Godot 4.4 Features: Jolt, Typed Dictionaries, .NET 8 and Upgrade Notes

Godot 4.4 added experimental Jolt Physics, typed dictionaries, a .NET 8 minimum for C#, an embedded game window in the editor and a new Metal backend for Apple platforms. This page summarizes the official release notes and what to check when upgrading.

Godot 4.4 is now an older release. The current stable line is 4.7 (4.7.2 was released on 18 August 2026), and 4.8 is in beta. If you are starting a new project, use a newer version.

30-second summary

Area	Headline change
Physics	Jolt Physics as a built-in alternative to Godot Physics (experimental), 3D physics interpolation
GDScript	Typed dictionaries, hover tooltips, expression evaluator at breakpoints
C#	.NET 8.0 minimum, Android .NET support
Editor	Embedded game window, interactive in-game editing, universal UID support
Rendering	Ubershaders, AgX tone mapping, Metal backend, driver fallback
Animation	LookAtModifier3D, SpringBoneSimulator3D, animation markers

What is new in Godot 4.4

Physics

• Jolt Physics can be enabled in the project settings as an alternative 3D physics engine. The release page labels it experimental, so check the docs for supported use cases first. See Godot Jolt Physics: How to Enable Jolt for the current state
• 3D physics interpolation smooths motion between physics ticks. It is opt-in in the project settings

GDScript

• Typed dictionaries enforce key and value types in the engine, in GDScript and in other languages, with Inspector support
• Tooltips show documentation on hover, including your own notes
• An expression evaluator tab lets you evaluate expressions against local state at a breakpoint

C# and .NET

• .NET 8.0 is the minimum. Projects are upgraded automatically when you open them in 4.4
• Android .NET support now covers all Android ABIs and BCL APIs

Editor

• Embedded game window runs the game inside the editor while keeping separate processes. It is available on Linux, Windows and Android, not on macOS
• Interactive in-game editing: select scene elements and move the camera while the game runs or is paused
• Universal UID support and a UID upgrade tool for 4.3 projects
• Persistent window state, favorite inspector items, Camera3D preview, 3D object snapping, autostart profilers and an error-free first import
• Early OpenXR support in the Android editor for Meta Quest 3, Quest 3S and Quest Pro

Rendering

• Ubershaders are precompiled fallback shaders that reduce shader stutter. Some shaders may need workarounds from the docs
• AgX tone mapping as an alternative to ACES
• Lightmap improvements: bicubic sampling, transparent object baking and LightmapGI shadowmasks
• Vertex shading for PSX-style or low-end targets, and a Shadow Caster Mask per Light3D
• Rendering driver fallback to Compatibility when Vulkan, D3D12 or Metal is not supported
• Metal backend for macOS and iOS (replacing MoltenVK). Apple Silicon only, with MetalFX upscaling available

Animation, 2D and 3D

• LookAtModifier3D for procedural aiming, SpringBoneSimulator3D for jiggle physics and animation markers
• 2D batching on all renderers and 2D shader instance uniforms
• Manifold CSG replaces the old CSG implementation
• 3D particle emission shape visualization

Platforms

• Android: export templates can be downloaded on the device, Swappy frame pacing, themed monochrome icons and a native file picker
• Linux: camera support
• macOS and iOS: Metal backend and controller improvements

Upgrade notes

1. Back up the project or commit it to Git, then open it with the official migration guide at hand
2. Run the UID upgrade tool on projects coming from 4.3
3. C# projects are upgraded to .NET 8 automatically on open. Older releases stay on .NET 6
4. Check CSG geometry after upgrading, because CSG now uses Manifold
5. Test shaders and lightmaps, since Ubershaders and lightmap changes can affect results
6. Jolt and physics interpolation are opt-in. Test Jolt on a copy before switching
7. Keep the .godot folder out of version control. The engine regenerates it

Should you still use Godot 4.4?

For an existing project that works, there is no need to rush. For anything new, start on a current stable release. To see what changed in newer lines, read the official release pages on godotengine.org.

FAQ

Is Jolt the default physics engine in Godot 4.4?

No. In 4.4 Jolt is an experimental option you enable in the project settings.

Does Godot 4.4 need .NET 8?

Yes. The .NET build uses .NET 8.0 as its minimum, and projects upgrade automatically when opened.

Does the embedded game window work on macOS?

No. According to the release notes it is available on Linux, Windows and Android.

Is Godot 4.4 still supported?

It is an older release. Newer stable versions exist, so plan to move to a current one for new work.

Update log

• 23 October 2026: rewritten against the official Godot 4.4 release notes. Earlier versions of this article included performance figures that are not in the official release notes.

Sources

• Godot 4.4 release page (official)
• Godot download archive