# News **URL:** https://forum.castle-engine.io/c/news/9.md [Latest](https://forum.castle-engine.io/latest.md) · [Categories](https://forum.castle-engine.io/categories.md) --- ## [About the News category](https://forum.castle-engine.io/t/about-the-news-category/29)
**Author:** [@michalis](https://forum.castle-engine.io/u/michalis)\ **Replies:** 0
Read and comment on our news here. See also the same news on our blog. --- ## [AnsiString vs Utf8String properly declared, Delphi: we no longer force AnsiString to UTF-8](https://forum.castle-engine.io/t/ansistring-vs-utf8string-properly-declared-delphi-we-no-longer-force-ansistring-to-utf-8/2207)
**Author:** [@michalis](https://forum.castle-engine.io/u/michalis)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [September 30, 2026, 8:09pm UTC](https://forum.castle-engine.io/t/ansistring-vs-utf8string-properly-declared-delphi-we-no-longer-force-ansistring-to-utf-8/2207 "2026-09-30T20:09:20Z")
( This announcement is a bit non-exciting small improvement around the engine codebase. For something more exciting, that I was working on through September, see the screenshot attached here :), and stay tune… --- ## [Everyone! Book a meeting with me to talk about Castle Game Engine](https://forum.castle-engine.io/t/everyone-book-a-meeting-with-me-to-talk-about-castle-game-engine/2205)
**Author:** [@michalis](https://forum.castle-engine.io/u/michalis)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [September 5, 2026, 6:32pm UTC](https://forum.castle-engine.io/t/everyone-book-a-meeting-with-me-to-talk-about-castle-game-engine/2205 "2026-09-05T18:32:38Z")
Hey everyone! Use this Book a Meeting link to schedule a meeting with me (I’m Michalis Kamburelis, Castle Game Engine lead). Yes, I mean you. Do it right now. Don’t hesitate. Stop reading now, and click that… --- ## [Particle system updates (custom shaders, web support), FreeCAD -\> X3D exporter, documentation (exe size, 2D, easy link to API), geometry shader fixes](https://forum.castle-engine.io/t/particle-system-updates-custom-shaders-web-support-freecad-x3d-exporter-documentation-exe-size-2d-easy-link-to-api-geometry-shader-fixes/2201)
**Author:** [@michalis](https://forum.castle-engine.io/u/michalis)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [August 26, 2026, 2:51am UTC](https://forum.castle-engine.io/t/particle-system-updates-custom-shaders-web-support-freecad-x3d-exporter-documentation-exe-size-2d-easy-link-to-api-geometry-shader-fixes/2201 "2026-08-26T02:51:25Z")
Forgive us for a calm August without the usual weekly announcements, as Michalis spent most of the month on a family vacation. Stay tuned for an upcoming news post about a fea… --- ## [Pointer lock (mouse look) on the web -- plus a big refactor and Windows improvements](https://forum.castle-engine.io/t/pointer-lock-mouse-look-on-the-web-plus-a-big-refactor-and-windows-improvements/2192)
**Author:** [@michalis](https://forum.castle-engine.io/u/michalis)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [August 2, 2026, 2:45am UTC](https://forum.castle-engine.io/t/pointer-lock-mouse-look-on-the-web-plus-a-big-refactor-and-windows-improvements/2192 "2026-08-02T02:45:52Z")
Note that I sent a sneak preview of this news using Patreon Quip earlier this week. I plan to experiment with Quips more in the future. The “quips” are visible to everyone, you can insta… --- ## [Toggle visibility of a group of X3D / glTF nodes](https://forum.castle-engine.io/t/toggle-visibility-of-a-group-of-x3d-gltf-nodes/2188)
**Author:** [@michalis](https://forum.castle-engine.io/u/michalis)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [July 29, 2026, 11:13am UTC](https://forum.castle-engine.io/t/toggle-visibility-of-a-group-of-x3d-gltf-nodes/2188 "2026-07-29T11:13:49Z")
We support now visible field on various X3D nodes: Inline node. This is TInlineNode when looking at the graph from Pascal. and on all X3DGroupingNode descendants, including Transform and Group. These ar… --- ## [IFC support in Castle Game Engine](https://forum.castle-engine.io/t/ifc-support-in-castle-game-engine/2026)
**Author:** [@michalis](https://forum.castle-engine.io/u/michalis)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [July 20, 2026, 7:17am UTC](https://forum.castle-engine.io/t/ifc-support-in-castle-game-engine/2026 "2026-07-20T07:17:28Z")
We’ve been extending in recent months our IFC support. I talked about it at conference in Germany and I will talk about it at conference in Poland next week 🙂 General overview of what IFC is abou… --- ## [Web: water, terrain, shadow maps, alpha treatment, keys on losing focus](https://forum.castle-engine.io/t/web-water-terrain-shadow-maps-alpha-treatment-keys-on-losing-focus/2186)
