View source for Minecraft:RenderDragon

{{distinguish|Ender Dragon|Red Dragon}}
{{for|the [[Minecraft:Experiment]], "Render Dragon Features for Creators"|Deferred Technical Preview}}
{{exclusive|Bedrock|Education}}
[[File:Render dragon logo from minecraft earth 0.28.png|thumb|160px|A logo for RenderDragon found in ''Minecraft'' files.]]
'''RenderDragon''' is the rendering engine used {{in|bedrock}}<ref name="Helen" /> that runs on {{w|DirectX}} (Windows builds),{{note|Available for Win32 (''[[Minecraft:Minecraft Education]]''),<ref>https://edusupport.minecraft.net/hc/en-us/community/posts/24925482449684-NO-UWP-is-NOT-The-Way-Forward</ref> and GDK (''Bedrock Edition'')}} {{w|OpenGL ES}} (Android builds), [[Minecraft:w:Metal (API)|Metal]] (iOS and iPadOS builds), {{w|Vulkan}} (Nintendo Switch builds), and [[Minecraft:w:GNM (API)|GNM]] (PlayStation builds).

==Features==
RenderDragon features edge highlighting and new lighting techniques as part of the visual and performance upgrades, and ray-tracing support. It supports a range of graphics features, depending on the device's capability.<ref>{{bug|MCPE-98861|||Fixed}}</ref> While RenderDragon has improved performance on some devices, others have experienced degraded performance.<ref>{{bug|MCPE-142934}}</ref>

=== Ray tracing ===
{{main|Ray Tracing}}
RenderDragon supports [[Minecraft:w:Ray-tracing (graphics)|ray-tracing]] with any {{w|DirectX Raytracing}} (DXR) 1.1 compatible graphics cards such as NVIDIA RTX Series, Intel Arc A-Series or above, or AMD RX 6000 Series or above.<ref>https://microsoft.github.io/DirectX-Specs/d3d/Raytracing.html</ref> However, the DirectX Raytracing API is not limited to these GPUs as it's been proven that RenderDragon's ray-tracing can be achieved through emulation.<ref name="reddit-mcrtx-on-linux">[https://www.reddit.com/r/linux_gaming/comments/14dx4rb/minecraft_rtx_running_on_linux_using_wine_and_a/ Minecraft RTX Running on an RX 5600 XT] - Minecraft RTX running on an incompatible graphics card.</ref> 

Ray-tracing can also be enabled through {{w|software rendering}} with extremely poor performance. On Windows 10/11, {{w|Windows Advanced Rasterization Platform}} (WARP) version 1.0.8 added a conformant DXR 1.1 implementation that can be used with RenderDragon.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1RZWdN6v04</ref>

While ray-tracing is officially a feature on the Windows 10/11 operating systems, it is possible to run ray-tracing on operating systems such as Linux, Windows 7 and Windows 8/8.1 with a compatibility software.<ref name="reddit-mcrtx-on-linux" /><ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/windows7/comments/1am5849/rtx_on_windows_7/</ref> For Linux systems, it is possible to run ''Minecraft: Bedrock Edition'' with ray-tracing capability using a custom Wine compatibility layer, see [[Minecraft:Tutorial:Playing Minecraft on Linux]].

This feature is used for the "Ray Traced" graphics mode, which can be enabled through [[Minecraft:resource pack]]s, allowing customization of [[Minecraft:Texture set|MER textures]] and [[Minecraft:volumetric fog]]. After the release in [[Minecraft:Bedrock Edition 1.16.200]], ''Minecraft'' published several free collaborative [[Minecraft:Marketplace]] adventure maps with Nvidia. With the release of [[Minecraft:Vibrant Visuals]], no further changes are planned for the ray tracing mode.

=== Deferred Rendering ===
RenderDragon supports {{w|Deferred Rendering}}, a shading technique with various customizable lighting effects. It is used by [[Minecraft:Vibrant Visuals]],<ref>{{cite_Discord
|url=https://discord.com/channels/523663022053392405/1351937058486095893/1353058710355968110
|title=Herobrine64: So... vibrant visuals ''is'' deferred, yeah?<br>kayla (in reply to): it is using the deferred features, yes.
|user=kaylasara
|date=March 22, 2025
|invite=https://discord.gg/bedrock-add-ons|server=Bedrock Add-Ons
|ss=DeferredRenderingScreenshot.png
}}</ref> a graphics mode which enables directional lightning, pixel-aligned shadows, water caustics, atmospheric features, emissive textures, and various other visual features. Any graphics cards that are compatible with Direct3D12 Feature Level 12_1 or above (Windows 10/11), OpenGL ES 3.0 or above (Android), or Metal 2 or above (iOS/iPadOS) are supported.<ref name="faq">{{citation|url=https://help.minecraft.net/hc/en-us/articles/4408865164173-Minecraft-with-Ray-Tracing-and-Advanced-Graphics-FAQ|title=Minecraft with Ray Tracing and Advanced Graphics FAQ|website=Minecraft Help Center}}</ref><ref>{{citation|url=https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/geforce/guides/minecraft-rtx-texturing-guide/|title=Minecraft with RTX PBR Texturing Guide|website=Nvidia|author=Andrew Burnes, Johnny Costello, and Kelsey Blanton|date=December 11, 2020}}</ref>

