Distribute shadow map update over multiple frames to reduce stutter (#11422)

Reduces stutter and freezes when playing.

 * Maintains double SM and SM Color textures
 * Light frustum update triggers incremental generation of shadow map into secondary 'future' textures.
 * Every incremental update renders a portion of the shadow draw list (split equally).
 * After defined number of frames (currently, 4), 'future' and 'current' textures are swapped, and DirectionalLight 'commits' the new frustum to use when rendering shadows on screen.

Co-authored-by: sfan5 <sfan5@live.de>

10 files changed, 225 insertions, 73 deletions

diff --git a/builtin/settingtypes.txt b/builtin/settingtypes.txt
index 17843fac8..420e9d49c 100644
--- a/builtin/settingtypes.txt
+++ b/builtin/settingtypes.txt
@@ -618,11 +618,11 @@ shadow_filters (Shadow filter quality) enum 1 0,1,2
 #    On true translucent nodes cast colored shadows. This is expensive.
 shadow_map_color (Colored shadows) bool false
 
-
-#    Set the shadow update time, in seconds.
-#    Lower value means shadows and map updates faster, but it consumes more resources.
-#    Minimum value: 0.001; maximum value: 0.2
-shadow_update_time (Map update time) float 0.2 0.001 0.2
+#    Spread a complete update of shadow map over given amount of frames.
+#    Higher values might make shadows laggy, lower values
+#    will consume more resources.
+#    Minimum value: 1; maximum value: 16
+shadow_update_frames (Map shadows update frames) int 8 1 16
 
 #    Set the soft shadow radius size.
 #    Lower values mean sharper shadows, bigger values mean softer shadows.
diff --git a/client/shaders/nodes_shader/opengl_fragment.glsl b/client/shaders/nodes_shader/opengl_fragment.glsl
index 64a88ebbb..f85ca7b48 100644
--- a/client/shaders/nodes_shader/opengl_fragment.glsl
+++ b/client/shaders/nodes_shader/opengl_fragment.glsl
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ float getPenumbraRadius(sampler2D shadowsampler, vec2 smTexCoord, float realDist
 	float pointDepth;
 	float maxRadius = SOFTSHADOWRADIUS * 5.0 * multiplier;
 
-	float bound = clamp(PCFBOUND * (1 - baseLength), 0.5, PCFBOUND);
+	float bound = clamp(PCFBOUND * (1 - baseLength), 0.0, PCFBOUND);
 	int n = 0;
 
 	for (y = -bound; y <= bound; y += 1.0)
@@ -304,7 +304,7 @@ vec4 getShadowColor(sampler2D shadowsampler, vec2 smTexCoord, float realDistance
 	float perspectiveFactor;
 
 	float texture_size = 1.0 / (f_textureresolution * 0.5);
-	int samples = int(clamp(PCFSAMPLES * (1 - baseLength) * (1 - baseLength), 1, PCFSAMPLES));
+	int samples = int(clamp(PCFSAMPLES * (1 - baseLength) * (1 - baseLength), PCFSAMPLES / 4, PCFSAMPLES));
 	int init_offset = int(floor(mod(((smTexCoord.x * 34.0) + 1.0) * smTexCoord.y, 64.0-samples)));
 	int end_offset = int(samples) + init_offset;
 
@@ -334,7 +334,7 @@ float getShadow(sampler2D shadowsampler, vec2 smTexCoord, float realDistance)
 	float perspectiveFactor;
 
 	float texture_size = 1.0 / (f_textureresolution * 0.5);
-	int samples = int(clamp(PCFSAMPLES * (1 - baseLength) * (1 - baseLength), 1, PCFSAMPLES));
+	int samples = int(clamp(PCFSAMPLES * (1 - baseLength) * (1 - baseLength), PCFSAMPLES / 4, PCFSAMPLES));
 	int init_offset = int(floor(mod(((smTexCoord.x * 34.0) + 1.0) * smTexCoord.y, 64.0-samples)));
 	int end_offset = int(samples) + init_offset;
 
