Learned synthesis is becoming procedural.
InfiniteDiffusion targets seed consistency, unbounded extent and random access. Geomorphological transport supplies drainage-connected structure; controllable patterns add cheap near-field detail.
Research brief / 2 September 2026
Real-Time
Natural Worlds
The latest research on procedural terrain, procedural foliage and flora, and water rendering for real-time videogames.
Research synthesis
The frontier is hybrid.
Placement and rendering are separate systems.
Terrain descriptors and ecology determine where species belong. Work graphs and mesh shaders can then expand compact plant programs into visible geometry with continuous LOD.
No single representation covers water.
Broad spectral surfaces, localized topology-capable waves, directed flow fields, foam and spray, and underwater optical transport each own a different scale and phenomenon.
Recommended engine boundary
Generate visuals from stable world data.
World contractTerrain fieldsBiome + floraWater stateRender + stream
Use deterministic tiles, shared descriptor fields, stable organism IDs, a water-body graph, and sparse persistent gameplay deltas. Camera state should select rendering detail, never persistent identity.
Evidence
Recent primary sources, clearly labeled.
The report prioritizes SIGGRAPH 2026, SIGGRAPH Asia 2025, High-Performance Graphics 2025, Computer Graphics Forum, official production talks, and author project pages. Peer-reviewed papers, production R&D, preprints, and adjacent work are distinguished throughout.
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