**Author:** [@michalis](https://forum.castle-engine.io/u/michalis)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [July 17, 2026, 7:58pm UTC](https://forum.castle-engine.io/t/web-water-terrain-shadow-maps-alpha-treatment-keys-on-losing-focus/2186 "2026-07-17T19:58:49Z")
Rendering to texture (FBO, our TGLRenderToTexture) works now on the web. This enables a few features on the web: Water, with reflections and waves, visible in th… --- ## [Windows downloads now code-signed - no more Smart App Control blocks. Plus smaller downloads (7z, tar.xz)](https://forum.castle-engine.io/t/windows-downloads-now-code-signed-no-more-smart-app-control-blocks-plus-smaller-downloads-7z-tar-xz/2183)
**Author:** [@michalis](https://forum.castle-engine.io/u/michalis)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [July 14, 2026, 11:45pm UTC](https://forum.castle-engine.io/t/windows-downloads-now-code-signed-no-more-smart-app-control-blocks-plus-smaller-downloads-7z-tar-xz/2183 "2026-07-14T23:45:33Z")
Our downloads for Windows include now all the executables code-signed, which means that they are trusted and running the engine will raise fewer alarms from various Windows protection tools. In particular, “S… --- ## [Delphi improvements: build tool uses msbuild, allows to pick Delphi version, better generated DPROJ, hints to fix PAServer on Linux and linking on macOS](https://forum.castle-engine.io/t/delphi-improvements-build-tool-uses-msbuild-allows-to-pick-delphi-version-better-generated-dproj-hints-to-fix-paserver-on-linux-and-linking-on-macos/2179)
**Author:** [@michalis](https://forum.castle-engine.io/u/michalis)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [July 5, 2026, 5:57am UTC](https://forum.castle-engine.io/t/delphi-improvements-build-tool-uses-msbuild-allows-to-pick-delphi-version-better-generated-dproj-hints-to-fix-paserver-on-linux-and-linking-on-macos/2179 "2026-07-05T05:57:11Z")
We improved how our engine tools (build tool and editor) call Delphi. These improvements take us closer to making our engine compatible with Delphi for Android, iOS and macOS and improve how you can build wit… --- ## [Review of the engine by Claude Code yielded 11 bug-fixes. The good, the bad about the experience, how you can do this in your own codebase, Docker SBX and more](https://forum.castle-engine.io/t/review-of-the-engine-by-claude-code-yielded-11-bug-fixes-the-good-the-bad-about-the-experience-how-you-can-do-this-in-your-own-codebase-docker-sbx-and-more/2174)
**Author:** [@michalis](https://forum.castle-engine.io/u/michalis)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [June 29, 2026, 10:17pm UTC](https://forum.castle-engine.io/t/review-of-the-engine-by-claude-code-yielded-11-bug-fixes-the-good-the-bad-about-the-experience-how-you-can-do-this-in-your-own-codebase-docker-sbx-and-more/2174 "2026-06-29T22:17:42Z")
I gave Claude a long-running task: Review every file of Castle Game Engine. The process found 11 “real” bugs (something was indeed a bug in the engine, and it could be a bug in real-lif… --- ## [TCastleProcess and ExecuteCommand available with both FPC and Delphi, no more cryptic "Failed to execute  : 4551" when Windows "Smart App Control" blocks us](https://forum.castle-engine.io/t/tcastleprocess-and-executecommand-available-with-both-fpc-and-delphi-no-more-cryptic-failed-to-execute-4551-when-windows-smart-app-control-blocks-us/2169)
**Author:** [@michalis](https://forum.castle-engine.io/u/michalis)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [June 28, 2026, 4:58am UTC](https://forum.castle-engine.io/t/tcastleprocess-and-executecommand-available-with-both-fpc-and-delphi-no-more-cryptic-failed-to-execute-4551-when-windows-smart-app-control-blocks-us/2169 "2026-06-28T04:58:43Z")
We refactored our process running code (when one application wants to run another). This is used throughout our tools (build tool, editor) but we also have uses for it in the engine itse… --- ## [Music Player example application, important fixes around audio and skinned animation](https://forum.castle-engine.io/t/music-player-example-application-important-fixes-around-audio-and-skinned-animation/2162)
