Better Indoor Reflections - Live for Future Lighting

Maybe this is one step to mirrors

What do the reflections on smooth terrain water run on then? Is that not SSR? Why shouldn’t that option be available for players that do have high-end devices? This is great for devices with weaker specs, but why restrict those who can do more?

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water reflects the skybox, not the screen

No it definitely reflects more than just the sky.

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This is true if you’re using mobile hardware or if you’re on anything below graphics level 8 - on gfx level 8 and above terrain water uses screen space reflections and the skybox.

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In most cases you’ll have a lot more parts than bodies of water so I’m pretty certain applying screen space reflections to every part in a scene would tank performance a ton. SSR for certain parts would work well, and I do hope it comes in the future, but for now I think environment maps are a more feasible solution even on higher end hardware

Also iirc the SSR on water has a lot of artefacts that are normally covered up by the water’s normal maps. Water is also rendered under one shader, so I’m sure that also makes porting water reflections to parts. ("Reflectance" should be able to reflect Surrounding Areas and Environmental Instances - #7 by tnavarts)

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I agree 100%. There needs to be a manual system for making non-Humanoid characters not be reflected.

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This is an excellent point, actually. I hadn’t thought of this. Roblox ALREADY supports SSR for smooth terrain water so the high-end devices excuse isn’t particularly valid. Not to mention: So what? If only more beefy hardware can handle it, then only enable it on higher graphics settings. It’s that simple. Countless other graphical features work this way, including Future lighting itself. I don’t accept the notion that we can’t have nice things because Roblox wants to support mobile phones from 8 years ago (obviously hyperbole but you get the idea).

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In the post that you’re quoting, I EXPLICITLY said that the material update would be fine if there was a toggle for the new and old materials. I advocated my support for switching the default materials to the new, PBR based materials, but also allowing the old materials to still be used.

I’m advocating an identical position here. I’m fine with this update. If you want to use it then be my guest. I, however, will not be using it because it allows for zero developer input and is at the mercy of Roblox’s inaccurate, imperfect light grid. Oh, but turns out I have to use it because it has no off switch.

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i agree…

if we had more advanced graphics settings, players could toggle the rendering features that suits their hardware

more intensive rendering features (like screenspace reflections) could be added rather than discarded; people could use the engine to its fullest rather than be held back by “we’d like to have a solution that can run on most devices”

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I also agree to this, Roblox should stop holding the platform back just because Mobile or older devices won’t run it well. There’s a reason other game engines have a graphical settings menu where they can control the way the game looks, allowing it to run smoother on older devices and/or even having the settings auto adjust themselves depending on the device’s performance.

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Honestly, I really love this. It made a lot of the metals on my models go from super ugly, drab, and unmetallic, to absolutely beautiful metallic masterpieces.

(This model is super old)


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IIRC the SSR implementation for water reflections is super fast, janky, and approximate. It would not look correct on objects whatsoever. It only works for water because of the severe distortion. This was explained by staff but I’m not sure where to find the post.

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For anyone who wants to read the original explanation from an engineer, here it is:

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I don’t believe this utilizes raytracing. Raytracing isn’t reflections, more so realistic and efficient light bouncing.

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It can do reflections not just lighting

Please just let us bake the reflections instead of forcing to use low res reflections that are made in real time. Every other major engine has the option to do this.

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Brilliant, I have used it too and now it looks so good!

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Yes, but I was saying it is mainly for lighting.

Also, my comment was about how this does NOT utilize RTX technology.

I plan on getting an rtx card soon but i wasn’t saying that the comment was about it not utilizing rtx technology i was just saying in general

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