dpy = dpy;
   data.ctx = ctx;
diff --git a/renderdoc/driver/gl/gl_replay_win32.cpp b/renderdoc/driver/gl/gl_replay_win32.cpp
index 1fad0d5bd..fab7ca6bd 100644
--- a/renderdoc/driver/gl/gl_replay_win32.cpp
+++ b/renderdoc/driver/gl/gl_replay_win32.cpp
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
  ******************************************************************************/
 
 #include "gl_replay.h"
+#include "serialise/rdcfile.h"
 #include "gl_driver.h"
 #include "gl_resources.h"
 
@@ -40,7 +41,7 @@ WGLCREATECONTEXTPROC wglCreateRC = NULL;
 WGLMAKECURRENTPROC wglMakeCurrentProc = NULL;
 WGLDELETECONTEXTPROC wglDeleteRC = NULL;
 
-ReplayStatus GL_CreateReplayDevice(const char *logfile, IReplayDriver **driver)
+ReplayStatus GL_CreateReplayDevice(RDCFile *rdc, IReplayDriver **driver)
 {
   RDCDEBUG("Creating an OpenGL replay device");
 
@@ -53,15 +54,44 @@ ReplayStatus GL_CreateReplayDevice(const char *logfile, IReplayDriver **driver)
   }
 
   GLInitParams initParams;
-  RDCDriver driverType = RDC_OpenGL;
-  string driverName = "OpenGL";
-  uint64_t machineIdent = 0;
-  if(logfile)
+  uint64_t ver = GLInitParams::CurrentVersion;
+
+  // if we have an RDCFile, open the frame capture section and serialise the init params.
+  // if not, we're creating a proxy-capable device so use default-initialised init params.
+  if(rdc)
   {
-    auto status = RenderDoc::Inst().FillInitParams(logfile, driverType, driverName, machineIdent,
-                                                   (RDCInitParams *)&initParams);
-    if(status != ReplayStatus::Succeeded)
-      return status;
+    int sectionIdx = rdc->SectionIndex(SectionType::FrameCapture);
+
+    if(sectionIdx < 0)
+      return ReplayStatus::InternalError;
+
+    ver = rdc->GetSectionProperties(sectionIdx).version;
+
+    if(!GLInitParams::IsSupportedVersion(ver))
+    {
+      RDCERR("Incompatible D3D11 serialise version %llu", ver);
+      return ReplayStatus::APIUnsupported;
+    }
+
+    StreamReader *reader = rdc->ReadSection(sectionIdx);
+
+    ReadSerialiser ser(reader, Ownership::Stream);
+
+    SystemChunk chunk = ser.ReadChunk<SystemChunk>();
+
+    if(chunk != SystemChunk::DriverInit)
+    {
+      RDCERR("Expected to get a DriverInit chunk, instead got %u", chunk);
+      return ReplayStatus::FileCorrupted;
+    }
+
+    SERIALISE_ELEMENT(initParams);
+
+    if(ser.IsErrored())
+    {
+      RDCERR("Failed reading driver init params.");
+      return ReplayStatus::FileIOFailed;
+    }
   }
 
   PIXELFORMATDESCRIPTOR pfd = {0};
@@ -287,18 +317,12 @@ ReplayStatus GL_CreateReplayDevice(const char *logfile, IReplayDriver **driver)
     return ReplayStatus::APIInitFailed;
   }
 
-  WrappedOpenGL *gl = new WrappedOpenGL(logfile, real, GetGLPlatform());
-  gl->Initialise(initParams);
-
-  if(gl->GetSerialiser()->HasError())
-  {
-    delete gl;
-    return ReplayStatus::FileIOFailed;
-  }
+  WrappedOpenGL *gl = new WrappedOpenGL(real, GetGLPlatform());
+  gl->Initialise(initParams, ver);
 
   RDCLOG("Created device.");
   GLReplay *replay = gl->GetReplay();
-  replay->SetProxy(logfile == NULL);
+  replay->SetProxy(rdc == NULL);
   GLWindowingData data;
   data.DC = dc;
   data.ctx = rc;