**Author:** [@michalis](https://forum.castle-engine.io/u/michalis)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [June 5, 2026, 9:22pm UTC](https://forum.castle-engine.io/t/music-player-example-application-important-fixes-around-audio-and-skinned-animation/2162 "2026-06-05T21:22:32Z")
We have a new example: Music Player, a simple application that allows to play a chosen audio track with UI similar to typical mobile music/audiobook players. This example has a nice backstory: For… --- ## [Web: bump mapping, clip planes, fog, terrain, occlusion culling; also Unholy Society demo on web updated](https://forum.castle-engine.io/t/web-bump-mapping-clip-planes-fog-terrain-occlusion-culling-also-unholy-society-demo-on-web-updated/2157)
**Author:** [@michalis](https://forum.castle-engine.io/u/michalis)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [May 31, 2026, 1:44am UTC](https://forum.castle-engine.io/t/web-bump-mapping-clip-planes-fog-terrain-occlusion-culling-also-unholy-society-demo-on-web-updated/2157 "2026-05-31T01:44:08Z")
Shaders on web fixes: Our shaders on the web platform can render now all our effects: Bump mapping (normal maps). As shown by demos: bump\_mapping (source code). creatur… --- ## [Audio (sound, music) on the web, sound API improvements (arbitrary channels, float frequency etc.)](https://forum.castle-engine.io/t/audio-sound-music-on-the-web-sound-api-improvements-arbitrary-channels-float-frequency-etc/2150)
**Author:** [@michalis](https://forum.castle-engine.io/u/michalis)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2026, 7:18am UTC](https://forum.castle-engine.io/t/audio-sound-music-on-the-web-sound-api-improvements-arbitrary-channels-float-frequency-etc/2150 "2026-05-15T07:18:19Z")
We have implemented audio playback on the web. Underneath we use WebAudio API but you don’t really need to know anything about it — just use Castle Game Engine sound API and components and everythi… --- ## [More April News: training timer demo, delayed view changes, URL processing on save, how to easier install web compiler, notes on copyright and AI, in progress: audio on web](https://forum.castle-engine.io/t/more-april-news-training-timer-demo-delayed-view-changes-url-processing-on-save-how-to-easier-install-web-compiler-notes-on-copyright-and-ai-in-progress-audio-on-web/2147)
**Author:** [@michalis](https://forum.castle-engine.io/u/michalis)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [May 1, 2026, 4:19pm UTC](https://forum.castle-engine.io/t/more-april-news-training-timer-demo-delayed-view-changes-url-processing-on-save-how-to-easier-install-web-compiler-notes-on-copyright-and-ai-in-progress-audio-on-web/2147 "2026-05-01T16:19:59Z")
We already announced some new features in April (PLY, InlineGeometry, web: URL parameters and TCastleDownload). Below we report more goodies 🙂 Enjoy! Check out Training Timer 2: Zero Time project by Serufu … --- ## [Web target: getting URL parameters, downloading resources using TCastleDownload](https://forum.castle-engine.io/t/web-target-getting-url-parameters-downloading-resources-using-tcastledownload/2144)
**Author:** [@michalis](https://forum.castle-engine.io/u/michalis)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [April 25, 2026, 11:16pm UTC](https://forum.castle-engine.io/t/web-target-getting-url-parameters-downloading-resources-using-tcastledownload/2144 "2026-04-25T23:16:34Z")
We add 2 new features to our web target: New methods to read URL through which your page was accessed, and get query parameters of this URL. The use-case is creating webpages that reac… --- ## [Support for PLY model format and InlineGeometry node](https://forum.castle-engine.io/t/support-for-ply-model-format-and-inlinegeometry-node/2138)
**Author:** [@michalis](https://forum.castle-engine.io/u/michalis)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [April 6, 2026, 12:57am UTC](https://forum.castle-engine.io/t/support-for-ply-model-format-and-inlinegeometry-node/2138 "2026-04-06T00:57:00Z")
We support now loading models in PLY format, commonly used for 3D scanning and printing. We support all common variants, which means ASCII and binary w… --- ## [PasDoc 1.0.0 release with with many features and fixes: modern HTML look, show source position, visibility of membes toggleable, show inherited members](https://forum.castle-engine.io/t/pasdoc-1-0-0-release-with-with-many-features-and-fixes-modern-html-look-show-source-position-visibility-of-membes-toggleable-show-inherited-members/2137)