@@ -370,7 +370,7 @@ vec4 getShadowColor(sampler2D shadowsampler, vec2 smTexCoord, float realDistance
 
 	float texture_size = 1.0 / (f_textureresolution * 0.5);
 	float y, x;
-	float bound = clamp(PCFBOUND * (1 - baseLength), 0.5, PCFBOUND);
+	float bound = clamp(PCFBOUND * (1 - baseLength), PCFBOUND / 2, PCFBOUND);
 	int n = 0;
 
 	// basic PCF filter
@@ -402,7 +402,7 @@ float getShadow(sampler2D shadowsampler, vec2 smTexCoord, float realDistance)
 
 	float texture_size = 1.0 / (f_textureresolution * 0.5);
 	float y, x;
-	float bound = clamp(PCFBOUND * (1 - baseLength), 0.5, PCFBOUND);
+	float bound = clamp(PCFBOUND * (1 - baseLength), PCFBOUND / 2, PCFBOUND);
 	int n = 0;
 
 	// basic PCF filter
diff --git a/src/client/clientmap.cpp b/src/client/clientmap.cpp
index 8b09eade1..77f3b9fe8 100644
--- a/src/client/clientmap.cpp
+++ b/src/client/clientmap.cpp
@@ -636,7 +636,7 @@ void ClientMap::PrintInfo(std::ostream &out)
 }
 
 void ClientMap::renderMapShadows(video::IVideoDriver *driver,
-		const video::SMaterial &material, s32 pass)
+		const video::SMaterial &material, s32 pass, int frame, int total_frames)
 {
 	bool is_transparent_pass = pass != scene::ESNRP_SOLID;
 	std::string prefix;
@@ -650,7 +650,23 @@ void ClientMap::renderMapShadows(video::IVideoDriver *driver,
 
 	MeshBufListList drawbufs;
 
+	int count = 0;
+	int low_bound = is_transparent_pass ? 0 : m_drawlist_shadow.size() / total_frames * frame;
+	int high_bound = is_transparent_pass ? m_drawlist_shadow.size() : m_drawlist_shadow.size() / total_frames * (frame + 1);
+
+	// transparent pass should be rendered in one go
+	if (is_transparent_pass && frame != total_frames - 1) {
+		return;
+	}
+
 	for (auto &i : m_drawlist_shadow) {
+		// only process specific part of the list & break early
+		++count;
+		if (count <= low_bound)
+			continue;
+		if (count > high_bound)
+			break;
+
 		v3s16 block_pos = i.first;
 		MapBlock *block = i.second;
 
@@ -705,6 +721,7 @@ void ClientMap::renderMapShadows(video::IVideoDriver *driver,
 				local_material.MaterialType = material.MaterialType;
 				local_material.BackfaceCulling = material.BackfaceCulling;
 				local_material.FrontfaceCulling = material.FrontfaceCulling;
+				local_material.BlendOperation = material.BlendOperation;
 				local_material.Lighting = false;
 				driver->setMaterial(local_material);
 
@@ -720,6 +737,12 @@ void ClientMap::renderMapShadows(video::IVideoDriver *driver,
 		}
 	}
 
+	// restore the driver material state 
+	video::SMaterial clean;
+	clean.BlendOperation = video::EBO_ADD;
+	driver->setMaterial(clean); // reset material to defaults
+	driver->draw3DLine(v3f(), v3f(), video::SColor(0));
+	
 	g_profiler->avg(prefix + "draw meshes [ms]", draw.stop(true));
 	g_profiler->avg(prefix + "vertices drawn [#]", vertex_count);
 	g_profiler->avg(prefix + "drawcalls [#]", drawcall_count);
diff --git a/src/client/clientmap.h b/src/client/clientmap.h
index 93ade4c15..97ce8d355 100644
--- a/src/client/clientmap.h
+++ b/src/client/clientmap.h
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ public:
 	void renderMap(video::IVideoDriver* driver, s32 pass);
 
 	void renderMapShadows(video::IVideoDriver *driver,
-			const video::SMaterial &material, s32 pass);
+			const video::SMaterial &material, s32 pass, int frame, int total_frames);
 
 	int getBackgroundBrightness(float max_d, u32 daylight_factor,
 			int oldvalue, bool *sunlight_seen_result);
diff --git a/src/client/game.cpp b/src/client/game.cpp
index 85dd8f4bb..6fc57c8cc 100644
--- a/src/client/game.cpp
+++ b/src/client/game.cpp
@@ -609,7 +609,6 @@ struct GameRunData {
 	float jump_timer;
 	float damage_flash;
 	float update_draw_list_timer;
-	float update_shadows_timer;
 
 	f32 fog_range;
 
