Implement global and per instance shader uniforms.

Adds two keywords to shader language for uniforms:
-'global'
-'instance'

This allows them to reference values outside the material.

23 files changed, 1702 insertions, 34 deletions

diff --git a/servers/rendering/rasterizer.h b/servers/rendering/rasterizer.h
index 5da9c2aeea..955241e79c 100644
--- a/servers/rendering/rasterizer.h
+++ b/servers/rendering/rasterizer.h
@@ -167,6 +167,17 @@ public:
 		AABB aabb;
 		AABB transformed_aabb;
 
+		struct InstanceShaderParameter {
+			int32_t index = -1;
+			Variant value;
+			Variant default_value;
+			PropertyInfo info;
+		};
+
+		Map<StringName, InstanceShaderParameter> instance_shader_parameters;
+		bool instance_allocated_shader_parameters = false;
+		int32_t instance_allocated_shader_parameters_offset = -1;
+
 		virtual void dependency_deleted(RID p_dependency) = 0;
 		virtual void dependency_changed(bool p_aabb, bool p_dependencies) = 0;
 
@@ -357,6 +368,14 @@ public:
 	virtual bool material_is_animated(RID p_material) = 0;
 	virtual bool material_casts_shadows(RID p_material) = 0;
 
+	struct InstanceShaderParam {
+		PropertyInfo info;
+		int index;
+		Variant default_value;
+	};
+
+	virtual void material_get_instance_shader_parameters(RID p_material, List<InstanceShaderParam> *r_parameters) = 0;
+
 	virtual void material_update_dependency(RID p_material, RasterizerScene::InstanceBase *p_instance) = 0;
 
 	/* MESH API */
@@ -635,6 +654,24 @@ public:
 	virtual int particles_get_draw_passes(RID p_particles) const = 0;
 	virtual RID particles_get_draw_pass_mesh(RID p_particles, int p_pass) const = 0;
 
+	/* GLOBAL VARIABLES */
+
+	virtual void global_variable_add(const StringName &p_name, RS::GlobalVariableType p_type, const Variant &p_value) = 0;
+	virtual void global_variable_remove(const StringName &p_name) = 0;
+	virtual Vector<StringName> global_variable_get_list() const = 0;
+
+	virtual void global_variable_set(const StringName &p_name, const Variant &p_value) = 0;
+	virtual void global_variable_set_override(const StringName &p_name, const Variant &p_value) = 0;
+	virtual Variant global_variable_get(const StringName &p_name) const = 0;
+	virtual RS::GlobalVariableType global_variable_get_type(const StringName &p_name) const = 0;
+
+	virtual void global_variables_load_settings(bool p_load_textures = true) = 0;
+	virtual void global_variables_clear() = 0;
+
+	virtual int32_t global_variables_instance_allocate(RID p_instance) = 0;
+	virtual void global_variables_instance_free(RID p_instance) = 0;
+	virtual void global_variables_instance_update(RID p_instance, int p_index, const Variant &p_value) = 0;
+
 	/* RENDER TARGET */
 
 	enum RenderTargetFlags {
diff --git a/servers/rendering/rasterizer_rd/rasterizer_canvas_rd.cpp b/servers/rendering/rasterizer_rd/rasterizer_canvas_rd.cpp
index ba4f4c4acb..1a21fdb4d7 100644
--- a/servers/rendering/rasterizer_rd/rasterizer_canvas_rd.cpp
+++ b/servers/rendering/rasterizer_rd/rasterizer_canvas_rd.cpp
@@ -618,6 +618,14 @@ void RasterizerCanvasRD::_render_item(RD::DrawListID p_draw_list, const Item *p_
 				}
 			}
 
+			{
+				RD::Uniform u;
+				u.type = RD::UNIFORM_TYPE_STORAGE_BUFFER;
+				u.binding = 7;
+				u.ids.push_back(storage->global_variables_get_storage_buffer());
+				uniforms.push_back(u);
+			}
+
 			//validate and update lighs if they are being used
 
 			if (light_count > 0) {
@@ -2012,6 +2020,9 @@ void RasterizerCanvasRD::ShaderData::get_param_list(List<PropertyInfo> *p_param_
 
 	for (Map<StringName, ShaderLanguage::ShaderNode::Uniform>::Element *E = uniforms.front(); E; E = E->next()) {
 
+		if (E->get().scope != ShaderLanguage::ShaderNode::Uniform::SCOPE_LOCAL) {
+			continue;
+		}
 		if (E->get().texture_order >= 0) {
 			order[E->get().texture_order + 100000] = E->key();
 		} else {
@@ -2027,6 +2038,23 @@ void RasterizerCanvasRD::ShaderData::get_param_list(List<PropertyInfo> *p_param_
 	}
 }
 
+void RasterizerCanvasRD::ShaderData::get_instance_param_list(List<RasterizerStorage::InstanceShaderParam> *p_param_list) const {
+
+	for (Map<StringName, ShaderLanguage::ShaderNode::Uniform>::Element *E = uniforms.front(); E; E = E->next()) {
+
+		if (E->get().scope != ShaderLanguage::ShaderNode::Uniform::SCOPE_INSTANCE) {
+			continue;
+		}
+
+		RasterizerStorage::InstanceShaderParam p;
+		p.info = ShaderLanguage::uniform_to_property_info(E->get());
+		p.info.name = E->key(); //supply name
+		p.index = E->get().instance_index;
+		p.default_value = ShaderLanguage::constant_value_to_variant(E->get().default_value, E->get().type, E->get().hint);
+		p_param_list->push_back(p);
+	}
+}
+
 bool RasterizerCanvasRD::ShaderData::is_param_texture(const StringName &p_param) const {
 	if (!uniforms.has(p_param)) {
 		return false;
@@ -2366,6 +2394,8 @@ RasterizerCanvasRD::RasterizerCanvasRD(RasterizerStorageRD *p_storage) {
 		actions.default_repeat = ShaderLanguage::REPEAT_DISABLE;
 		actions.base_varying_index = 4;
 
+		actions.global_buffer_array_variable = "global_variables.data";
+
 		shader.compiler.initialize(actions);
 	}
 
diff --git a/servers/rendering/rasterizer_rd/rasterizer_canvas_rd.h b/servers/rendering/rasterizer_rd/rasterizer_canvas_rd.h
index 83b431eaf6..4d47b3e13b 100644
--- a/servers/rendering/rasterizer_rd/rasterizer_canvas_rd.h
+++ b/servers/rendering/rasterizer_rd/rasterizer_canvas_rd.h
@@ -185,6 +185,8 @@ class RasterizerCanvasRD : public RasterizerCanvas {
 		virtual void set_code(const String &p_Code);
 		virtual void set_default_texture_param(const StringName &p_name, RID p_texture);
 		virtual void get_param_list(List<PropertyInfo> *p_param_list) const;
+		virtual void get_instance_param_list(List<RasterizerStorage::InstanceShaderParam> *p_param_list) const;
+
 		virtual bool is_param_texture(const StringName &p_param) const;
 		virtual bool is_animated() const;
 		virtual bool casts_shadows() const;
diff --git a/servers/rendering/rasterizer_rd/rasterizer_scene_high_end_rd.cpp b/servers/rendering/rasterizer_rd/rasterizer_scene_high_end_rd.cpp
index 77096b95ba..0070ce3eb4 100644
--- a/servers/rendering/rasterizer_rd/rasterizer_scene_high_end_rd.cpp
+++ b/servers/rendering/rasterizer_rd/rasterizer_scene_high_end_rd.cpp
@@ -378,6 +378,10 @@ void RasterizerSceneHighEndRD::ShaderData::get_param_list(List<PropertyInfo> *p_
 
 	for (Map<StringName, ShaderLanguage::ShaderNode::Uniform>::Element *E = uniforms.front(); E; E = E->next()) {
 
+		if (E->get().scope != ShaderLanguage::ShaderNode::Uniform::SCOPE_LOCAL) {
+			continue;
+		}
+
 		if (E->get().texture_order >= 0) {
 			order[E->get().texture_order + 100000] = E->key();
 		} else {
@@ -393,6 +397,23 @@ void RasterizerSceneHighEndRD::ShaderData::get_param_list(List<PropertyInfo> *p_
 	}
 }
 
