Setup

beginner concepts

Global Snow (URP) · Core Concepts

Prerequisites

Before setting up Global Snow, make sure your project meets these requirements:

  • Unity 2022.3 LTS or newer.
  • Universal Render Pipeline (URP) installed via the Package Manager.
  • A URP Settings asset assigned in Edit > Project Settings > Graphics and in Project Settings > Quality.
  • The URP Renderer set to the Deferred rendering path.

Enabling Deferred Rendering

Global Snow URP works only with the deferred rendering path. To enable it:

  1. Locate your URP Renderer Data asset. This is referenced by your URP Settings asset (check Project Settings > Graphics and each quality level in Project Settings > Quality).
  2. Select the Renderer Data asset in the Project window.
  3. In the Inspector, set Rendering Path to Deferred.
Forward rendering is not supported. If your URP Renderer is set to Forward or Forward+, Global Snow will not render. Switch to Deferred before proceeding.

Adding the Render Feature

Global Snow integrates with URP through a Renderer Feature:

  1. Select your URP Renderer Data asset.
  2. In the Inspector, scroll to the bottom and click Add Renderer Feature.
  3. Select GlobalSnow from the dropdown list.
Multiple quality levels? Unity may assign a different URP asset to each quality level. Make sure you add the Global Snow Renderer Feature to every URP Renderer Data asset used in your project - both the one in Project Settings > Graphics and any in Project Settings > Quality.

Adding the Global Snow Component

Unlike the Built-in RP version (which must go on the camera), the URP version can be added to any GameObject:

  1. Select any GameObject in the Hierarchy.
  2. Click Add Component and search for GlobalSnow.
  3. Adjust settings in the inspector.

Render Graph (Unity 6+)

Unity 6 introduced the Render Graph API, which replaces the legacy render pass system. Global Snow URP is fully compatible with Render Graph.

  • No additional configuration is required - the Renderer Feature detects Render Graph automatically.
  • Both the legacy path (Unity 2022.3 / 2023.x) and Render Graph (Unity 6+) are supported from the same package.
Tip: If you upgrade a project from Unity 2022/2023 to Unity 6, Global Snow will continue to work without changes. The Render Feature automatically adapts to the active rendering backend.

Recommended Project Settings

SettingRecommended ValueWhy
Rendering PathDeferredRequired for Global Snow URP.
Depth TextureEnabledNeeded for coverage depth calculations.
Opaque TextureEnabledUseful for camera frost distortion.
HDREnabledRecommended for best visual quality with subsurface scattering.

Scene View Preview

To see snow in the Scene View without entering Play mode, enable Show Snow In Scene View in the Global Snow inspector. This renders the snow effect directly in the editor.

Verify Setup

After completing the steps above:

  1. Enter Play Mode.
  2. Verify snow appears on your terrain and objects.
  3. If no snow is visible, check the Troubleshooting page.

Next Steps

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