@@ -3881,10 +3880,8 @@ void Game::updateFrame(ProfilerGraph *graph, RunStats *stats, f32 dtime,
 		changed much
 	*/
 	runData.update_draw_list_timer += dtime;
-	runData.update_shadows_timer += dtime;
 
 	float update_draw_list_delta = 0.2f;
-	bool draw_list_updated = false;
 
 	v3f camera_direction = camera->getDirection();
 	if (runData.update_draw_list_timer >= update_draw_list_delta
@@ -3894,18 +3891,10 @@ void Game::updateFrame(ProfilerGraph *graph, RunStats *stats, f32 dtime,
 		runData.update_draw_list_timer = 0;
 		client->getEnv().getClientMap().updateDrawList();
 		runData.update_draw_list_last_cam_dir = camera_direction;
-		draw_list_updated = true;
 	}
 
-	if (ShadowRenderer *shadow = RenderingEngine::get_shadow_renderer()) {
-		update_draw_list_delta = shadow->getUpdateDelta();
-
-		if (m_camera_offset_changed ||
-				(runData.update_shadows_timer > update_draw_list_delta &&
-				(!draw_list_updated || shadow->getDirectionalLightCount() == 0))) {
-			runData.update_shadows_timer = 0;
-			updateShadows();
-		}
+	if (RenderingEngine::get_shadow_renderer()) {
+		updateShadows();
 	}
 
 	m_game_ui->update(*stats, client, draw_control, cam, runData.pointed_old, gui_chat_console, dtime);
@@ -4062,7 +4051,7 @@ void Game::updateShadows()
 	shadow->getDirectionalLight().setDirection(sun_pos);
 	shadow->setTimeOfDay(in_timeofday);
 
-	shadow->getDirectionalLight().update_frustum(camera, client);
+	shadow->getDirectionalLight().update_frustum(camera, client, m_camera_offset_changed);
 }
 
 /****************************************************************************
diff --git a/src/client/shadows/dynamicshadows.cpp b/src/client/shadows/dynamicshadows.cpp
index 17b711a61..0c7eea0e7 100644
--- a/src/client/shadows/dynamicshadows.cpp
+++ b/src/client/shadows/dynamicshadows.cpp
@@ -38,8 +38,8 @@ void DirectionalLight::createSplitMatrices(const Camera *cam)
 	float tanFovX = tanf(cam->getFovX() * 0.5f);
 
 	// adjusted frustum boundaries
-	float sfNear = shadow_frustum.zNear;
-	float sfFar = adjustDist(shadow_frustum.zFar, cam->getFovY());
+	float sfNear = future_frustum.zNear;
+	float sfFar = adjustDist(future_frustum.zFar, cam->getFovY());
 
 	// adjusted camera positions
 	v3f camPos2 = cam->getPosition();
@@ -87,14 +87,15 @@ void DirectionalLight::createSplitMatrices(const Camera *cam)
 	v3f eye_displacement = direction * vvolume;
 
 	// we must compute the viewmat with the position - the camera offset
-	// but the shadow_frustum position must be the actual world position
+	// but the future_frustum position must be the actual world position
 	v3f eye = frustumCenter - eye_displacement;
-	shadow_frustum.position = world_center - eye_displacement;
-	shadow_frustum.length = vvolume;
-	shadow_frustum.ViewMat.buildCameraLookAtMatrixLH(eye, frustumCenter, v3f(0.0f, 1.0f, 0.0f));
-	shadow_frustum.ProjOrthMat.buildProjectionMatrixOrthoLH(shadow_frustum.length,
-			shadow_frustum.length, -shadow_frustum.length,
-			shadow_frustum.length,false);
+	future_frustum.position = world_center - eye_displacement;
+	future_frustum.length = vvolume;
+	future_frustum.ViewMat.buildCameraLookAtMatrixLH(eye, frustumCenter, v3f(0.0f, 1.0f, 0.0f));
+	future_frustum.ProjOrthMat.buildProjectionMatrixOrthoLH(future_frustum.length,
+			future_frustum.length, -future_frustum.length,
+			future_frustum.length,false);
+	future_frustum.camera_offset = cam->getOffset();
 }
 