+void RasterizerSceneHighEndRD::ShaderData::get_instance_param_list(List<RasterizerStorage::InstanceShaderParam> *p_param_list) const {
+
+	for (Map<StringName, ShaderLanguage::ShaderNode::Uniform>::Element *E = uniforms.front(); E; E = E->next()) {
+
+		if (E->get().scope != ShaderLanguage::ShaderNode::Uniform::SCOPE_INSTANCE) {
+			continue;
+		}
+
+		RasterizerStorage::InstanceShaderParam p;
+		p.info = ShaderLanguage::uniform_to_property_info(E->get());
+		p.info.name = E->key(); //supply name
+		p.index = E->get().instance_index;
+		p.default_value = ShaderLanguage::constant_value_to_variant(E->get().default_value, E->get().type, E->get().hint);
+		p_param_list->push_back(p);
+	}
+}
+
 bool RasterizerSceneHighEndRD::ShaderData::is_param_texture(const StringName &p_param) const {
 	if (!uniforms.has(p_param)) {
 		return false;
@@ -828,6 +849,7 @@ void RasterizerSceneHighEndRD::_fill_instances(RenderList::Element **p_elements,
 		store_transform(Transform(e->instance->transform.basis.inverse().transposed()), id.normal_transform);
 		id.flags = 0;
 		id.mask = e->instance->layer_mask;
+		id.instance_uniforms_ofs = e->instance->instance_allocated_shader_parameters_offset >= 0 ? e->instance->instance_allocated_shader_parameters_offset : 0;
 
 		if (e->instance->base_type == RS::INSTANCE_MULTIMESH) {
 			id.flags |= INSTANCE_DATA_FLAG_MULTIMESH;
@@ -2701,6 +2723,14 @@ void RasterizerSceneHighEndRD::_update_render_base_uniform_set() {
 			uniforms.push_back(u);
 		}
 
+		{
+			RD::Uniform u;
+			u.type = RD::UNIFORM_TYPE_STORAGE_BUFFER;
+			u.binding = 16;
+			u.ids.push_back(storage->global_variables_get_storage_buffer());
+			uniforms.push_back(u);
+		}
+
 		render_base_uniform_set = RD::get_singleton()->uniform_set_create(uniforms, default_shader_rd, SCENE_UNIFORM_SET);
 	}
 }
@@ -3077,6 +3107,8 @@ RasterizerSceneHighEndRD::RasterizerSceneHighEndRD(RasterizerStorageRD *p_storag
 
 		actions.default_filter = ShaderLanguage::FILTER_LINEAR_MIPMAP;
 		actions.default_repeat = ShaderLanguage::REPEAT_ENABLE;
+		actions.global_buffer_array_variable = "global_variables.data";
+		actions.instance_uniform_index_variable = "instances.data[instance_index].instance_uniforms_ofs";
 
 		shader.compiler.initialize(actions);
 	}
diff --git a/servers/rendering/rasterizer_rd/rasterizer_scene_high_end_rd.h b/servers/rendering/rasterizer_rd/rasterizer_scene_high_end_rd.h
index 83ff46ca7e..a48e2e2259 100644
--- a/servers/rendering/rasterizer_rd/rasterizer_scene_high_end_rd.h
+++ b/servers/rendering/rasterizer_rd/rasterizer_scene_high_end_rd.h
@@ -152,6 +152,8 @@ class RasterizerSceneHighEndRD : public RasterizerSceneRD {
 		virtual void set_code(const String &p_Code);
 		virtual void set_default_texture_param(const StringName &p_name, RID p_texture);
 		virtual void get_param_list(List<PropertyInfo> *p_param_list) const;
+		void get_instance_param_list(List<RasterizerStorage::InstanceShaderParam> *p_param_list) const;
+
 		virtual bool is_param_texture(const StringName &p_param) const;
 		virtual bool is_animated() const;
 		virtual bool casts_shadows() const;
@@ -361,7 +363,7 @@ class RasterizerSceneHighEndRD : public RasterizerSceneRD {
 		float transform[16];
 		float normal_transform[16];
 		uint32_t flags;
-		uint32_t instance_ofs; //instance_offset in instancing/skeleton buffer
+		uint32_t instance_uniforms_ofs; //instance_offset in instancing/skeleton buffer
 		uint32_t gi_offset; //GI information when using lightmapping (VCT or lightmap)
 		uint32_t mask;
 	};
diff --git a/servers/rendering/rasterizer_rd/rasterizer_scene_rd.cpp b/servers/rendering/rasterizer_rd/rasterizer_scene_rd.cpp
index 37e2aaad0e..38ea7b3ed3 100644
--- a/servers/rendering/rasterizer_rd/rasterizer_scene_rd.cpp
+++ b/servers/rendering/rasterizer_rd/rasterizer_scene_rd.cpp
@@ -926,6 +926,10 @@ void RasterizerSceneRD::SkyShaderData::get_param_list(List<PropertyInfo> *p_para
 
 	for (Map<StringName, ShaderLanguage::ShaderNode::Uniform>::Element *E = uniforms.front(); E; E = E->next()) {
 
+		if (E->get().scope == ShaderLanguage::ShaderNode::Uniform::SCOPE_GLOBAL || E->get().scope == ShaderLanguage::ShaderNode::Uniform::SCOPE_INSTANCE) {
+			continue;
+		}
+
 		if (E->get().texture_order >= 0) {
 			order[E->get().texture_order + 100000] = E->key();
 		} else {
@@ -941,6 +945,23 @@ void RasterizerSceneRD::SkyShaderData::get_param_list(List<PropertyInfo> *p_para
 	}
 }
 
+void RasterizerSceneRD::SkyShaderData::get_instance_param_list(List<RasterizerStorage::InstanceShaderParam> *p_param_list) const {
+
+	for (Map<StringName, ShaderLanguage::ShaderNode::Uniform>::Element *E = uniforms.front(); E; E = E->next()) {
+
+		if (E->get().scope != ShaderLanguage::ShaderNode::Uniform::SCOPE_INSTANCE) {
+			continue;
+		}
+
+		RasterizerStorage::InstanceShaderParam p;
+		p.info = ShaderLanguage::uniform_to_property_info(E->get());
+		p.info.name = E->key(); //supply name
+		p.index = E->get().instance_index;
+		p.default_value = ShaderLanguage::constant_value_to_variant(E->get().default_value, E->get().type, E->get().hint);
+		p_param_list->push_back(p);
+	}
+}
+
 bool RasterizerSceneRD::SkyShaderData::is_param_texture(const StringName &p_param) const {
 	if (!uniforms.has(p_param)) {
 		return false;
@@ -4217,6 +4238,7 @@ RasterizerSceneRD::RasterizerSceneRD(RasterizerStorageRD *p_storage) {
 
 		actions.default_filter = ShaderLanguage::FILTER_LINEAR_MIPMAP;
 		actions.default_repeat = ShaderLanguage::REPEAT_ENABLE;
+		actions.global_buffer_array_variable = "global_variables.data";
 
 		sky_shader.compiler.initialize(actions);
 	}
@@ -4254,6 +4276,14 @@ RasterizerSceneRD::RasterizerSceneRD(RasterizerStorageRD *p_storage) {
 			uniforms.push_back(u);
 		}
 
+		{
+			RD::Uniform u;
+			u.type = RD::UNIFORM_TYPE_STORAGE_BUFFER;
+			u.binding = 1;
+			u.ids.push_back(storage->global_variables_get_storage_buffer());
+			uniforms.push_back(u);
+		}
+
 		sky_scene_state.sampler_uniform_set = RD::get_singleton()->uniform_set_create(uniforms, sky_shader.default_shader_rd, SKY_SET_SAMPLERS);
 	}
 
diff --git a/servers/rendering/rasterizer_rd/rasterizer_scene_rd.h b/servers/rendering/rasterizer_rd/rasterizer_scene_rd.h
index bb42ce7182..746d16e115 100644
--- a/servers/rendering/rasterizer_rd/rasterizer_scene_rd.h
+++ b/servers/rendering/rasterizer_rd/rasterizer_scene_rd.h
@@ -189,6 +189,7 @@ private:
 		virtual void set_code(const String &p_Code);
 		virtual void set_default_texture_param(const StringName &p_name, RID p_texture);
 		virtual void get_param_list(List<PropertyInfo> *p_param_list) const;
+		virtual void get_instance_param_list(List<RasterizerStorage::InstanceShaderParam> *p_param_list) const;
 		virtual bool is_param_texture(const StringName &p_param) const;
 		virtual bool is_animated() const;
 		virtual bool casts_shadows() const;
diff --git a/servers/rendering/rasterizer_rd/rasterizer_storage_rd.cpp b/servers/rendering/rasterizer_rd/rasterizer_storage_rd.cpp
index 148494692c..97ef604dd2 100644
--- a/servers/rendering/rasterizer_rd/rasterizer_storage_rd.cpp
+++ b/servers/rendering/rasterizer_rd/rasterizer_storage_rd.cpp
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@
 #include "rasterizer_storage_rd.h"
 
 #include "core/engine.h"
+#include "core/io/resource_loader.h"
 #include "core/project_settings.h"
 #include "servers/rendering/shader_language.h"
 
