Babylon.js 8.0 released with native WGSL shaders
Babylon.js 8.0 was released on March 27, 2025, with a major architectural improvement: all core engine shaders are now available in WGSL.
Key features
- WGSL-first shaders: No GLSL-to-WGSL conversion needed for WebGPU builds
- Smaller bundle sizes: Eliminating the translation layer reduces download size
- IBL Shadows: Image-based lighting shadow support
- Area Lights: More realistic lighting options
- Node Render Graph (alpha): Visual render pipeline editing
Why WGSL matters
Previously, Babylon.js would convert GLSL shaders to WGSL at build time for WebGPU. With native WGSL support:
- Faster builds
- Smaller bundles
- More predictable behavior
- Better debugging
For web game developers
If you're using Babylon.js for WebGPU games, 8.0 is a significant upgrade. The reduced overhead makes WebGPU an even more attractive target.