Godot 4 First Release Candidate

Godot 4 just got one step closer, with today’s release of the first release candidate. Godot 4 RC1 is a feature complete version of Godot meant primarily for squashing bugs and improving performance and usability. Any new features will have to wait for Godot 4.1 or later.

Key features in Godot 4 include:

  • new Vulkan based renderer
  • new OpenGL renderer for older/unsupported/weaker hardware
  • D3D12 renderer (awaiting merger into code base, learn more here)
  • new voxel based global illumination implemented using VoxelGI
  • new GI techniques including signed distance field global illumination (SGFGI) and screen space indirect lighting(SSIL)
  • light map baking moved to the GPU
  • volumetric fog and volumetric fog volumes implemented via FogVolume
  • GPU based particle system improvements
  • new shader features
  • support for AMD’s Fidelity FX Super Resolution (FSR 1.0) with FSR 2.1 in development
  • 2D renderer improvements
  • physics moved back to Godot’s in-house physic implementation
  • new NavigationServer for dynamic pathfinding as well as navigation links for jump points, teleports, etc
  • animation improvements
  • massive GDScript improvements including first class functions, lambdas, new property syntax, new keywords and more
  • new GDExtension system
  • .NET 6 port mostly completed
  • new text, GUI and localization tools and features
  • improved audio systems
  • improved multiplayer
  • new and improved asset importing features as well as runtime glTF import
  • improved tileset and tile map support and general editor improvements
  • much, much more

While the duration of the release candidate cycle will depend heavily on how many bugs are encountered, the process should take between a few weeks and a few months, if the Godot 3.5 schedule is any indicator.

Key Links

Godot 4 Release Candidate Announcement

Godot 4.1 and Beyond

The Future of Godot 4 by GFS

You can learn more about the Godot 4 release candidate in the video below.

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