@@ -921,6 +922,7 @@ void RasterizerStorageRD::shader_set_code(RID p_shader, const String &p_code) {
 			Material *material = E->get();
 			if (shader->data) {
 				material->data = material_data_request_func[new_type](shader->data);
+				material->data->self = material->self;
 				material->data->set_next_pass(material->next_pass);
 				material->data->set_render_priority(material->priority);
 			}
@@ -1021,8 +1023,8 @@ void RasterizerStorageRD::_material_queue_update(Material *material, bool p_unif
 	material->update_next = material_update_list;
 	material_update_list = material;
 	material->update_requested = true;
-	material->uniform_dirty = p_uniform;
-	material->texture_dirty = p_texture;
+	material->uniform_dirty = material->uniform_dirty || p_uniform;
+	material->texture_dirty = material->texture_dirty || p_texture;
 }
 
 void RasterizerStorageRD::material_set_shader(RID p_material, RID p_shader) {
@@ -1059,6 +1061,7 @@ void RasterizerStorageRD::material_set_shader(RID p_material, RID p_shader) {
 	ERR_FAIL_COND(shader->data == nullptr);
 
 	material->data = material_data_request_func[shader->type](shader->data);
+	material->data->self = p_material;
 	material->data->set_next_pass(material->next_pass);
 	material->data->set_render_priority(material->priority);
 	//updating happens later
@@ -1144,6 +1147,19 @@ bool RasterizerStorageRD::material_casts_shadows(RID p_material) {
 	return true; //by default everything casts shadows
 }
 
+void RasterizerStorageRD::material_get_instance_shader_parameters(RID p_material, List<InstanceShaderParam> *r_parameters) {
+
+	Material *material = material_owner.getornull(p_material);
+	ERR_FAIL_COND(!material);
+	if (material->shader && material->shader->data) {
+		material->shader->data->get_instance_param_list(r_parameters);
+
+		if (material->next_pass.is_valid()) {
+			material_get_instance_shader_parameters(material->next_pass, r_parameters);
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 void RasterizerStorageRD::material_update_dependency(RID p_material, RasterizerScene::InstanceBase *p_instance) {
 	Material *material = material_owner.getornull(p_material);
 	ERR_FAIL_COND(!material);
@@ -1631,11 +1647,36 @@ _FORCE_INLINE_ static void _fill_std140_ubo_empty(ShaderLanguage::DataType type,
 
 void RasterizerStorageRD::MaterialData::update_uniform_buffer(const Map<StringName, ShaderLanguage::ShaderNode::Uniform> &p_uniforms, const uint32_t *p_uniform_offsets, const Map<StringName, Variant> &p_parameters, uint8_t *p_buffer, uint32_t p_buffer_size, bool p_use_linear_color) {
 
+	bool uses_global_buffer = false;
+
 	for (Map<StringName, ShaderLanguage::ShaderNode::Uniform>::Element *E = p_uniforms.front(); E; E = E->next()) {
 
 		if (E->get().order < 0)
 			continue; // texture, does not go here
 
+		if (E->get().scope == ShaderLanguage::ShaderNode::Uniform::SCOPE_INSTANCE) {
+			continue; //instance uniforms don't appear in the bufferr
+		}
+
+		if (E->get().scope == ShaderLanguage::ShaderNode::Uniform::SCOPE_GLOBAL) {
+			//this is a global variable, get the index to it
+			RasterizerStorageRD *rs = base_singleton;
+
+			GlobalVariables::Variable *gv = rs->global_variables.variables.getptr(E->key());
+			uint32_t index = 0;
+			if (gv) {
+				index = gv->buffer_index;
+			} else {
+				WARN_PRINT("Shader uses global uniform '" + E->key() + "', but it was removed at some point. Material will not display correctly.");
+			}
+
+			uint32_t offset = p_uniform_offsets[E->get().order];
+			uint32_t *intptr = (uint32_t *)&p_buffer[offset];
+			*intptr = index;
+			uses_global_buffer = true;
+			continue;
+		}
+
 		//regular uniform
 		uint32_t offset = p_uniform_offsets[E->get().order];
 #ifdef DEBUG_ENABLED
@@ -1664,6 +1705,38 @@ void RasterizerStorageRD::MaterialData::update_uniform_buffer(const Map<StringNa
 			}
 		}
 	}
+
+	if (uses_global_buffer != (global_buffer_E != nullptr)) {
+		RasterizerStorageRD *rs = base_singleton;
+		if (uses_global_buffer) {
+			global_buffer_E = rs->global_variables.materials_using_buffer.push_back(self);
+		} else {
+			rs->global_variables.materials_using_buffer.erase(global_buffer_E);
+			global_buffer_E = nullptr;
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+RasterizerStorageRD::MaterialData::~MaterialData() {
+	if (global_buffer_E) {
+		//unregister global buffers
+		RasterizerStorageRD *rs = base_singleton;
+		rs->global_variables.materials_using_buffer.erase(global_buffer_E);
+	}
+
+	if (global_texture_E) {
+		//unregister global textures
+		RasterizerStorageRD *rs = base_singleton;
+
+		for (Map<StringName, uint64_t>::Element *E = used_global_textures.front(); E; E = E->next()) {
+			GlobalVariables::Variable *v = rs->global_variables.variables.getptr(E->key());
+			if (v) {
+				v->texture_materials.erase(self);
+			}
+		}
+		//unregister material from those using global textures
+		rs->global_variables.materials_using_texture.erase(global_texture_E);
+	}
 }
 
 void RasterizerStorageRD::MaterialData::update_textures(const Map<StringName, Variant> &p_parameters, const Map<StringName, RID> &p_default_textures, const Vector<ShaderCompilerRD::GeneratedCode::Texture> &p_texture_uniforms, RID *p_textures, bool p_use_linear_color) {
@@ -1675,22 +1748,57 @@ void RasterizerStorageRD::MaterialData::update_textures(const Map<StringName, Va
 	Texture *normal_detect_texture = nullptr;
 #endif
 
+	bool uses_global_textures = false;
+	global_textures_pass++;
+
 	for (int i = 0; i < p_texture_uniforms.size(); i++) {
 
 		const StringName &uniform_name = p_texture_uniforms[i].name;
 
 		RID texture;
 
-		const Map<StringName, Variant>::Element *V = p_parameters.find(uniform_name);
-		if (V) {
-			texture = V->get();
-		}
+		if (p_texture_uniforms[i].global) {
 
-		if (!texture.is_valid()) {
-			const Map<StringName, RID>::Element *W = p_default_textures.find(uniform_name);
-			if (W) {
+			RasterizerStorageRD *rs = base_singleton;
 
-				texture = W->get();
+			uses_global_textures = true;
+
+			GlobalVariables::Variable *v = rs->global_variables.variables.getptr(uniform_name);
+			if (v) {
+				if (v->buffer_index >= 0) {
+					WARN_PRINT("Shader uses global uniform texture '" + String(uniform_name) + "', but it changed type and is no longer a texture!.");
+
+				} else {
+
+					Map<StringName, uint64_t>::Element *E = used_global_textures.find(uniform_name);
+					if (!E) {
+						E = used_global_textures.insert(uniform_name, global_textures_pass);
+						v->texture_materials.insert(self);
+					} else {
+						E->get() = global_textures_pass;
+					}
+
+					texture = v->override.get_type() != Variant::NIL ? v->override : v->value;
+				}
+
+			} else {
+				WARN_PRINT("Shader uses global uniform texture '" + String(uniform_name) + "', but it was removed at some point. Material will not display correctly.");
+			}
+		} else {
+			if (!texture.is_valid()) {
+
+				const Map<StringName, Variant>::Element *V = p_parameters.find(uniform_name);
+				if (V) {
+					texture = V->get();
+				}
+			}
+
+			if (!texture.is_valid()) {
+				const Map<StringName, RID>::Element *W = p_default_textures.find(uniform_name);
+				if (W) {
+
+					texture = W->get();
+				}
 			}
 		}
 