== History ==
=== Tweet ===
{{HistoryTable
|{{HistoryLine||June 20, 2019|link=none|An image of RenderDragon v0.0.2 running in ''Minecraft Earth'' is released by [[Minecraft:Helen Zbihlyj]] on Twitter.<ref name=Helen />}}
}}

=== ''Bedrock Edition'' ===
{{HistoryTable
|{{HistoryLine|bedrock}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.13.0|dev=beta 1.13.0.13|The Xbox One port now uses RenderDragon.<ref>{{ytl|tCMuu5F3m-Q|t=50m13s|What's New: Moar Beeeezzz! - Sept 12, 2019}}</ref>}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.14.0|The PlayStation 4 port now uses RenderDragon.}}
|{{HistoryLine||RTX Beta|dev=beta 1.15.0.8|The Windows 10 port now uses RenderDragon and supports ray tracing.}}
|{{HistoryLine|||dev=beta 1.15.0.9|Fixed several bugs related to RenderDragon and RTX.}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.16.100|dev=beta 1.16.100.54|Windows 10 now uses RenderDragon outside RTX Beta, but without ray tracing support.}}
|{{HistoryLine|||dev=beta 1.16.100.55|RenderDragon is disabled in the beta for Windows 10.}}
|{{HistoryLine|||dev=beta 1.16.100.59|RenderDragon is re-enabled in the beta for Windows 10.}}
|{{HistoryLine|||dev=beta 1.16.100.60|RenderDragon is disabled again in the beta for Windows 10.}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.16.200|dev=beta 1.16.200.51|RenderDragon is re-enabled again on Windows 10.}}
|{{HistoryLine|||dev=beta 1.16.200.53|RenderDragon now supports ray tracing outside RTX Beta.}}
|{{HistoryLine|||dev=release|Windows 10 now uses RenderDragon outside Beta.}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.17.40|dev=beta 1.17.40.20|Android devices that run on ARMv7 now support RenderDragon for testing.}}
|{{HistoryLine|||dev=beta 1.17.40.21|RenderDragon is disabled for Android devices that run on ARMv7.}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.18.10|dev=beta 1.18.10.22|RenderDragon enabled on all Android devices for testing.}}
|{{HistoryLine|||dev=beta 1.18.10.26|RenderDragon is disabled again for Android.}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.18.30|dev=beta 1.18.20.21|RenderDragon is enabled again for Android.}}
|{{HistoryLine|||dev=beta 1.18.20.25|RenderDragon is disabled again for Android.}}
|{{HistoryLine|||dev=beta 1.18.30.20|RenderDragon is enabled again for Android.
|iOS and iPadOS devices now support RenderDragon.}}
|{{HistoryLine|||dev=release|The Fire and Nintendo Switch ports and Windows 10 32-bit devices now use RenderDragon.<ref>{{cite|url=https://feedback.minecraft.net/hc/en-us/articles/5520890863245|title=Minecraft - 1.18.30 (Bedrock)|website=feedback.minecraft.net|date=April 19, 2022}}</ref> }}
|{{HistoryLine||1.20.30|dev=Preview 1.20.30.20|Added experimental support for RenderDragon shaders called "deferred rendering pipeline" in ''Preview'' versions.}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.21.51|dev=release|RenderDragon has been disabled for Android devices that run on ARMv8.}}
|{{HistoryLine|||dev=reupload|slink=Bedrock Edition 1.21.51|RenderDragon is enabled again for ARMv8 Android devices.}}
}}

=== ''Minecraft Education'' ===
{{HistoryTable
|{{HistoryLine|Education}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.18.32|dev=1.18.31.0|Added RenderDragon.}}
}}

== Issues ==
{{issue list|projects=MCPE|Render Dragon|RenderDragon}}

==Trivia==
*According to [[Minecraft:Helen Zbihlyj]], RenderDragon was designed to be usable {{in|je}}.<ref>{{tweet|HelenAngel|1164832802254143489|Only if the Java team implements RenderDragon. RenderDragon was designed as such that it could be used in the Java codebase as well just in case the Java team wanted to use it.|August 23, 2019}}</ref> However, according to [[Minecraft:Felix Jones]], there's nothing in it that indicates this.<ref>{{tweet|Xilefian|1369694046847983623|From what I've seen so far, there's currently nothing in RenderDragon that indicates it is usable in the Java codebase. I'm not convinced it would be good for RenderDragon if Java Edition used it, for now it's best we don't pollute RenderDragon with Java Edition's many issues.|March 10, 2021}}</ref>

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
File:Render Dragon v0.0.2.jpg|An image of the RenderDragon v0.0.2 released on Twitter by Helen Zbihlyj.<ref name="Helen">{{tweet|HelenAngel|1141733503639232512|Someone doesn't watch our official livestreams! 😄 It's ok, I forgive you. 😉 We're still working on RenderDragon, the new graphics engine for Bedrock that also drives Minecraft Earth. Check the pic if you want proof that RenderDragon is still in development.|June 20, 2019}}</ref>
File:Ambient occlusion minecraft.png|An image of ambient occlusion with the RenderDragon.
File:Atmospherics minecraft rtx.jpg|An image of atmospherics and sunbeam with the RenderDragon.
File:RenderDragon loading screen.png|Unused loading screen{{verify}}.
</gallery>

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== Navigation ==
{{Navbox Bedrock Edition}}

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