 DirectionalLight::DirectionalLight(const u32 shadowMapResolution,
@@ -104,23 +105,44 @@ DirectionalLight::DirectionalLight(const u32 shadowMapResolution,
 		farPlane(farValue), mapRes(shadowMapResolution), pos(position)
 {}
 
-void DirectionalLight::update_frustum(const Camera *cam, Client *client)
+void DirectionalLight::update_frustum(const Camera *cam, Client *client, bool force)
 {
-	should_update_map_shadow = true;
+	if (dirty && !force)
+		return;
+
 	float zNear = cam->getCameraNode()->getNearValue();
 	float zFar = getMaxFarValue();
 
 	///////////////////////////////////
 	// update splits near and fars
-	shadow_frustum.zNear = zNear;
-	shadow_frustum.zFar = zFar;
+	future_frustum.zNear = zNear;
+	future_frustum.zFar = zFar;
 
 	// update shadow frustum
 	createSplitMatrices(cam);
 	// get the draw list for shadows
 	client->getEnv().getClientMap().updateDrawListShadow(
-			getPosition(), getDirection(), shadow_frustum.length);
+			getPosition(), getDirection(), future_frustum.length);
 	should_update_map_shadow = true;
+	dirty = true;
+
+	// when camera offset changes, adjust the current frustum view matrix to avoid flicker
+	v3s16 cam_offset = cam->getOffset();
+	if (cam_offset != shadow_frustum.camera_offset) {
+		v3f rotated_offset;
+		shadow_frustum.ViewMat.rotateVect(rotated_offset, intToFloat(cam_offset - shadow_frustum.camera_offset, BS));
+		shadow_frustum.ViewMat.setTranslation(shadow_frustum.ViewMat.getTranslation() + rotated_offset);
+		shadow_frustum.camera_offset = cam_offset;
+	}
+}
+
+void DirectionalLight::commitFrustum()
+{
+	if (!dirty)
+		return;
+
+	shadow_frustum = future_frustum;
+	dirty = false;
 }
 
 void DirectionalLight::setDirection(v3f dir)
@@ -144,6 +166,16 @@ const m4f &DirectionalLight::getProjectionMatrix() const
 	return shadow_frustum.ProjOrthMat;
 }
 
+const m4f &DirectionalLight::getFutureViewMatrix() const
+{
+	return future_frustum.ViewMat;
+}
+
+const m4f &DirectionalLight::getFutureProjectionMatrix() const
+{
+	return future_frustum.ProjOrthMat;
+}
+
 m4f DirectionalLight::getViewProjMatrix()
 {
 	return shadow_frustum.ProjOrthMat * shadow_frustum.ViewMat;
diff --git a/src/client/shadows/dynamicshadows.h b/src/client/shadows/dynamicshadows.h
index a53612f7c..d8be66be8 100644
--- a/src/client/shadows/dynamicshadows.h
+++ b/src/client/shadows/dynamicshadows.h
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ struct shadowFrustum
 	core::matrix4 ProjOrthMat;
 	core::matrix4 ViewMat;
 	v3f position;
+	v3s16 camera_offset;
 };
 
 class DirectionalLight
@@ -47,7 +48,7 @@ public:
 
 	//DISABLE_CLASS_COPY(DirectionalLight)
 
-	void update_frustum(const Camera *cam, Client *client);
+	void update_frustum(const Camera *cam, Client *client, bool force = false);
 
 	// when set direction is updated to negative normalized(direction)
 	void setDirection(v3f dir);
@@ -59,6 +60,8 @@ public:
 	/// Gets the light's matrices.
 	const core::matrix4 &getViewMatrix() const;
 	const core::matrix4 &getProjectionMatrix() const;
+	const core::matrix4 &getFutureViewMatrix() const;
+	const core::matrix4 &getFutureProjectionMatrix() const;
 	core::matrix4 getViewProjMatrix();
 
 	/// Gets the light's far value.
@@ -88,6 +91,8 @@ public:
 
 	bool should_update_map_shadow{true};
 
+	void commitFrustum();
+
 private:
 	void createSplitMatrices(const Camera *cam);
 