@@ -1753,6 +1861,36 @@ void RasterizerStorageRD::MaterialData::update_textures(const Map<StringName, Va
 		roughness_detect_texture->detect_roughness_callback(roughness_detect_texture->detect_roughness_callback_ud, normal_detect_texture->path, roughness_channel);
 	}
 #endif
+	{
+		//for textures no longer used, unregister them
+		List<Map<StringName, uint64_t>::Element *> to_delete;
+		RasterizerStorageRD *rs = base_singleton;
+
+		for (Map<StringName, uint64_t>::Element *E = used_global_textures.front(); E; E = E->next()) {
+			if (E->get() != global_textures_pass) {
+				to_delete.push_back(E);
+
+				GlobalVariables::Variable *v = rs->global_variables.variables.getptr(E->key());
+				if (v) {
+					v->texture_materials.erase(self);
+				}
+			}
+		}
+
+		while (to_delete.front()) {
+			used_global_textures.erase(to_delete.front()->get());
+			to_delete.pop_front();
+		}
+		//handle registering/unregistering global textures
+		if (uses_global_textures != (global_texture_E != nullptr)) {
+			if (uses_global_textures) {
+				global_texture_E = rs->global_variables.materials_using_texture.push_back(self);
+			} else {
+				rs->global_variables.materials_using_texture.erase(global_texture_E);
+				global_texture_E = nullptr;
+			}
+		}
+	}
 }
 
 void RasterizerStorageRD::material_force_update_textures(RID p_material, ShaderType p_shader_type) {
@@ -4627,7 +4765,685 @@ void RasterizerStorageRD::_update_decal_atlas() {
 	}
 }
 