**Author:** [@michalis](https://forum.castle-engine.io/u/michalis)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [March 30, 2026, 4:09am UTC](https://forum.castle-engine.io/t/pasdoc-1-0-0-release-with-with-many-features-and-fixes-modern-html-look-show-source-position-visibility-of-membes-toggleable-show-inherited-members/2137 "2026-03-30T04:09:47Z")
This a bit non-standard news post: I wanted to announce a new release of PasDoc, documentation generator we use to create Castle Game Engine API docs. PasDoc is a documentation generator for Pascal source co… --- ## [Demo of showing loading progress, WaitForRenderAndCall utility, new TCastleTouchNavigation](https://forum.castle-engine.io/t/demo-of-showing-loading-progress-waitforrenderandcall-utility-new-tcastletouchnavigation/282)
**Author:** [@michalis](https://forum.castle-engine.io/u/michalis)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [March 11, 2026, 6:26pm UTC](https://forum.castle-engine.io/t/demo-of-showing-loading-progress-waitforrenderandcall-utility-new-tcastletouchnavigation/282 "2026-03-11T18:26:11Z")
We have new TUIState.WaitForRenderAndCall utility, especially useful to implement loading inside TUIState descendant. Our examples/user\_interface/zombie\_fighter features now … --- ## [Tower Fight game by Phomm, various engine fixes (GTK 3 and Wayland, float textures and Skin and web, macOS editor...) and website updates](https://forum.castle-engine.io/t/tower-fight-game-by-phomm-various-engine-fixes-gtk-3-and-wayland-float-textures-and-skin-and-web-macos-editor-and-website-updates/2126)
**Author:** [@michalis](https://forum.castle-engine.io/u/michalis)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [March 1, 2026, 3:00am UTC](https://forum.castle-engine.io/t/tower-fight-game-by-phomm-various-engine-fixes-gtk-3-and-wayland-float-textures-and-skin-and-web-macos-editor-and-website-updates/2126 "2026-03-01T03:00:07Z")
Phomm posted about a cool new game he made in our forum: Tower Fight – Samurai Arcade for testing math skills. Available for various platforms including web. I recommend also his accompanying post about depl… --- ## [AI usage guidelines and thoughts updated, and... test of vibe-coding with Castle Game Engine](https://forum.castle-engine.io/t/ai-usage-guidelines-and-thoughts-updated-and-test-of-vibe-coding-with-castle-game-engine/2122)
**Author:** [@michalis](https://forum.castle-engine.io/u/michalis)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [February 23, 2026, 9:13pm UTC](https://forum.castle-engine.io/t/ai-usage-guidelines-and-thoughts-updated-and-test-of-vibe-coding-with-castle-game-engine/2122 "2026-02-23T21:13:28Z")
As most of us, I spend lately considerable amount of time researching and talking about AI implications (for coding and beyond). It’s a big subject. The technology offers us … --- ## [Upgrade to GTK 3](https://forum.castle-engine.io/t/upgrade-to-gtk-3/2115)
**Author:** [@michalis](https://forum.castle-engine.io/u/michalis)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [February 9, 2026, 1:30am UTC](https://forum.castle-engine.io/t/upgrade-to-gtk-3/2115 "2026-02-09T01:30:14Z")
We are upgrading our engine usage on Linux and FreeBSD from GTK 2 to GTK 3. Our installation instructions and scripts include now information to add GTK 3 packages. This is as simple as installing libgtk-3-… --- ## [macOS improvements: work flawlessly on Apple Silicon (Aarch64), bundled with FPC, signed and notarized; Cocoa mouse positioning; fixes to OnDropFiles; universal binary support](https://forum.castle-engine.io/t/macos-improvements-work-flawlessly-on-apple-silicon-aarch64-bundled-with-fpc-signed-and-notarized-cocoa-mouse-positioning-fixes-to-ondropfiles-universal-binary-support/2095)
**Author:** [@michalis](https://forum.castle-engine.io/u/michalis)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [February 2, 2026, 5:16am UTC](https://forum.castle-engine.io/t/macos-improvements-work-flawlessly-on-apple-silicon-aarch64-bundled-with-fpc-signed-and-notarized-cocoa-mouse-positioning-fixes-to-ondropfiles-universal-binary-support/2095 "2026-02-02T05:16:07Z")
We are proud to announce numerous improvements to how our engine works on macOS: As hinted in previous news, our macOS builds are now provided with “bundled FPC” which means that build… --- ## [Engine downloads with "bundled FPC" for all platforms, castle-build-ci to easily use CI with our engine, Woodpecker (Codeberg) CI examples and impressions](https://forum.castle-engine.io/t/engine-downloads-with-bundled-fpc-for-all-platforms-castle-build-ci-to-easily-use-ci-with-our-engine-woodpecker-codeberg-ci-examples-and-impressions/2086)
