diff --git a/src/core-files.json b/src/core-files.json
index 928cb9c8a..ab43e6b40 100644
--- a/src/core-files.json
+++ b/src/core-files.json
@@ -497,6 +497,7 @@
         "mbgl/geometry/line_atlas.hpp": "src/mbgl/geometry/line_atlas.hpp",
         "mbgl/gfx/attribute.hpp": "src/mbgl/gfx/attribute.hpp",
         "mbgl/gfx/color_mode.hpp": "src/mbgl/gfx/color_mode.hpp",
+        "mbgl/gfx/context.hpp": "src/mbgl/gfx/context.hpp",
         "mbgl/gfx/cull_face_mode.hpp": "src/mbgl/gfx/cull_face_mode.hpp",
         "mbgl/gfx/depth_mode.hpp": "src/mbgl/gfx/depth_mode.hpp",
         "mbgl/gfx/draw_mode.hpp": "src/mbgl/gfx/draw_mode.hpp",
diff --git a/src/mbgl/gfx/context.hpp b/src/mbgl/gfx/context.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b57cfcb65
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/mbgl/gfx/context.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include <mbgl/gfx/vertex_vector.hpp>
+#include <mbgl/gfx/vertex_buffer.hpp>
+#include <mbgl/gfx/index_vector.hpp>
+#include <mbgl/gfx/index_buffer.hpp>
+#include <mbgl/gfx/types.hpp>
+
+namespace mbgl {
+namespace gfx {
+
+class Context {
+protected:
+    Context() = default;
+
+public:
+    Context(Context&&) = delete;
+    Context(const Context&) = delete;
+    Context& operator=(Context&& other) = delete;
+    Context& operator=(const Context& other) = delete;
+    virtual ~Context() = default;
+
+public:
+    template <class Vertex>
+    VertexBuffer<Vertex>
+    createVertexBuffer(VertexVector<Vertex>&& v,
+                       const BufferUsageType usage = BufferUsageType::StaticDraw) {
+        return { v.elements(), createVertexBufferResource(v.data(), v.bytes(), usage) };
+    }
+
+    template <class Vertex>
+    void updateVertexBuffer(VertexBuffer<Vertex>& buffer, VertexVector<Vertex>&& v) {
+        assert(v.elements() == buffer.elements);
+        updateVertexBufferResource(*buffer.resource, v.data(), v.bytes());
+    }
+
+    template <class DrawMode>
+    IndexBuffer createIndexBuffer(IndexVector<DrawMode>&& v,
+                                  const BufferUsageType usage = BufferUsageType::StaticDraw) {
+        return { v.elements(), createIndexBufferResource(v.data(), v.bytes(), usage) };
+    }
+
+    template <class DrawMode>
+    void updateIndexBuffer(IndexBuffer& buffer, IndexVector<DrawMode>&& v) {
+        assert(v.elements() == buffer.elements);
+        updateIndexBufferResource(*buffer.resource, v.data(), v.bytes());
+    }
+
+protected:
+    virtual std::unique_ptr<const VertexBufferResource>
+    createVertexBufferResource(const void* data, std::size_t size, const BufferUsageType) = 0;
+    virtual void
+    updateVertexBufferResource(const VertexBufferResource&, const void* data, std::size_t size) = 0;
+
+    virtual std::unique_ptr<const IndexBufferResource>
+    createIndexBufferResource(const void* data, std::size_t size, const BufferUsageType) = 0;
+    virtual void
+    updateIndexBufferResource(const IndexBufferResource&, const void* data, std::size_t size) = 0;
+};
+
+} // namespace gfx
+} // namespace mbgl
diff --git a/src/mbgl/gl/context.cpp b/src/mbgl/gl/context.cpp
index 514bc0115..df304eb7d 100644
--- a/src/mbgl/gl/context.cpp
+++ b/src/mbgl/gl/context.cpp
@@ -246,7 +246,7 @@ void Context::verifyProgramLinkage(ProgramID program_) {
 }
 
 std::unique_ptr<const gfx::VertexBufferResource>
-Context::createVertexBuffer(const void* data, std::size_t size, const gfx::BufferUsageType usage) {
+Context::createVertexBufferResource(const void* data, std::size_t size, const gfx::BufferUsageType usage) {
     BufferID id = 0;
     MBGL_CHECK_ERROR(glGenBuffers(1, &id));
     UniqueBuffer result { std::move(id), { this } };
@@ -255,13 +255,13 @@ Context::createVertexBuffer(const void* data, std::size_t size, const gfx::Buffe
     return std::make_unique<gl::VertexBufferResource>(std::move(result));
 }
 