@@ -99,4 +104,6 @@ private:
 	v3f pos;
 	v3f direction{0};
 	shadowFrustum shadow_frustum;
+	shadowFrustum future_frustum;
+	bool dirty{false};
 };
diff --git a/src/client/shadows/dynamicshadowsrender.cpp b/src/client/shadows/dynamicshadowsrender.cpp
index 135c9f895..350586225 100644
--- a/src/client/shadows/dynamicshadowsrender.cpp
+++ b/src/client/shadows/dynamicshadowsrender.cpp
@@ -27,10 +27,11 @@ with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc.,
 #include "client/shader.h"
 #include "client/client.h"
 #include "client/clientmap.h"
+#include "profiler.h"
 
 ShadowRenderer::ShadowRenderer(IrrlichtDevice *device, Client *client) :
 		m_device(device), m_smgr(device->getSceneManager()),
-		m_driver(device->getVideoDriver()), m_client(client)
+		m_driver(device->getVideoDriver()), m_client(client), m_current_frame(0)
 {
 	m_shadows_enabled = true;
 
@@ -43,7 +44,7 @@ ShadowRenderer::ShadowRenderer(IrrlichtDevice *device, Client *client) :
 	m_shadow_map_texture_32bit = g_settings->getBool("shadow_map_texture_32bit");
 	m_shadow_map_colored = g_settings->getBool("shadow_map_color");
 	m_shadow_samples = g_settings->getS32("shadow_filters");
-	m_update_delta = g_settings->getFloat("shadow_update_time");
+	m_map_shadow_update_frames = g_settings->getS16("shadow_update_frames");
 }
 
 ShadowRenderer::~ShadowRenderer()
@@ -66,6 +67,9 @@ ShadowRenderer::~ShadowRenderer()
 
 	if (shadowMapClientMap)
 		m_driver->removeTexture(shadowMapClientMap);
+
+	if (shadowMapClientMapFuture)
+		m_driver->removeTexture(shadowMapClientMapFuture);
 }
 
 void ShadowRenderer::initialize()
@@ -93,11 +97,6 @@ void ShadowRenderer::initialize()
 }
 
 
-float ShadowRenderer::getUpdateDelta() const
-{
-	return m_update_delta;
-}
-
 size_t ShadowRenderer::addDirectionalLight()
 {
 	m_light_list.emplace_back(m_shadow_map_texture_size,
@@ -152,10 +151,9 @@ void ShadowRenderer::setClearColor(video::SColor ClearColor)
 	m_clear_color = ClearColor;
 }
 
-void ShadowRenderer::update(video::ITexture *outputTarget)
+void ShadowRenderer::updateSMTextures()
 {
 	if (!m_shadows_enabled || m_smgr->getActiveCamera() == nullptr) {
-		m_smgr->drawAll();
 		return;
 	}
 
@@ -174,6 +172,13 @@ void ShadowRenderer::update(video::ITexture *outputTarget)
 			true);
 	}
 
+	if (!shadowMapClientMapFuture && m_map_shadow_update_frames > 1) {
+		shadowMapClientMapFuture = getSMTexture(
+			std::string("shadow_clientmap_bb_") + itos(m_shadow_map_texture_size),
+			m_shadow_map_colored ? m_texture_format_color : m_texture_format,
+			true);
+	}
+
 	if (m_shadow_map_colored && !shadowMapTextureColors) {
 		shadowMapTextureColors = getSMTexture(
 			std::string("shadow_colored_") + itos(m_shadow_map_texture_size),
@@ -201,7 +206,22 @@ void ShadowRenderer::update(video::ITexture *outputTarget)
 	}
 
 	if (!m_shadow_node_array.empty() && !m_light_list.empty()) {
-		// for every directional light:
+		bool reset_sm_texture = false;
+
+		// detect if SM should be regenerated
+		for (DirectionalLight &light : m_light_list) {
+			if (light.should_update_map_shadow) {
+				light.should_update_map_shadow = false;
+				m_current_frame = 0;
+				reset_sm_texture = true;
+			}
+		}
+
+		video::ITexture* shadowMapTargetTexture = shadowMapClientMapFuture;
+		if (shadowMapTargetTexture == nullptr)
+			shadowMapTargetTexture = shadowMapClientMap;
+
+		// Update SM incrementally:
 		for (DirectionalLight &light : m_light_list) {
 			// Static shader values.
 			m_shadow_depth_cb->MapRes = (f32)m_shadow_map_texture_size;
@@ -212,22 +232,60 @@ void ShadowRenderer::update(video::ITexture *outputTarget)
 			// Depth texture is available in irrlicth maybe we
 			// should put some gl* fn here
 
