/godot-version-migration

Migration notes: godot-3d-materials

Incremental upgrade for topics this skill covers. Apply one hop, stabilize/test, then next. Never skip hops.

If the project is < 4.0, follow godot-version-migration era bridges (legacy → 3→4) until 4.0, then these hops. Official 3→4: Upgrading from Godot 3 to Godot 4.

3.x → 4.0

Official: Upgrading from Godot 3 to Godot 4

• SpatialMaterial → StandardMaterial3D.
• StreamTexture → CompressedTexture2D (reimport).
• ArrayMesh .res from 3.x incompatible — reimport source meshes.
• ShaderMaterial: apply shader foundation 3→4 notes.

4.0 → 4.1

Official: Upgrading to Godot 4.1

• RenderingServer.global_shader_parameter_get_list / RD shader version lists return Array[StringName].
• RenderingDevice.draw_list_begin storage_textures typed as Array[RID].

4.1 → 4.2

Official: Upgrading to Godot 4.2

• Mesh format upgrade — use Project → Tools → Upgrade Mesh Surfaces; Restart & Upgrade prevents downgrade (material slots may remap after upgrade).
• ImporterMesh/MeshDataTool/SurfaceTool compression flag widths → uint64.
• RenderingDevice BarrierMask enum values changed.

4.2 → 4.3

Official: Upgrading to Godot 4.3

• Reverse Z depth — update spatial/custom shaders on StandardMaterial3D overrides and depth-based effects.
• Decal modulate converted sRGB→linear — emissive/decal material tints shift; rebalance albedo/emission pairs.
• RenderingDevice barrier/draw_list API simplified (post_barrier params removed).

4.3 → 4.4

Official: Upgrading to Godot 4.4

• RenderingDevice.draw_list_begin signature overhauled (params removed + breadcrumb).
• Shader default texture parameter types use Texture / TextureLayered.
• VisualShaderNodeVec4Constant input type → Vector4 — recreate material graph constants.
• VisualShader cubemap / Texture2DArray nodes use TextureLayered.
• CSG uses Manifold — non-manifold CSG booleans fail; use MeshInstance3D materials on imported meshes for planes/quads.

4.4 → 4.5

Official: Upgrading to Godot 4.5

• RenderingServer.instance_reset_physics_interpolation / instance_set_interpolated removed.
• GLTF/BLEND/FBX naming version for non-joint nodes in skeletons — set Import dock Naming Version for old PBR assets.

4.5 → 4.6

Official: Upgrading to Godot 4.6

• Glow default blend Screen (brighter) — retune emissive materials against new default bloom.
• Volumetric fog blending brighter — reduce fog density when pairing with transparent/transmission materials.
• Sky reflection roughness_layers default 7 (was 8) — affects environment-reflection roughness on PBR materials.

4.6 → 4.7

Official: Upgrading to Godot 4.7

• Texture2D.get_format() unified on base class — use when branching shader logic on compressed vs HDR formats.
• LinearToSRGB visual shader no longer clamps [0,1] on Mobile/Forward+ — rebalance emissive VisualShader graphs.
• Image.save_exr* gain color_image / max_linear_value optionals for HDR texture export pipelines.