# 3.1.0

## Major updates

- Added VRExperienceHelper to create WebVR experience with 2 lines of code. [Documentation](http://doc.babylonjs.com/how_to/webvr_helper) ([davrous](https://github.com/davrous), [TrevorDev](https://github.com/TrevorDev))
- Added BackgroundMaterial. [Documentation](https://doc.babylonjs.com/how_to/backgroundmaterial) ([sebavan](https://github.com/sebavan))
- Added EnvironmentHelper. [Documentation](https://doc.babylonjs.com/babylon101/environment#skybox-and-ground) ([sebavan](https://github.com/sebavan))
- Added support for webgl context lost and restored events. [Documentation](http://doc.babylonjs.com/how_to/optimizing_your_scene#handling-webgl-context-lost) ([deltakosh](https://github.com/deltakosh))
- Added support for non-pow2 textures when in WebGL2 mode ([deltakosh](https://github.com/deltakosh))
- Engine can now be initialized with an existing webgl context ([deltakosh](https://github.com/deltakosh))
- Introduced behaviors. [Documentation](http://doc.babylonjs.com/overviews/behaviors) ([deltakosh](https://github.com/deltakosh))
- Added support for WebGL Occlusion queries. [Documentation](http://doc.babylonjs.com/overviews/occlusionquery) ([Ibraheem Osama](https://github.com/IbraheemOsama))
- New behaviors for ArcRotateCamera. [Documentation](http://doc.babylonjs.com/overviews/behaviors) 
  - AutoRotation ([deltakosh](https://github.com/deltakosh))
  - Framing ([deltakosh](https://github.com/deltakosh))
  - Bouncing ([deltakosh](https://github.com/deltakosh))
- New InputText for Babylon.GUI. [Documentation](http://doc.babylonjs.com/overviews/gui#inputtext) ([deltakosh](https://github.com/deltakosh))
- New VirtualKeyboard for Babylon.GUI. [Documentation](http://doc.babylonjs.com/overviews/gui#virtualkeyboard) ([deltakosh](https://github.com/deltakosh) / [adam](https://github.com/abow))
- Added support for depth pre-pass rendering. [Documentation](http://doc.babylonjs.com/resources/transparency_and_how_meshes_are_rendered#depth-pre-pass-meshes) ([deltakosh](https://github.com/deltakosh))
- Added support for `material.separateCullingPass`. [Documentation](http://doc.babylonjs.com/resources/transparency_and_how_meshes_are_rendered#things-to-do-and-not-to-do) ([sebavan](https://github.com/sebavan))
- Added support for Windows Motion Controllers ([Lewis Weaver](https://github.com/leweaver))
- Added support for Particle animation in ParticleSystem. [Documentation](http://doc.babylonjs.com/how_to/animate) ([Ibraheem Osama](https://github.com/IbraheemOsama))
- More robust TypeScript code with *strictNullChecks*, *noImplicitAny*, *noImplicitThis* and *noImplicitReturns* compiler options ([deltakosh](https://github.com/deltakosh) and [RaananW](https://github.com/RaananW))
- Introduced `NullEngine` which can be used to use Babylon.js in headless mode. [Documentation](http://doc.babylonjs.com/generals/nullengine) ([deltakosh](https://github.com/deltakosh))
- New instrumentations tools. [Documentation](http://doc.babylonjs.com/how_to/optimizing_your_scene#instrumentation) ([deltakosh](https://github.com/deltakosh))
- Complete rework of Unity3D exporter. [Documentation](http://doc.babylonjs.com/resources/intro) ([MackeyK24](https://github.com/MackeyK24))
- Introducing the BabylonJS viewer, an HTML-based 3D/model viewer, with Babylon at its core. [Documentation](http://doc.babylonjs.com/extensions/the_babylon_viewer) ([RaananW](https://github.com/RaananW))
- Full NPM support for BabylonJS and its modules, based on UMD and including Typings. [BabylonJS on npm](https://www.npmjs.com/~babylonjs) ([RaananW](https://github.com/RaananW))