**Author:** [@michalis](https://forum.castle-engine.io/u/michalis)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [January 18, 2026, 10:25am UTC](https://forum.castle-engine.io/t/engine-downloads-with-bundled-fpc-for-all-platforms-castle-build-ci-to-easily-use-ci-with-our-engine-woodpecker-codeberg-ci-examples-and-impressions/2086 "2026-01-18T10:25:03Z")
We have a number of news related to using CI (continuous integration) / CD (continuous delivery) with our engine. The idea of CI / CD is that you let some automatic process to be performed on your code, usual… --- ## [Android: upgraded everything! (Google Play Services, OpenAL, AdMob, API level, Gradle...)](https://forum.castle-engine.io/t/android-upgraded-everything-google-play-services-openal-admob-api-level-gradle/870)
**Author:** [@michalis](https://forum.castle-engine.io/u/michalis)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [January 14, 2026, 12:25pm UTC](https://forum.castle-engine.io/t/android-upgraded-everything-google-play-services-openal-admob-api-level-gradle/870 "2026-01-14T12:25:18Z")
First of all, you can actually test our Android integration (and many upgrades described below) by trying out these test applications (APK) on your Android device. We are also releasing these demo… --- ## [December news (unlimited skin joints on shaders, PointProperties), and plans for 2026 (next release, SignPath, better macOS Silicon, shadow maps...)](https://forum.castle-engine.io/t/december-news-unlimited-skin-joints-on-shaders-pointproperties-and-plans-for-2026-next-release-signpath-better-macos-silicon-shadow-maps/2071)
**Author:** [@michalis](https://forum.castle-engine.io/u/michalis)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [December 30, 2025, 3:48pm UTC](https://forum.castle-engine.io/t/december-news-unlimited-skin-joints-on-shaders-pointproperties-and-plans-for-2026-next-release-signpath-better-macos-silicon-shadow-maps/2071 "2025-12-30T15:48:31Z")
Hello everyone! I hope you have a peaceful time at the end of December and spend it doing what you love — whether it means developing games, or playing games, or just resting (and thinki… --- ## [November improvements: huge animation upgrade, guidelines about AI usage, Codeberg mirror, various fixes](https://forum.castle-engine.io/t/november-improvements-huge-animation-upgrade-guidelines-about-ai-usage-codeberg-mirror-various-fixes/2056)
**Author:** [@michalis](https://forum.castle-engine.io/u/michalis)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [December 3, 2025, 1:14pm UTC](https://forum.castle-engine.io/t/november-improvements-huge-animation-upgrade-guidelines-about-ai-usage-codeberg-mirror-various-fixes/2056 "2025-12-03T13:14:59Z")
We have a few things to report from November. Enjoy 🙂 We have merged a big branch with numerous improvements to our animation handling (skinned animation and other). The important new … --- ## [Various October Improvements - VS Code and VS Codium, Google Play 16k requirement, Nintendo Switch update](https://forum.castle-engine.io/t/various-october-improvements-vs-code-and-vs-codium-google-play-16k-requirement-nintendo-switch-update/2044)
**Author:** [@michalis](https://forum.castle-engine.io/u/michalis)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [November 2, 2025, 8:20am UTC](https://forum.castle-engine.io/t/various-october-improvements-vs-code-and-vs-codium-google-play-16k-requirement-nintendo-switch-update/2044 "2025-11-02T08:20:00Z")
We released a new version (1.6) of our extension to integrate with VS Code: We fixed how it detects OS on win64. This in turn fixes Code Completion, jumping to declaration and other LSP features on Win64. … --- ## [Note: forum server went through small change today, everything should be fully functional again](https://forum.castle-engine.io/t/note-forum-server-went-through-small-change-today-everything-should-be-fully-functional-again/2043)
**Author:** [@michalis](https://forum.castle-engine.io/u/michalis)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [October 26, 2025, 12:27am UTC](https://forum.castle-engine.io/t/note-forum-server-went-through-small-change-today-everything-should-be-fully-functional-again/2043 "2025-10-26T00:27:54Z")
A maintenance note to our forum users: the server hosting our forum went through a small change today (and was offline for ~2 hours). In short, the change should be invisible to you and everything should now work as it d… [Next page](https://forum.castle-engine.io/c/news/9.md?page=1)