-void Context::updateVertexBuffer(const gfx::VertexBufferResource& resource, const void* data, std::size_t size) {
+void Context::updateVertexBufferResource(const gfx::VertexBufferResource& resource, const void* data, std::size_t size) {
     vertexBuffer = reinterpret_cast<const gl::VertexBufferResource&>(resource).buffer;
     MBGL_CHECK_ERROR(glBufferSubData(GL_ARRAY_BUFFER, 0, size, data));
 }
 
 std::unique_ptr<const gfx::IndexBufferResource>
-Context::createIndexBuffer(const void* data, std::size_t size, const gfx::BufferUsageType usage) {
+Context::createIndexBufferResource(const void* data, std::size_t size, const gfx::BufferUsageType usage) {
     BufferID id = 0;
     MBGL_CHECK_ERROR(glGenBuffers(1, &id));
     UniqueBuffer result { std::move(id), { this } };
@@ -271,7 +271,7 @@ Context::createIndexBuffer(const void* data, std::size_t size, const gfx::Buffer
     return std::make_unique<gl::IndexBufferResource>(std::move(result));
 }
 
-void Context::updateIndexBuffer(const gfx::IndexBufferResource& resource, const void* data, std::size_t size) {
+void Context::updateIndexBufferResource(const gfx::IndexBufferResource& resource, const void* data, std::size_t size) {
     // Be sure to unbind any existing vertex array object before binding the index buffer
     // so that we don't mess up another VAO
     bindVertexArray = 0;
diff --git a/src/mbgl/gl/context.hpp b/src/mbgl/gl/context.hpp
index 585ee286c..70ba1ec10 100644
--- a/src/mbgl/gl/context.hpp
+++ b/src/mbgl/gl/context.hpp
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 #pragma once
 
+#include <mbgl/gfx/context.hpp>
 #include <mbgl/gl/features.hpp>
 #include <mbgl/gl/object.hpp>
 #include <mbgl/gl/state.hpp>
@@ -7,12 +8,8 @@
 #include <mbgl/gl/texture.hpp>
 #include <mbgl/gl/renderbuffer.hpp>
 #include <mbgl/gl/framebuffer.hpp>
-#include <mbgl/gfx/vertex_buffer.hpp>
-#include <mbgl/gfx/index_buffer.hpp>
 #include <mbgl/gl/vertex_array.hpp>
 #include <mbgl/gl/types.hpp>
-#include <mbgl/gfx/vertex_vector.hpp>
-#include <mbgl/gfx/index_vector.hpp>
 #include <mbgl/gfx/draw_mode.hpp>
 #include <mbgl/gfx/depth_mode.hpp>
 #include <mbgl/gfx/stencil_mode.hpp>
@@ -39,10 +36,10 @@ class Debugging;
 class ProgramBinary;
 } // namespace extension
 
-class Context {
+class Context final : public gfx::Context {
 public:
     Context();
-    ~Context();
+    ~Context() override;
     Context(const Context&) = delete;
     Context& operator=(const Context& other) = delete;
 
@@ -65,34 +62,6 @@ public:
 #endif
     optional<std::pair<BinaryProgramFormat, std::string>> getBinaryProgram(ProgramID) const;
 
-    template <class Vertex>
-    gfx::VertexBuffer<Vertex> createVertexBuffer(gfx::VertexVector<Vertex>&& v, const gfx::BufferUsageType usage = gfx::BufferUsageType::StaticDraw) {
-        return {
-            v.elements(),
-            createVertexBuffer(v.data(), v.bytes(), usage)
-        };
-    }
-
-    template <class Vertex>
-    void updateVertexBuffer(gfx::VertexBuffer<Vertex>& buffer, gfx::VertexVector<Vertex>&& v) {
-        assert(v.elements() == buffer.elements);
-        updateVertexBuffer(*buffer.resource, v.data(), v.bytes());
-    }
-
-    template <class DrawMode>
-    gfx::IndexBuffer createIndexBuffer(gfx::IndexVector<DrawMode>&& v, const gfx::BufferUsageType usage = gfx::BufferUsageType::StaticDraw) {
-        return {
-            v.elements(),
-            createIndexBuffer(v.data(), v.bytes(), usage)
-        };
-    }
-    
-    template <class DrawMode>
-    void updateIndexBuffer(gfx::IndexBuffer& buffer, gfx::IndexVector<DrawMode>&& v) {
-        assert(v.elements() == buffer.elements);
-        updateIndexBuffer(*buffer.resource, v.data(), v.bytes());
-    }
-
     template <RenderbufferType type>
     Renderbuffer<type> createRenderbuffer(const Size size) {
         static_assert(type == RenderbufferType::RGBA ||
@@ -274,10 +243,11 @@ private:
     State<value::PointSize> pointSize;
 #endif // MBGL_USE_GLES2
 