## Updates

- Introduced `TransformNode` class as a parent of `AbstractMesh`. This class was extensively asked by the community to hold only tranformation for a node ([deltakosh](https://github.com/deltakosh))
- Collider object is now exposed on meshes. It can be used to get precise information about mesh to mesh collisions (used with mesh.moveWithCollisions function) ([deltakosh](https://github.com/deltakosh))
- Added `boundingInfo.centerOn` to recreate the bounding info to be centered around a specific point given a specific extend ([deltakosh](https://github.com/deltakosh))
- Added `mesh.normalizeToUnitCube` to uniformly scales the mesh to fit inside of a unit cube (1 X 1 X 1 units) ([deltakosh](https://github.com/deltakosh))
- Added `scene.onDataLoadedObservable` which is raised when SceneLoader.Append or SceneLoader.Load or SceneLoader.ImportMesh were successfully executed ([deltakosh](https://github.com/deltakosh))
- Support for adaptiveKernelBlur on MirrorTexture ([deltakosh](https://github.com/deltakosh))
- Support for non uniform scaling. Normals are now correctly computed ([deltakosh](https://github.com/deltakosh))
- Added `MultiObserver`. [Documentation](http://doc.babylonjs.com/overviews/observables#multiobserver) ([deltakosh](https://github.com/deltakosh))
- Added `shadowGenerator.addShadowCaster` and `shadowGenerator.removeShadowCaster` helper functions ([deltakosh](https://github.com/deltakosh))
- Several inspector improvements ([temechon](https://github.com/temechon))
- New observables for actions: `onBeforeExecuteObservable` for all actions and `onInterpolationDoneObservable` for `InterpolateValueAction` ([deltakosh](https://github.com/deltakosh))
- New observables for gamepads: `onButtonDownObservable`, `onButtonUpObservable`, `onPadDownObservable`, `onPadUpObservable` ([deltakosh](https://github.com/deltakosh))
- New `camera.storeState()` and `camera.restoreState()` functions to store / restore cameras position / rotation / fov. [Documentation](http://doc.babylonjs.com/tutorials/cameras#state) ([deltakosh](https://github.com/deltakosh))
- POW2 textures rescale is now done by shaders (It was previously done using canvas) ([deltakosh](https://github.com/deltakosh))
- Added `SceneLoader.CleanBoneMatrixWeights` to force the loader to normalize matrix weights when loading bones (off by default) ([deltakosh](https://github.com/deltakosh)) 
- Added `camera.onViewMatrixChangedObservable` and `camera.onProjectionMatrixChangedObservable` ([deltakosh](https://github.com/deltakosh))
- Added support for folders when drag'n'dropping into the sandbox ([deltakosh](https://github.com/deltakosh))
- Better serialization support ([deltakosh](https://github.com/deltakosh))
- Introduced `performanceMonitor` class to get better FPS analysis ([deltakosh](https://github.com/deltakosh))
- GUI: Added support for pointer move events on projected UI ([deltakosh](https://github.com/deltakosh))
- Normals are generated automatically by StandardMaterial if meshes do not have normals ([deltakosh](https://github.com/deltakosh))
- Added `mesh.onMaterialChangedObservable` to notify when a new material is set ([deltakosh](https://github.com/deltakosh))
- Improved the SPS perfs for dead or invisible solid particles ([jerome](https://github.com/jbousquie))
- Added `enableDepthSort` parameter to the SPS in order to sort the particles from the camera position ([jerome](https://github.com/jbousquie))
- Added `pivot` property to the SPS solid particles ([jerome](https://github.com/jbousquie))
- Added the mesh facet depth sort to FacetData  ([jerome](https://github.com/jbousquie))
- Added `LineSystem` and `LineMesh` per point colors ([jerome](https://github.com/jbousquie))
- Added `AdvancedDynamicTexture.renderScale` to allow users to render at higher DPI ([deltakosh](https://github.com/deltakosh))
- WaterMaterial works on VR ([RaananW](https://github.com/RaananW))
- Playground has an optional createEngine function to replace the default engine. [Example](https://www.babylonjs-playground.com/#5CAP01#5) ([RaananW](https://github.com/RaananW))
- Error handling in the Assets Manager was revamped and now also includes a message and an exception (if provided). [Documentation](http://doc.babylonjs.com/how_to/how_to_use_assetsmanager#task-state-and-error-handling) ([RaananW](https://github.com/RaananW))
- Asset Task has a state (INIT, RUNNING, DONE and ERROR). [Documentation](http://doc.babylonjs.com/how_to/how_to_use_assetsmanager#task-state-and-error-handling) ([RaananW](https://github.com/RaananW))
- Added new options to the physics impostor constructor - ignoreParent and diableBidirectionalTransformation. [Documentation](http://doc.babylonjs.com/how_to/using_the_physics_engine#impostors) ([RaananW](https://github.com/RaananW))
- It is now possible to define which loader to use when loading assets using the SceneLoader. [Commit](https://github.com/BabylonJS/Babylon.js/commit/91bffeaafc668980be0f9cf83df69b8eb2e2ba5f) ([RaananW](https://github.com/RaananW))
- Added scope option to Observerable ([adam](https://github.com/abow))
- Added shadowBlur, shadowOffsetX, shadowOffsetY, shadowColor to GUI Controls ([adam](https://github.com/abow))
- Added alignWithNormal to AbstractMesh ([adam](https://github.com/abow))
- Added transformNode.forward/up/right ([bobalazek](https://github.com/bobalazek))

## Bug fixes

- Fixed a bug with ellipsoid offset not being taking in account on cameras ([deltakosh](https://github.com/deltakosh))
- Fixed a bug with ellipsoid offset badly taking in account on meshes ([deltakosh](https://github.com/deltakosh))
- Fixed a bug with PBR on iOS ([sebavan](https://github.com/sebavan))
- MTLLoader didn't parse values correctly ([RaananW](https://github.com/RaananW))
- Fixed an error with child positions of parents in the physics engine ([RaananW](https://github.com/RaananW))
- Fixed a bug with error while executing onSuccess callbacks in the Assets manager. ([RaananW](https://github.com/RaananW))
- Fixed a bug with the Heightmap impostor when the heightmap is scaled or rotated. [Commit](https://github.com/BabylonJS/Babylon.js/commit/e898c4f26512a5466b5b594aecf4711f1dfd50e0) ([RaananW](https://github.com/RaananW))
- Fixed an error with deterministic step. ([RaananW](https://github.com/RaananW))
- Fixed a bug with controller jitter when in VR. ([RaananW](https://github.com/RaananW))
- Fixed a bug with impostor jitter when in VR. ([RaananW](https://github.com/RaananW))
- Fixed a bug with GUI Slider not working correctly when rotated ([adam](https://github.com/abow))
- Fixed IE11 "spacebar" bug with GUI InputText ([adam](https://github.com/abow))
- Fixed a bug where instanced meshes did not work with physics helper effects ([bobalazek](https://github.com/bobalazek))

## Breaking changes

- `Gamepads` was removed in favor of `scene.gamepadManager`
- `DynamicFloatArray`, `MapTexture` and `RectPakingMap` were removed because there were not used anymore
- `IAssetTask` was removed in favor of `AbstractAssetTask` class
- WebVR 1.0 support removed.