+int32_t RasterizerStorageRD::_global_variable_allocate(uint32_t p_elements) {
+
+	int32_t idx = 0;
+	while (idx + p_elements <= global_variables.buffer_size) {
+		if (global_variables.buffer_usage[idx].elements == 0) {
+			bool valid = true;
+			for (uint32_t i = 1; i < p_elements; i++) {
+				if (global_variables.buffer_usage[idx + i].elements > 0) {
+					valid = false;
+					idx += i + global_variables.buffer_usage[idx + i].elements;
+					break;
+				}
+			}
+
+			if (!valid) {
+				continue; //if not valid, idx is in new position
+			}
+
+			return idx;
+		} else {
+			idx += global_variables.buffer_usage[idx].elements;
+		}
+	}
+
+	return -1;
+}
+
+void RasterizerStorageRD::_global_variable_store_in_buffer(int32_t p_index, RS::GlobalVariableType p_type, const Variant &p_value) {
+
+	switch (p_type) {
+		case RS::GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_BOOL: {
+
+			GlobalVariables::Value &bv = global_variables.buffer_values[p_index];
+			bool b = p_value;
+			bv.x = b ? 1.0 : 0.0;
+			bv.y = 0.0;
+			bv.z = 0.0;
+			bv.w = 0.0;
+
+		} break;
+		case RS::GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_BVEC2: {
+			GlobalVariables::Value &bv = global_variables.buffer_values[p_index];
+			uint32_t bvec = p_value;
+			bv.x = (bvec & 1) ? 1.0 : 0.0;
+			bv.y = (bvec & 2) ? 1.0 : 0.0;
+			bv.z = 0.0;
+			bv.w = 0.0;
+		} break;
+		case RS::GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_BVEC3: {
+			GlobalVariables::Value &bv = global_variables.buffer_values[p_index];
+			uint32_t bvec = p_value;
+			bv.x = (bvec & 1) ? 1.0 : 0.0;
+			bv.y = (bvec & 2) ? 1.0 : 0.0;
+			bv.z = (bvec & 4) ? 1.0 : 0.0;
+			bv.w = 0.0;
+		} break;
+		case RS::GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_BVEC4: {
+			GlobalVariables::Value &bv = global_variables.buffer_values[p_index];
+			uint32_t bvec = p_value;
+			bv.x = (bvec & 1) ? 1.0 : 0.0;
+			bv.y = (bvec & 2) ? 1.0 : 0.0;
+			bv.z = (bvec & 4) ? 1.0 : 0.0;
+			bv.w = (bvec & 8) ? 1.0 : 0.0;
+		} break;
+		case RS::GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_INT: {
+			GlobalVariables::ValueInt &bv = *(GlobalVariables::ValueInt *)&global_variables.buffer_values[p_index];
+			int32_t v = p_value;
+			bv.x = v;
+			bv.y = 0;
+			bv.z = 0;
+			bv.w = 0;
+		} break;
+		case RS::GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_IVEC2: {
+			GlobalVariables::ValueInt &bv = *(GlobalVariables::ValueInt *)&global_variables.buffer_values[p_index];
+			Vector2i v = p_value;
+			bv.x = v.x;
+			bv.y = v.y;
+			bv.z = 0;
+			bv.w = 0;
+		} break;
+		case RS::GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_IVEC3: {
+			GlobalVariables::ValueInt &bv = *(GlobalVariables::ValueInt *)&global_variables.buffer_values[p_index];
+			Vector3i v = p_value;
+			bv.x = v.x;
+			bv.y = v.y;
+			bv.z = v.z;
+			bv.w = 0;
+		} break;
+		case RS::GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_IVEC4: {
+			GlobalVariables::ValueInt &bv = *(GlobalVariables::ValueInt *)&global_variables.buffer_values[p_index];
+			Vector<int32_t> v = p_value;
+			bv.x = v.size() >= 1 ? v[0] : 0;
+			bv.y = v.size() >= 2 ? v[1] : 0;
+			bv.z = v.size() >= 3 ? v[2] : 0;
+			bv.w = v.size() >= 4 ? v[3] : 0;
+		} break;
+		case RS::GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_RECT2I: {
+			GlobalVariables::ValueInt &bv = *(GlobalVariables::ValueInt *)&global_variables.buffer_values[p_index];
+			Rect2i v = p_value;
+			bv.x = v.position.x;
+			bv.y = v.position.y;
+			bv.z = v.size.x;
+			bv.w = v.size.y;
+		} break;
+		case RS::GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_UINT: {
+			GlobalVariables::ValueUInt &bv = *(GlobalVariables::ValueUInt *)&global_variables.buffer_values[p_index];
+			uint32_t v = p_value;
+			bv.x = v;
+			bv.y = 0;
+			bv.z = 0;
+			bv.w = 0;
+		} break;
+		case RS::GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_UVEC2: {
+			GlobalVariables::ValueUInt &bv = *(GlobalVariables::ValueUInt *)&global_variables.buffer_values[p_index];
+			Vector2i v = p_value;
+			bv.x = v.x;
+			bv.y = v.y;
+			bv.z = 0;
+			bv.w = 0;
+		} break;
+		case RS::GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_UVEC3: {
+			GlobalVariables::ValueUInt &bv = *(GlobalVariables::ValueUInt *)&global_variables.buffer_values[p_index];
+			Vector3i v = p_value;
+			bv.x = v.x;
+			bv.y = v.y;
+			bv.z = v.z;
+			bv.w = 0;
+		} break;
+		case RS::GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_UVEC4: {
+			GlobalVariables::ValueUInt &bv = *(GlobalVariables::ValueUInt *)&global_variables.buffer_values[p_index];
+			Vector<int32_t> v = p_value;
+			bv.x = v.size() >= 1 ? v[0] : 0;
+			bv.y = v.size() >= 2 ? v[1] : 0;
+			bv.z = v.size() >= 3 ? v[2] : 0;
+			bv.w = v.size() >= 4 ? v[3] : 0;
+		} break;
+		case RS::GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_FLOAT: {
+			GlobalVariables::Value &bv = global_variables.buffer_values[p_index];
+			float v = p_value;
+			bv.x = v;
+			bv.y = 0;
+			bv.z = 0;
+			bv.w = 0;
+		} break;
+		case RS::GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_VEC2: {
+			GlobalVariables::Value &bv = global_variables.buffer_values[p_index];
+			Vector2 v = p_value;
+			bv.x = v.x;
+			bv.y = v.y;
+			bv.z = 0;
+			bv.w = 0;
+		} break;
+		case RS::GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_VEC3: {
+			GlobalVariables::Value &bv = global_variables.buffer_values[p_index];
+			Vector3 v = p_value;
+			bv.x = v.x;
+			bv.y = v.y;
+			bv.z = v.z;
+			bv.w = 0;
+		} break;
+		case RS::GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_VEC4: {
+			GlobalVariables::Value &bv = global_variables.buffer_values[p_index];
+			Plane v = p_value;
+			bv.x = v.normal.x;
+			bv.y = v.normal.y;
+			bv.z = v.normal.z;
+			bv.w = v.d;
+		} break;
+		case RS::GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_COLOR: {
+			GlobalVariables::Value &bv = global_variables.buffer_values[p_index];
+			Color v = p_value;
+			bv.x = v.r;
+			bv.y = v.g;
+			bv.z = v.b;
+			bv.w = v.a;
+
+			GlobalVariables::Value &bv_linear = global_variables.buffer_values[p_index + 1];
+			v = v.to_linear();
+			bv_linear.x = v.r;
+			bv_linear.y = v.g;
+			bv_linear.z = v.b;
+			bv_linear.w = v.a;
+
+		} break;
+		case RS::GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_RECT2: {
+			GlobalVariables::Value &bv = global_variables.buffer_values[p_index];
+			Rect2 v = p_value;
+			bv.x = v.position.x;
+			bv.y = v.position.y;
+			bv.z = v.size.x;
+			bv.w = v.size.y;
+		} break;
+		case RS::GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_MAT2: {
+			GlobalVariables::Value *bv = &global_variables.buffer_values[p_index];
+			Vector<float> m2 = p_value;
+			if (m2.size() < 4) {
+				m2.resize(4);
+			}
+			bv[0].x = m2[0];
+			bv[0].y = m2[1];
+			bv[0].z = 0;
+			bv[0].w = 0;
+
+			bv[1].x = m2[2];
+			bv[1].y = m2[3];
+			bv[1].z = 0;
+			bv[1].w = 0;
+
+		} break;
+		case RS::GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_MAT3: {
+
+			GlobalVariables::Value *bv = &global_variables.buffer_values[p_index];
+			Basis v = p_value;
+			bv[0].x = v.elements[0][0];
+			bv[0].y = v.elements[1][0];
+			bv[0].z = v.elements[2][0];
+			bv[0].w = 0;
+
+			bv[1].x = v.elements[0][1];
+			bv[1].y = v.elements[1][1];
+			bv[1].z = v.elements[2][1];
+			bv[1].w = 0;
+
+			bv[2].x = v.elements[0][2];
+			bv[2].y = v.elements[1][2];
+			bv[2].z = v.elements[2][2];
+			bv[2].w = 0;
+
+		} break;
+		case RS::GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_MAT4: {
+
+			GlobalVariables::Value *bv = &global_variables.buffer_values[p_index];
+
+			Vector<float> m2 = p_value;
+			if (m2.size() < 16) {
+				m2.resize(16);
+			}
+
+			bv[0].x = m2[0];
+			bv[0].y = m2[1];
+			bv[0].z = m2[2];
+			bv[0].w = m2[3];
+
+			bv[1].x = m2[4];
+			bv[1].y = m2[5];
+			bv[1].z = m2[6];
+			bv[1].w = m2[7];
+
+			bv[2].x = m2[8];
+			bv[2].y = m2[9];
+			bv[2].z = m2[10];
+			bv[2].w = m2[11];
+
+			bv[3].x = m2[12];
+			bv[3].y = m2[13];
+			bv[3].z = m2[14];
+			bv[3].w = m2[15];
+
+		} break;
+		case RS::GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_TRANSFORM_2D: {
+
+			GlobalVariables::Value *bv = &global_variables.buffer_values[p_index];
+			Transform2D v = p_value;
+			bv[0].x = v.elements[0][0];
+			bv[0].y = v.elements[0][1];
+			bv[0].z = 0;
+			bv[0].w = 0;
+
+			bv[1].x = v.elements[1][0];
+			bv[1].y = v.elements[1][1];
+			bv[1].z = 0;
+			bv[1].w = 0;
+
+			bv[2].x = v.elements[2][0];
+			bv[2].y = v.elements[2][1];
+			bv[2].z = 1;
+			bv[2].w = 0;
+
+		} break;
+		case RS::GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_TRANSFORM: {
+
+			GlobalVariables::Value *bv = &global_variables.buffer_values[p_index];
+			Transform v = p_value;
+			bv[0].x = v.basis.elements[0][0];
+			bv[0].y = v.basis.elements[1][0];
+			bv[0].z = v.basis.elements[2][0];
+			bv[0].w = 0;
+
+			bv[1].x = v.basis.elements[0][1];
+			bv[1].y = v.basis.elements[1][1];
+			bv[1].z = v.basis.elements[2][1];
+			bv[1].w = 0;
+
+			bv[2].x = v.basis.elements[0][2];
+			bv[2].y = v.basis.elements[1][2];
+			bv[2].z = v.basis.elements[2][2];
+			bv[2].w = 0;
+
+			bv[2].x = v.origin.x;
+			bv[2].y = v.origin.y;
+			bv[2].z = v.origin.z;
+			bv[2].w = 1;
+
+		} break;
+		default: {
+			ERR_FAIL();
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+void RasterizerStorageRD::_global_variable_mark_buffer_dirty(int32_t p_index, int32_t p_elements) {
+
+	int32_t prev_chunk = -1;
+
+	for (int32_t i = 0; i < p_elements; i++) {
+		int32_t chunk = (p_index + i) / GlobalVariables::BUFFER_DIRTY_REGION_SIZE;
+		if (chunk != prev_chunk) {
+			if (!global_variables.buffer_dirty_regions[chunk]) {
+				global_variables.buffer_dirty_regions[chunk] = true;
+				global_variables.buffer_dirty_region_count++;
+			}
+		}
+
+		prev_chunk = chunk;
+	}
+}
+
+void RasterizerStorageRD::global_variable_add(const StringName &p_name, RS::GlobalVariableType p_type, const Variant &p_value) {
+
+	ERR_FAIL_COND(global_variables.variables.has(p_name));
+	GlobalVariables::Variable gv;
+	gv.type = p_type;
+	gv.value = p_value;
+	gv.buffer_index = -1;
+
+	if (p_type >= RS::GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_SAMPLER2D) {
+		//is texture
+		global_variables.must_update_texture_materials = true; //normally ther are no
+	} else {
+
+		gv.buffer_elements = 1;
+		if (p_type == RS::GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_COLOR || p_type == RS::GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_MAT2) {
+			//color needs to elements to store srgb and linear
+			gv.buffer_elements = 2;
+		}
+		if (p_type == RS::GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_MAT3 || p_type == RS::GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_TRANSFORM_2D) {
+			//color needs to elements to store srgb and linear
+			gv.buffer_elements = 3;
+		}
+		if (p_type == RS::GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_MAT4 || p_type == RS::GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_TRANSFORM) {
+			//color needs to elements to store srgb and linear
+			gv.buffer_elements = 4;
+		}
+
+		//is vector, allocate in buffer and update index
+		gv.buffer_index = _global_variable_allocate(gv.buffer_elements);
+		ERR_FAIL_COND_MSG(gv.buffer_index < 0, vformat("Failed allocating global variable '%s' out of buffer memory. Consider increasing it in the Project Settings.", String(p_name)));
+		global_variables.buffer_usage[gv.buffer_index].elements = gv.buffer_elements;
+		_global_variable_store_in_buffer(gv.buffer_index, gv.type, gv.value);
+		_global_variable_mark_buffer_dirty(gv.buffer_index, gv.buffer_elements);