-    std::unique_ptr<const gfx::VertexBufferResource> createVertexBuffer(const void* data, std::size_t size, const gfx::BufferUsageType usage);
-    void updateVertexBuffer(const gfx::VertexBufferResource&, const void* data, std::size_t size);
-    std::unique_ptr<const gfx::IndexBufferResource> createIndexBuffer(const void* data, std::size_t size, const gfx::BufferUsageType usage);
-    void updateIndexBuffer(const gfx::IndexBufferResource&, const void* data, std::size_t size);
+    std::unique_ptr<const gfx::VertexBufferResource> createVertexBufferResource(const void* data, std::size_t size, const gfx::BufferUsageType) override;
+    void updateVertexBufferResource(const gfx::VertexBufferResource&, const void* data, std::size_t size) override;
+    std::unique_ptr<const gfx::IndexBufferResource> createIndexBufferResource(const void* data, std::size_t size, const gfx::BufferUsageType) override;
+    void updateIndexBufferResource(const gfx::IndexBufferResource&, const void* data, std::size_t size) override;
+
     UniqueTexture createTexture(Size size, const void* data, TextureFormat, TextureUnit, TextureType);
     void updateTexture(TextureID, Size size, const void* data, TextureFormat, TextureUnit, TextureType);
     UniqueFramebuffer createFramebuffer();
diff --git a/src/mbgl/renderer/paint_property_binder.hpp b/src/mbgl/renderer/paint_property_binder.hpp
index da317f93e..34600508a 100644
--- a/src/mbgl/renderer/paint_property_binder.hpp
+++ b/src/mbgl/renderer/paint_property_binder.hpp
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 #pragma once
 
+#include <mbgl/gfx/context.hpp>
 #include <mbgl/gfx/uniform.hpp>
 #include <mbgl/programs/attributes.hpp>
 #include <mbgl/gl/attribute.hpp>
 #include <mbgl/gl/uniform.hpp>
-#include <mbgl/gl/context.hpp>
 #include <mbgl/util/type_list.hpp>
 #include <mbgl/renderer/possibly_evaluated_property_value.hpp>
 #include <mbgl/renderer/paint_property_statistics.hpp>
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ public:
     virtual ~PaintPropertyBinder() = default;
 
     virtual void populateVertexVector(const GeometryTileFeature& feature, std::size_t length, const ImagePositions&, const optional<PatternDependency>&) = 0;
-    virtual void upload(gl::Context& context) = 0;
+    virtual void upload(gfx::Context& context) = 0;
     virtual void setPatternParameters(const optional<ImagePosition>&, const optional<ImagePosition>&, CrossfadeParameters&) = 0;
     virtual std::tuple<ExpandToType<As, optional<gl::AttributeBinding>>...> attributeBinding(const PossiblyEvaluatedType& currentValue) const = 0;
     virtual std::tuple<ExpandToType<As, float>...> interpolationFactor(float currentZoom) const = 0;
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ public:
     }
 
     void populateVertexVector(const GeometryTileFeature&, std::size_t, const ImagePositions&, const optional<PatternDependency>&) override {}
-    void upload(gl::Context&) override {}
+    void upload(gfx::Context&) override {}
     void setPatternParameters(const optional<ImagePosition>&, const optional<ImagePosition>&, CrossfadeParameters&) override {};
 
     std::tuple<optional<gl::AttributeBinding>> attributeBinding(const PossiblyEvaluatedPropertyValue<T>&) const override {
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ public:
     }
 
     void populateVertexVector(const GeometryTileFeature&, std::size_t, const ImagePositions&, const optional<PatternDependency>&) override {}
-    void upload(gl::Context&) override {}
+    void upload(gfx::Context&) override {}
 
     void setPatternParameters(const optional<ImagePosition>& posA, const optional<ImagePosition>& posB, CrossfadeParameters&) override {
         if (!posA && !posB) {
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ public:
         }
     }
 
-    void upload(gl::Context& context) override {
+    void upload(gfx::Context& context) override {
         vertexBuffer = context.createVertexBuffer(std::move(vertexVector));
     }
 
@@ -252,7 +252,7 @@ public:
         }
     }
 
-    void upload(gl::Context& context) override {
+    void upload(gfx::Context& context) override {
         vertexBuffer = context.createVertexBuffer(std::move(vertexVector));
     }
 
@@ -344,7 +344,7 @@ public:
         }
     }
 
-    void upload(gl::Context& context) override {
+    void upload(gfx::Context& context) override {
         patternToVertexBuffer = context.createVertexBuffer(std::move(patternToVertexVector));
         zoomInVertexBuffer = context.createVertexBuffer(std::move(zoomInVertexVector));
         zoomOutVertexBuffer = context.createVertexBuffer(std::move(zoomOutVertexVector));
@@ -486,7 +486,7 @@ public:
         });
     }
 
-    void upload(gl::Context& context) {
+    void upload(gfx::Context& context) {
         util::ignore({
             (binders.template get<Ps>()->upload(context), 0)...
         });