-			if (light.should_update_map_shadow) {
-				light.should_update_map_shadow = false;
 
-				m_driver->setRenderTarget(shadowMapClientMap, true, true,
+			if (m_current_frame < m_map_shadow_update_frames) {
+				m_driver->setRenderTarget(shadowMapTargetTexture, reset_sm_texture, true,
 						video::SColor(255, 255, 255, 255));
-				renderShadowMap(shadowMapClientMap, light);
-
-				if (m_shadow_map_colored) {
-					m_driver->setRenderTarget(shadowMapTextureColors,
-							true, false, video::SColor(255, 255, 255, 255));
+				renderShadowMap(shadowMapTargetTexture, light);
+
+				// Render transparent part in one pass.
+				// This is also handled in ClientMap.
+				if (m_current_frame == m_map_shadow_update_frames - 1) {
+					if (m_shadow_map_colored) {
+						m_driver->setRenderTarget(shadowMapTextureColors,
+								true, false, video::SColor(255, 255, 255, 255));
+					}
+					renderShadowMap(shadowMapTextureColors, light,
+							scene::ESNRP_TRANSPARENT);
 				}
-				renderShadowMap(shadowMapTextureColors, light,
-						scene::ESNRP_TRANSPARENT);
 				m_driver->setRenderTarget(0, false, false);
 			}
 
+			reset_sm_texture = false;
+		} // end for lights
+
+		// move to the next section
+		if (m_current_frame <= m_map_shadow_update_frames)
+			++m_current_frame;
+
+		// pass finished, swap textures and commit light changes
+		if (m_current_frame == m_map_shadow_update_frames) {
+			if (shadowMapClientMapFuture != nullptr)
+				std::swap(shadowMapClientMapFuture, shadowMapClientMap);
+
+			// Let all lights know that maps are updated
+			for (DirectionalLight &light : m_light_list)
+				light.commitFrustum();
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+void ShadowRenderer::update(video::ITexture *outputTarget)
+{
+	if (!m_shadows_enabled || m_smgr->getActiveCamera() == nullptr) {
+		m_smgr->drawAll();
+		return;
+	}
+
+	updateSMTextures();
+
+	if (!m_shadow_node_array.empty() && !m_light_list.empty()) {
+
+		for (DirectionalLight &light : m_light_list) {
+			// Static shader values.
+			m_shadow_depth_cb->MapRes = (f32)m_shadow_map_texture_size;
+			m_shadow_depth_cb->MaxFar = (f32)m_shadow_map_max_distance * BS;
+
 			// render shadows for the n0n-map objects.
 			m_driver->setRenderTarget(shadowMapTextureDynamicObjects, true,
 					true, video::SColor(255, 255, 255, 255));
@@ -299,8 +357,8 @@ video::ITexture *ShadowRenderer::getSMTexture(const std::string &shadow_map_name
 void ShadowRenderer::renderShadowMap(video::ITexture *target,
 		DirectionalLight &light, scene::E_SCENE_NODE_RENDER_PASS pass)
 {
-	m_driver->setTransform(video::ETS_VIEW, light.getViewMatrix());
-	m_driver->setTransform(video::ETS_PROJECTION, light.getProjectionMatrix());
+	m_driver->setTransform(video::ETS_VIEW, light.getFutureViewMatrix());
+	m_driver->setTransform(video::ETS_PROJECTION, light.getFutureProjectionMatrix());
 
 	// Operate on the client map
 	for (const auto &shadow_node : m_shadow_node_array) {
@@ -322,10 +380,13 @@ void ShadowRenderer::renderShadowMap(video::ITexture *target,
 		//material.PolygonOffsetDepthBias = 1.0f/4.0f;
 		//material.PolygonOffsetSlopeScale = -1.f;
 