+
+		global_variables.must_update_buffer_materials = true; //normally ther are no
+	}
+
+	global_variables.variables[p_name] = gv;
+}
+
+void RasterizerStorageRD::global_variable_remove(const StringName &p_name) {
+	if (!global_variables.variables.has(p_name)) {
+		return;
+	}
+	GlobalVariables::Variable &gv = global_variables.variables[p_name];
+
+	if (gv.buffer_index >= 0) {
+		global_variables.buffer_usage[gv.buffer_index].elements = 0;
+		global_variables.must_update_buffer_materials = true;
+	} else {
+		global_variables.must_update_texture_materials = true;
+	}
+
+	global_variables.variables.erase(p_name);
+}
+Vector<StringName> RasterizerStorageRD::global_variable_get_list() const {
+
+	if (!Engine::get_singleton()->is_editor_hint()) {
+		ERR_FAIL_V_MSG(Vector<StringName>(), "This function should never be used outside the editor, it can severely damage performance.");
+	}
+
+	const StringName *K = NULL;
+	Vector<StringName> names;
+	while ((K = global_variables.variables.next(K))) {
+		names.push_back(*K);
+	}
+	names.sort_custom<StringName::AlphCompare>();
+	return names;
+}
+
+void RasterizerStorageRD::global_variable_set(const StringName &p_name, const Variant &p_value) {
+	ERR_FAIL_COND(!global_variables.variables.has(p_name));
+	GlobalVariables::Variable &gv = global_variables.variables[p_name];
+	gv.value = p_value;
+	if (gv.override.get_type() == Variant::NIL) {
+		if (gv.buffer_index >= 0) {
+			//buffer
+			_global_variable_store_in_buffer(gv.buffer_index, gv.type, gv.value);
+			_global_variable_mark_buffer_dirty(gv.buffer_index, gv.buffer_elements);
+		} else {
+			//texture
+			for (Set<RID>::Element *E = gv.texture_materials.front(); E; E = E->next()) {
+				Material *material = material_owner.getornull(E->get());
+				ERR_CONTINUE(!material);
+				_material_queue_update(material, false, true);
+			}
+		}
+	}
+}
+void RasterizerStorageRD::global_variable_set_override(const StringName &p_name, const Variant &p_value) {
+	if (!global_variables.variables.has(p_name)) {
+		return; //variable may not exist
+	}
+	GlobalVariables::Variable &gv = global_variables.variables[p_name];
+
+	gv.override = p_value;
+
+	if (gv.buffer_index >= 0) {
+		//buffer
+		if (gv.override.get_type() == Variant::NIL) {
+			_global_variable_store_in_buffer(gv.buffer_index, gv.type, gv.value);
+		} else {
+			_global_variable_store_in_buffer(gv.buffer_index, gv.type, gv.override);
+		}
+
+		_global_variable_mark_buffer_dirty(gv.buffer_index, gv.buffer_elements);
+	} else {
+		//texture
+		//texture
+		for (Set<RID>::Element *E = gv.texture_materials.front(); E; E = E->next()) {
+			Material *material = material_owner.getornull(E->get());
+			ERR_CONTINUE(!material);
+			_material_queue_update(material, false, true);
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+Variant RasterizerStorageRD::global_variable_get(const StringName &p_name) const {
+
+	if (!Engine::get_singleton()->is_editor_hint()) {
+		ERR_FAIL_V_MSG(Variant(), "This function should never be used outside the editor, it can severely damage performance.");
+	}
+
+	if (!global_variables.variables.has(p_name)) {
+		return Variant();
+	}
+
+	return global_variables.variables[p_name].value;
+}
+
+RS::GlobalVariableType RasterizerStorageRD::global_variable_get_type_internal(const StringName &p_name) const {
+
+	if (!global_variables.variables.has(p_name)) {
+		return RS::GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_MAX;
+	}
+
+	return global_variables.variables[p_name].type;
+}
+
+RS::GlobalVariableType RasterizerStorageRD::global_variable_get_type(const StringName &p_name) const {
+	if (!Engine::get_singleton()->is_editor_hint()) {
+		ERR_FAIL_V_MSG(RS::GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_MAX, "This function should never be used outside the editor, it can severely damage performance.");
+	}
+
+	return global_variable_get_type_internal(p_name);
+}
+
+void RasterizerStorageRD::global_variables_load_settings(bool p_load_textures) {
+
+	List<PropertyInfo> settings;
+	ProjectSettings::get_singleton()->get_property_list(&settings);
+
+	for (List<PropertyInfo>::Element *E = settings.front(); E; E = E->next()) {
+		if (E->get().name.begins_with("shader_globals/")) {
+			StringName name = E->get().name.get_slice("/", 1);
+			Dictionary d = ProjectSettings::get_singleton()->get(E->get().name);
+
+			ERR_CONTINUE(!d.has("type"));
+			ERR_CONTINUE(!d.has("value"));
+
+			String type = d["type"];
+
+			static const char *global_var_type_names[RS::GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_MAX] = {
+				"bool",
+				"bvec2",
+				"bvec3",
+				"bvec4",
+				"int",
+				"ivec2",
+				"ivec3",
+				"ivec4",
+				"rect2i",
+				"uint",
+				"uvec2",
+				"uvec3",
+				"uvec4",
+				"float",
+				"vec2",
+				"vec3",
+				"vec4",
+				"color",
+				"rect2",
+				"mat2",
+				"mat3",
+				"mat4",
+				"transform_2d",
+				"transform",
+				"sampler2D",
+				"sampler2DArray",
+				"sampler3D",
+				"samplerCube",
+			};
+
+			RS::GlobalVariableType gvtype = RS::GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_MAX;
+
+			for (int i = 0; i < RS::GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_MAX; i++) {
+				if (global_var_type_names[i] == type) {
+					gvtype = RS::GlobalVariableType(i);
+					break;
+				}
+			}
+
+			ERR_CONTINUE(gvtype == RS::GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_MAX); //type invalid
+
+			Variant value = d["value"];
+
+			if (gvtype >= RS::GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_SAMPLER2D) {
+				//textire
+				if (!p_load_textures) {
+					value = RID();
+					continue;
+				}
+
+				String path = value;
+				RES resource = ResourceLoader::load(path);
+				ERR_CONTINUE(resource.is_null());
+				value = resource;
+			}
+
+			if (global_variables.variables.has(name)) {
+				//has it, update it
+				global_variable_set(name, value);
+			} else {
+				global_variable_add(name, gvtype, value);
+			}
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+void RasterizerStorageRD::global_variables_clear() {
+	global_variables.variables.clear(); //not right but for now enough
+}
+
+RID RasterizerStorageRD::global_variables_get_storage_buffer() const {
+	return global_variables.buffer;
+}
+
+int32_t RasterizerStorageRD::global_variables_instance_allocate(RID p_instance) {
+	ERR_FAIL_COND_V(global_variables.instance_buffer_pos.has(p_instance), -1);
+	int32_t pos = _global_variable_allocate(ShaderLanguage::MAX_INSTANCE_UNIFORM_INDICES);
+	global_variables.instance_buffer_pos[p_instance] = pos; //save anyway
+	ERR_FAIL_COND_V_MSG(pos < 0, -1, "Too many instances using shader instance variables. Increase buffer size in Project Settings.");
+	global_variables.buffer_usage[pos].elements = ShaderLanguage::MAX_INSTANCE_UNIFORM_INDICES;
+	return pos;
+}
+
+void RasterizerStorageRD::global_variables_instance_free(RID p_instance) {
+	ERR_FAIL_COND(!global_variables.instance_buffer_pos.has(p_instance));
+	int32_t pos = global_variables.instance_buffer_pos[p_instance];
+	if (pos >= 0) {
+		global_variables.buffer_usage[pos].elements = 0;
+	}
+	global_variables.instance_buffer_pos.erase(p_instance);
+}
+void RasterizerStorageRD::global_variables_instance_update(RID p_instance, int p_index, const Variant &p_value) {
+
+	if (!global_variables.instance_buffer_pos.has(p_instance)) {
+		return; //just not allocated, ignore
+	}
+	int32_t pos = global_variables.instance_buffer_pos[p_instance];
+
+	if (pos < 0) {
+		return; //again, not allocated, ignore
+	}
+	ERR_FAIL_INDEX(p_index, ShaderLanguage::MAX_INSTANCE_UNIFORM_INDICES);
+	ERR_FAIL_COND_MSG(p_value.get_type() > Variant::COLOR, "Unsupported variant type for instance parameter: " + Variant::get_type_name(p_value.get_type())); //anything greater not supported
+
+	ShaderLanguage::DataType datatype_from_value[Variant::COLOR + 1] = {
+		ShaderLanguage::TYPE_MAX, //nil
+		ShaderLanguage::TYPE_BOOL, //bool
+		ShaderLanguage::TYPE_INT, //int
+		ShaderLanguage::TYPE_FLOAT, //float
+		ShaderLanguage::TYPE_MAX, //string
+		ShaderLanguage::TYPE_VEC2, //vec2
+		ShaderLanguage::TYPE_IVEC2, //vec2i
+		ShaderLanguage::TYPE_VEC4, //rect2
+		ShaderLanguage::TYPE_IVEC4, //rect2i
+		ShaderLanguage::TYPE_VEC3, // vec3
+		ShaderLanguage::TYPE_IVEC3, //vec3i
+		ShaderLanguage::TYPE_MAX, //xform2d not supported here
+		ShaderLanguage::TYPE_VEC4, //plane
+		ShaderLanguage::TYPE_VEC4, //quat
+		ShaderLanguage::TYPE_MAX, //aabb not supported here
+		ShaderLanguage::TYPE_MAX, //basis not supported here
+		ShaderLanguage::TYPE_MAX, //xform not supported here
+		ShaderLanguage::TYPE_VEC4 //color
+	};
+
+	ShaderLanguage::DataType datatype = datatype_from_value[p_value.get_type()];
+
+	ERR_FAIL_COND_MSG(datatype == ShaderLanguage::TYPE_MAX, "Unsupported variant type for instance parameter: " + Variant::get_type_name(p_value.get_type())); //anything greater not supported
+
+	pos += p_index;
+
+	_fill_std140_variant_ubo_value(datatype, p_value, (uint8_t *)&global_variables.buffer_values[pos], true); //instances always use linear color in this renderer
+	_global_variable_mark_buffer_dirty(pos, 1);
+}
+
+void RasterizerStorageRD::_update_global_variables() {
+
+	if (global_variables.buffer_dirty_region_count > 0) {
+		uint32_t total_regions = global_variables.buffer_size / GlobalVariables::BUFFER_DIRTY_REGION_SIZE;
+		if (total_regions / global_variables.buffer_dirty_region_count <= 4) {
+			// 25% of regions dirty, just update all buffer
+			RD::get_singleton()->buffer_update(global_variables.buffer, 0, sizeof(GlobalVariables::Value) * global_variables.buffer_size, global_variables.buffer_values);
+			zeromem(global_variables.buffer_dirty_regions, sizeof(bool) * total_regions);
+		} else {
+			uint32_t region_byte_size = sizeof(GlobalVariables::Value) * GlobalVariables::BUFFER_DIRTY_REGION_SIZE;
+
+			for (uint32_t i = 0; i < total_regions; i++) {
+				if (global_variables.buffer_dirty_regions[i]) {
+
+					RD::get_singleton()->buffer_update(global_variables.buffer, i * region_byte_size, region_byte_size, global_variables.buffer_values);
+
+					global_variables.buffer_dirty_regions[i] = false;
+				}
+			}
+		}
+
+		global_variables.buffer_dirty_region_count = 0;
+	}
+
+	if (global_variables.must_update_buffer_materials) {
+		// only happens in the case of a buffer variable added or removed,
+		// so not often.
+		for (List<RID>::Element *E = global_variables.materials_using_buffer.front(); E; E = E->next()) {
+			Material *material = material_owner.getornull(E->get());
+			ERR_CONTINUE(!material); //wtf
+
+			_material_queue_update(material, true, false);
+		}
+
+		global_variables.must_update_buffer_materials = false;
+	}
+
+	if (global_variables.must_update_texture_materials) {
+		// only happens in the case of a buffer variable added or removed,
+		// so not often.
+		for (List<RID>::Element *E = global_variables.materials_using_texture.front(); E; E = E->next()) {
+			Material *material = material_owner.getornull(E->get());
+			ERR_CONTINUE(!material); //wtf
+
+			_material_queue_update(material, false, true);
+			print_line("update material texture?");
+		}
+
+		global_variables.must_update_texture_materials = false;
+	}
+}
+
 void RasterizerStorageRD::update_dirty_resources() {
+	_update_global_variables(); //must do before materials, so it can queue them for update
 	_update_queued_materials();
 	_update_dirty_multimeshes();
 	_update_dirty_skeletons();
@@ -4806,12 +5622,27 @@ String RasterizerStorageRD::get_captured_timestamp_name(uint32_t p_index) const
 	return RD::get_singleton()->get_captured_timestamp_name(p_index);
 }
 
