With the September release of Godot Engine 4.5 in September the wait for Godot 4.6 began. We have come 3 steps closer to Godot 4.6 with the release of 3 Dev releases, showcasing what new features we can expect in Godot 4.6. Highlights of the dev1, dev2 and dev3 releases include:
Godot 4.6 Dev 1 (Quality-of-Life & OpenXR)
- Drag-and-Drop
@exportVariables: A significant Quality-of-Life (QoL) improvement allowing users to drag-and-drop objects (like nodes or resources) into the script editor to automatically create an exported variable. - Live Theme Changes: Theme changes now update live in the editor without requiring a restart.
- OpenXR Spatial Entities Extensions: Implementation of a large set of extensions for OpenXR, which standardizes obtaining and interacting with information about the user’s real-world environment.
- 2D Performance: Avoided unnecessary updates in
TileMapLayerfor better 2D performance.
Godot 4.6 Dev 2 (New Tools & 3D Workflow)
- LibGodot (Build Engine as a Library): Initial support for building the Godot Engine as a standalone library, which opens the door for more specialized workflows and isolated contexts.
- ObjectDB Profiler: A new tool for profiling the engine’s core Object structure, allowing users to take and compare snapshots of the current state during debug sessions.
- Improved Automatic Mesh LOD: Enhancements to mesh simplification with component pruning, allowing for better automatic Level of Detail generation for topologically complex meshes.
- 3D Rotation Visualization & Snapping: The 3D Transform gizmo now visualizes the current delta angle during rotation, and new orbit snapping (to 45° offsets) was added to the 3D Viewport.
Godot 4.6 Dev 3 (Major Visual Overhaul & Rendering)
- New Default “Modern Theme”: A major visual change, introducing a new default editor theme based on the popular Minimal Theme, which focuses on accessibility, readability, and a neutral grey base color.
- Overhauled Screen Space Reflections (SSR): A complete rewrite of the SSR system resulting in better performance and higher quality reflections.
- Condensed Array Inspector Layout: A minimal-style redesign for the array inspector to reduce wasted space and improve visual clarity.
- GLES3 SSAO: Implementation of Screen Space Ambient Occlusion (SSAO) for the GLES3 renderer.
- Editor Enhancements: Faster texture compression and Android editor optimizations.
Key Links
Brand New Unity to Godot Asset Converter Features in Video
You can learn more about the upcoming Godot 4.6 release with our look at new features in dev1, dev2 and dev3 in the video below.