-		if (m_shadow_map_colored && pass != scene::ESNRP_SOLID)
+		if (m_shadow_map_colored && pass != scene::ESNRP_SOLID) {
 			material.MaterialType = (video::E_MATERIAL_TYPE) depth_shader_trans;
-		else
+		}
+		else {
 			material.MaterialType = (video::E_MATERIAL_TYPE) depth_shader;
+			material.BlendOperation = video::EBO_MIN;
+		}
 
 		// FIXME: I don't think this is needed here
 		map_node->OnAnimate(m_device->getTimer()->getTime());
@@ -333,7 +394,7 @@ void ShadowRenderer::renderShadowMap(video::ITexture *target,
 		m_driver->setTransform(video::ETS_WORLD,
 				map_node->getAbsoluteTransformation());
 
-		map_node->renderMapShadows(m_driver, material, pass);
+		map_node->renderMapShadows(m_driver, material, pass, m_current_frame, m_map_shadow_update_frames);
 		break;
 	}
 }
@@ -354,8 +415,10 @@ void ShadowRenderer::renderShadowObjects(
 		u32 n_node_materials = shadow_node.node->getMaterialCount();
 		std::vector<s32> BufferMaterialList;
 		std::vector<std::pair<bool, bool>> BufferMaterialCullingList;
+		std::vector<video::E_BLEND_OPERATION> BufferBlendOperationList;
 		BufferMaterialList.reserve(n_node_materials);
 		BufferMaterialCullingList.reserve(n_node_materials);
+		BufferBlendOperationList.reserve(n_node_materials);
 
 		// backup materialtype for each material
 		// (aka shader)
@@ -365,12 +428,11 @@ void ShadowRenderer::renderShadowObjects(
 
 			BufferMaterialList.push_back(current_mat.MaterialType);
 			current_mat.MaterialType =
-					(video::E_MATERIAL_TYPE)depth_shader;
-
-			current_mat.setTexture(3, shadowMapTextureFinal);
+					(video::E_MATERIAL_TYPE)depth_shader_entities;
 
 			BufferMaterialCullingList.emplace_back(
 				(bool)current_mat.BackfaceCulling, (bool)current_mat.FrontfaceCulling);
+			BufferBlendOperationList.push_back(current_mat.BlendOperation);
 
 			current_mat.BackfaceCulling = true;
 			current_mat.FrontfaceCulling = false;
@@ -393,6 +455,7 @@ void ShadowRenderer::renderShadowObjects(
 
 			current_mat.BackfaceCulling = BufferMaterialCullingList[m].first;
 			current_mat.FrontfaceCulling = BufferMaterialCullingList[m].second;
+			current_mat.BlendOperation = BufferBlendOperationList[m];
 		}
 
 	} // end for caster shadow nodes
@@ -433,7 +496,7 @@ void ShadowRenderer::createShaders()
 				readShaderFile(depth_shader_vs).c_str(), "vertexMain",
 				video::EVST_VS_1_1,
 				readShaderFile(depth_shader_fs).c_str(), "pixelMain",
-				video::EPST_PS_1_2, m_shadow_depth_cb);
+				video::EPST_PS_1_2, m_shadow_depth_cb, video::EMT_ONETEXTURE_BLEND);
 
 		if (depth_shader == -1) {
 			// upsi, something went wrong loading shader.
@@ -449,6 +512,41 @@ void ShadowRenderer::createShaders()
 		m_driver->getMaterialRenderer(depth_shader)->grab();
 	}
 