+RasterizerStorageRD *RasterizerStorageRD::base_singleton = nullptr;
+
 RasterizerStorageRD::RasterizerStorageRD() {
 
+	base_singleton = this;
+
 	for (int i = 0; i < SHADER_TYPE_MAX; i++) {
 		shader_data_request_func[i] = nullptr;
 	}
 
+	static_assert(sizeof(GlobalVariables::Value) == 16);
+
+	global_variables.buffer_size = GLOBAL_GET("rendering/high_end/global_shader_variables_buffer_size");
+	global_variables.buffer_size = MAX(4096, global_variables.buffer_size);
+	global_variables.buffer_values = memnew_arr(GlobalVariables::Value, global_variables.buffer_size);
+	zeromem(global_variables.buffer_values, sizeof(GlobalVariables::Value) * global_variables.buffer_size);
+	global_variables.buffer_usage = memnew_arr(GlobalVariables::ValueUsage, global_variables.buffer_size);
+	global_variables.buffer_dirty_regions = memnew_arr(bool, global_variables.buffer_size / GlobalVariables::BUFFER_DIRTY_REGION_SIZE);
+	zeromem(global_variables.buffer_dirty_regions, sizeof(bool) * global_variables.buffer_size / GlobalVariables::BUFFER_DIRTY_REGION_SIZE);
+	global_variables.buffer = RD::get_singleton()->storage_buffer_create(sizeof(GlobalVariables::Value) * global_variables.buffer_size);
+
 	material_update_list = nullptr;
 	{ //create default textures
 
@@ -5165,6 +5996,11 @@ RasterizerStorageRD::RasterizerStorageRD() {
 
 RasterizerStorageRD::~RasterizerStorageRD() {
 
+	memdelete_arr(global_variables.buffer_values);
+	memdelete_arr(global_variables.buffer_usage);
+	memdelete_arr(global_variables.buffer_dirty_regions);
+	RD::get_singleton()->free(global_variables.buffer);
+
 	//def textures
 	for (int i = 0; i < DEFAULT_RD_TEXTURE_MAX; i++) {
 		RD::get_singleton()->free(default_rd_textures[i]);
diff --git a/servers/rendering/rasterizer_rd/rasterizer_storage_rd.h b/servers/rendering/rasterizer_rd/rasterizer_storage_rd.h
index 1980f043a0..f874c3baf8 100644
--- a/servers/rendering/rasterizer_rd/rasterizer_storage_rd.h
+++ b/servers/rendering/rasterizer_rd/rasterizer_storage_rd.h
@@ -52,6 +52,8 @@ public:
 		virtual void set_code(const String &p_Code) = 0;
 		virtual void set_default_texture_param(const StringName &p_name, RID p_texture) = 0;
 		virtual void get_param_list(List<PropertyInfo> *p_param_list) const = 0;
+
+		virtual void get_instance_param_list(List<InstanceShaderParam> *p_param_list) const = 0;
 		virtual bool is_param_texture(const StringName &p_param) const = 0;
 		virtual bool is_animated() const = 0;
 		virtual bool casts_shadows() const = 0;
@@ -69,7 +71,15 @@ public:
 		virtual void set_render_priority(int p_priority) = 0;
 		virtual void set_next_pass(RID p_pass) = 0;
 		virtual void update_parameters(const Map<StringName, Variant> &p_parameters, bool p_uniform_dirty, bool p_textures_dirty) = 0;
-		virtual ~MaterialData() {}
+		virtual ~MaterialData();
+
+	private:
+		friend class RasterizerStorageRD;
+		RID self;
+		List<RID>::Element *global_buffer_E = nullptr;
+		List<RID>::Element *global_texture_E = nullptr;
+		uint64_t global_textures_pass = 0;
+		Map<StringName, uint64_t> used_global_textures;
 	};
 	typedef MaterialData *(*MaterialDataRequestFunction)(ShaderData *);
 
@@ -555,6 +565,73 @@ private:
 	void _update_render_target(RenderTarget *rt);
 	void _create_render_target_backbuffer(RenderTarget *rt);
 
+	/* GLOBAL SHADER VARIABLES */
+
+	struct GlobalVariables {
+
+		enum {
+			BUFFER_DIRTY_REGION_SIZE = 1024
+		};
+		struct Variable {
+			Set<RID> texture_materials; // materials using this
+
+			RS::GlobalVariableType type;
+			Variant value;
+			Variant override;
+			int32_t buffer_index; //for vectors
+			int32_t buffer_elements; //for vectors
+		};
+
+		HashMap<StringName, Variable> variables;
+
+		struct Value {
+			float x;
+			float y;
+			float z;
+			float w;
+		};
+
+		struct ValueInt {
+			int32_t x;
+			int32_t y;
+			int32_t z;
+			int32_t w;
+		};
+
+		struct ValueUInt {
+			uint32_t x;
+			uint32_t y;
+			uint32_t z;
+			uint32_t w;
+		};
+
+		struct ValueUsage {
+			uint32_t elements = 0;
+		};
+
+		List<RID> materials_using_buffer;
+		List<RID> materials_using_texture;
+
+		RID buffer;
+		Value *buffer_values;
+		ValueUsage *buffer_usage;
+		bool *buffer_dirty_regions;
+		uint32_t buffer_dirty_region_count = 0;
+
+		uint32_t buffer_size;
+
+		bool must_update_texture_materials = false;
+		bool must_update_buffer_materials = false;
+
+		HashMap<RID, int32_t> instance_buffer_pos;
+
+	} global_variables;
+
+	int32_t _global_variable_allocate(uint32_t p_elements);
+	void _global_variable_store_in_buffer(int32_t p_index, RS::GlobalVariableType p_type, const Variant &p_value);
+	void _global_variable_mark_buffer_dirty(int32_t p_index, int32_t p_elements);
+
+	void _update_global_variables();
 	/* EFFECTS */
 
 	RasterizerEffectsRD effects;
@@ -675,6 +752,8 @@ public:
 	bool material_is_animated(RID p_material);
 	bool material_casts_shadows(RID p_material);
 
+	void material_get_instance_shader_parameters(RID p_material, List<InstanceShaderParam> *r_parameters);
+
 	void material_update_dependency(RID p_material, RasterizerScene::InstanceBase *p_instance);
 	void material_force_update_textures(RID p_material, ShaderType p_shader_type);
 