+	// This creates a clone of depth_shader with base material set to EMT_SOLID,
+	// because entities won't render shadows with base material EMP_ONETEXTURE_BLEND
+	if (depth_shader_entities == -1) {
+		std::string depth_shader_vs = getShaderPath("shadow_shaders", "pass1_vertex.glsl");
+		if (depth_shader_vs.empty()) {
+			m_shadows_enabled = false;
+			errorstream << "Error shadow mapping vs shader not found." << std::endl;
+			return;
+		}
+		std::string depth_shader_fs = getShaderPath("shadow_shaders", "pass1_fragment.glsl");
+		if (depth_shader_fs.empty()) {
+			m_shadows_enabled = false;
+			errorstream << "Error shadow mapping fs shader not found." << std::endl;
+			return;
+		}
+
+		depth_shader_entities = gpu->addHighLevelShaderMaterial(
+				readShaderFile(depth_shader_vs).c_str(), "vertexMain",
+				video::EVST_VS_1_1,
+				readShaderFile(depth_shader_fs).c_str(), "pixelMain",
+				video::EPST_PS_1_2, m_shadow_depth_cb);
+
+		if (depth_shader_entities == -1) {
+			// upsi, something went wrong loading shader.
+			m_shadows_enabled = false;
+			errorstream << "Error compiling shadow mapping shader (dynamic)." << std::endl;
+			return;
+		}
+
+		// HACK, TODO: investigate this better
+		// Grab the material renderer once more so minetest doesn't crash
+		// on exit
+		m_driver->getMaterialRenderer(depth_shader_entities)->grab();
+	}
+
 	if (mixcsm_shader == -1) {
 		std::string depth_shader_vs = getShaderPath("shadow_shaders", "pass2_vertex.glsl");
 		if (depth_shader_vs.empty()) {
diff --git a/src/client/shadows/dynamicshadowsrender.h b/src/client/shadows/dynamicshadowsrender.h
index e633bd4f7..52b24a18f 100644
--- a/src/client/shadows/dynamicshadowsrender.h
+++ b/src/client/shadows/dynamicshadowsrender.h
@@ -64,7 +64,6 @@ public:
 	size_t getDirectionalLightCount() const;
 	f32 getMaxShadowFar() const;
 
-	float getUpdateDelta() const;
 	/// Adds a shadow to the scene node.
 	/// The shadow mode can be ESM_BOTH, or ESM_RECEIVE.
 	/// ESM_BOTH casts and receives shadows
@@ -101,6 +100,7 @@ private:
 					scene::ESNRP_SOLID);
 	void renderShadowObjects(video::ITexture *target, DirectionalLight &light);
 	void mixShadowsQuad();
+	void updateSMTextures();
 
 	// a bunch of variables
 	IrrlichtDevice *m_device{nullptr};
@@ -108,6 +108,7 @@ private:
 	video::IVideoDriver *m_driver{nullptr};
 	Client *m_client{nullptr};
 	video::ITexture *shadowMapClientMap{nullptr};
+	video::ITexture *shadowMapClientMapFuture{nullptr};
 	video::ITexture *shadowMapTextureFinal{nullptr};
 	video::ITexture *shadowMapTextureDynamicObjects{nullptr};
 	video::ITexture *shadowMapTextureColors{nullptr};
@@ -120,11 +121,12 @@ private:
 	float m_shadow_map_max_distance;
 	float m_shadow_map_texture_size;
 	float m_time_day{0.0f};
-	float m_update_delta;
 	int m_shadow_samples;
 	bool m_shadow_map_texture_32bit;
 	bool m_shadows_enabled;
 	bool m_shadow_map_colored;
+	u8 m_map_shadow_update_frames; /* Use this number of frames to update map shaodw */
+	u8 m_current_frame{0}; /* Current frame */
 
 	video::ECOLOR_FORMAT m_texture_format{video::ECOLOR_FORMAT::ECF_R16F};
 	video::ECOLOR_FORMAT m_texture_format_color{video::ECOLOR_FORMAT::ECF_R16G16};
@@ -135,6 +137,7 @@ private:
 	std::string readShaderFile(const std::string &path);
 
 	s32 depth_shader{-1};
+	s32 depth_shader_entities{-1};
 	s32 depth_shader_trans{-1};
 	s32 mixcsm_shader{-1};
 
diff --git a/src/defaultsettings.cpp b/src/defaultsettings.cpp
index 6791fccf5..faf839b3a 100644
--- a/src/defaultsettings.cpp
+++ b/src/defaultsettings.cpp
@@ -272,7 +272,7 @@ void set_default_settings()
 	settings->setDefault("shadow_map_color", "false");
 	settings->setDefault("shadow_filters", "1");
 	settings->setDefault("shadow_poisson_filter", "true");
-	settings->setDefault("shadow_update_time", "0.2");
+	settings->setDefault("shadow_update_frames", "8");
 	settings->setDefault("shadow_soft_radius", "1.0");
 	settings->setDefault("shadow_sky_body_orbit_tilt", "0.0");