@@ -1246,6 +1325,27 @@ public:
 
 	virtual bool particles_is_inactive(RID p_particles) const { return false; }
 
+	/* GLOBAL VARIABLES API */
+
+	virtual void global_variable_add(const StringName &p_name, RS::GlobalVariableType p_type, const Variant &p_value);
+	virtual void global_variable_remove(const StringName &p_name);
+	virtual Vector<StringName> global_variable_get_list() const;
+
+	virtual void global_variable_set(const StringName &p_name, const Variant &p_value);
+	virtual void global_variable_set_override(const StringName &p_name, const Variant &p_value);
+	virtual Variant global_variable_get(const StringName &p_name) const;
+	virtual RS::GlobalVariableType global_variable_get_type(const StringName &p_name) const;
+	RS::GlobalVariableType global_variable_get_type_internal(const StringName &p_name) const;
+
+	virtual void global_variables_load_settings(bool p_load_textures = true);
+	virtual void global_variables_clear();
+
+	virtual int32_t global_variables_instance_allocate(RID p_instance);
+	virtual void global_variables_instance_free(RID p_instance);
+	virtual void global_variables_instance_update(RID p_instance, int p_index, const Variant &p_value);
+
+	RID global_variables_get_storage_buffer() const;
+
 	/* RENDER TARGET API */
 
 	RID render_target_create();
@@ -1295,7 +1395,7 @@ public:
 	virtual uint64_t get_captured_timestamp_cpu_time(uint32_t p_index) const;
 	virtual String get_captured_timestamp_name(uint32_t p_index) const;
 
-	static RasterizerStorage *base_singleton;
+	static RasterizerStorageRD *base_singleton;
 
 	RasterizerEffectsRD *get_effects();
 
diff --git a/servers/rendering/rasterizer_rd/shader_compiler_rd.cpp b/servers/rendering/rasterizer_rd/shader_compiler_rd.cpp
index 4a0b4f02b1..9cbff2571a 100644
--- a/servers/rendering/rasterizer_rd/shader_compiler_rd.cpp
+++ b/servers/rendering/rasterizer_rd/shader_compiler_rd.cpp
@@ -32,6 +32,8 @@
 
 #include "core/os/os.h"
 #include "core/project_settings.h"
+#include "rasterizer_storage_rd.h"
+#include "servers/rendering_server.h"
 
 #define SL ShaderLanguage
 
@@ -91,6 +93,9 @@ static int _get_datatype_size(SL::DataType p_type) {
 		case SL::TYPE_USAMPLER3D: return 16;
 		case SL::TYPE_SAMPLERCUBE: return 16;
 		case SL::TYPE_STRUCT: return 0;
+		case SL::TYPE_MAX: {
+			ERR_FAIL_V(0);
+		};
 	}
 
 	ERR_FAIL_V(0);
@@ -131,6 +136,9 @@ static int _get_datatype_alignment(SL::DataType p_type) {
 		case SL::TYPE_USAMPLER3D: return 16;
 		case SL::TYPE_SAMPLERCUBE: return 16;
 		case SL::TYPE_STRUCT: return 0;
+		case SL::TYPE_MAX: {
+			ERR_FAIL_V(0);
+		}
 	}
 
 	ERR_FAIL_V(0);
@@ -341,6 +349,71 @@ void ShaderCompilerRD::_dump_function_deps(const SL::ShaderNode *p_node, const S
 	}
 }
 
+static String _get_global_variable_from_type_and_index(const String &p_buffer, const String &p_index, ShaderLanguage::DataType p_type) {
+	switch (p_type) {
+		case ShaderLanguage::TYPE_BOOL: {
+			return "(" + p_buffer + "[" + p_index + "].x != 0.0)";
+		}
+		case ShaderLanguage::TYPE_BVEC2: {
+			return "(" + p_buffer + "[" + p_index + "].xy != vec2(0.0))";
+		}
+		case ShaderLanguage::TYPE_BVEC3: {
+			return "(" + p_buffer + "[" + p_index + "].xyz != vec3(0.0))";
+		}
+		case ShaderLanguage::TYPE_BVEC4: {
+			return "(" + p_buffer + "[" + p_index + "].xyzw != vec4(0.0))";
+		}
+		case ShaderLanguage::TYPE_INT: {
+			return "floatBitsToInt(" + p_buffer + "[" + p_index + "].x)";
+		}
+		case ShaderLanguage::TYPE_IVEC2: {
+			return "floatBitsToInt(" + p_buffer + "[" + p_index + "].xy)";
+		}
+		case ShaderLanguage::TYPE_IVEC3: {
+			return "floatBitsToInt(" + p_buffer + "[" + p_index + "].xyz)";
+		}
+		case ShaderLanguage::TYPE_IVEC4: {
+			return "floatBitsToInt(" + p_buffer + "[" + p_index + "].xyzw)";
+		}
+		case ShaderLanguage::TYPE_UINT: {
+			return "floatBitsToUInt(" + p_buffer + "[" + p_index + "].x)";
+		}
+		case ShaderLanguage::TYPE_UVEC2: {
+			return "floatBitsToUInt(" + p_buffer + "[" + p_index + "].xy)";
+		}
+		case ShaderLanguage::TYPE_UVEC3: {
+			return "floatBitsToUInt(" + p_buffer + "[" + p_index + "].xyz)";
+		}
+		case ShaderLanguage::TYPE_UVEC4: {
+			return "floatBitsToUInt(" + p_buffer + "[" + p_index + "].xyzw)";
+		}
+		case ShaderLanguage::TYPE_FLOAT: {
+			return "(" + p_buffer + "[" + p_index + "].x)";
+		}
+		case ShaderLanguage::TYPE_VEC2: {
+			return "(" + p_buffer + "[" + p_index + "].xy)";
+		}
+		case ShaderLanguage::TYPE_VEC3: {
+			return "(" + p_buffer + "[" + p_index + "].xyz)";
+		}
+		case ShaderLanguage::TYPE_VEC4: {
+			return "(" + p_buffer + "[" + p_index + "].xyzw)";
+		}
+		case ShaderLanguage::TYPE_MAT2: {
+			return "mat2(" + p_buffer + "[" + p_index + "].xy," + p_buffer + "[" + p_index + "+1].xy)";
+		}
+		case ShaderLanguage::TYPE_MAT3: {
+			return "mat3(" + p_buffer + "[" + p_index + "].xyz," + p_buffer + "[" + p_index + "+1].xyz," + p_buffer + "[" + p_index + "+2].xyz)";
+		}
+		case ShaderLanguage::TYPE_MAT4: {
+			return "mat4(" + p_buffer + "[" + p_index + "].xyzw," + p_buffer + "[" + p_index + "+1].xyzw," + p_buffer + "[" + p_index + "+2].xyzw," + p_buffer + "[" + p_index + "+3].xyzw)";
+		}
+		default: {
+			ERR_FAIL_V("void");
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 String ShaderCompilerRD::_dump_node_code(const SL::Node *p_node, int p_level, GeneratedCode &r_gen_code, IdentifierActions &p_actions, const DefaultIdentifierActions &p_default_actions, bool p_assigning) {
 
 	String code;
@@ -408,10 +481,17 @@ String ShaderCompilerRD::_dump_node_code(const SL::Node *p_node, int p_level, Ge
 			int max_uniforms = 0;
 
 			for (Map<StringName, SL::ShaderNode::Uniform>::Element *E = pnode->uniforms.front(); E; E = E->next()) {
-				if (SL::is_sampler_type(E->get().type))
+
+				if (SL::is_sampler_type(E->get().type)) {
 					max_texture_uniforms++;
-				else
+				} else {
+
+					if (E->get().scope == SL::ShaderNode::Uniform::SCOPE_INSTANCE) {
+						continue; //instances are indexed directly, dont need index uniforms
+					}
+
 					max_uniforms++;
+				}
 			}
 
 			r_gen_code.texture_uniforms.resize(max_texture_uniforms);
@@ -428,12 +508,25 @@ String ShaderCompilerRD::_dump_node_code(const SL::Node *p_node, int p_level, Ge
 
 				String ucode;
 
+				if (E->get().scope == SL::ShaderNode::Uniform::SCOPE_INSTANCE) {
+					//insert, but don't generate any code.
+					p_actions.uniforms->insert(E->key(), E->get());
+					continue; //instances are indexed directly, dont need index uniforms
+				}
 				if (SL::is_sampler_type(E->get().type)) {
 					ucode = "layout(set = " + itos(actions.texture_layout_set) + ", binding = " + itos(actions.base_texture_binding_index + E->get().texture_order) + ") uniform ";
 				}
 
-				ucode += _prestr(E->get().precision);
-				ucode += _typestr(E->get().type);
+				bool is_buffer_global = !SL::is_sampler_type(E->get().type) && E->get().scope == SL::ShaderNode::Uniform::SCOPE_GLOBAL;
+
+				if (is_buffer_global) {
+					//this is an integer to index the global table
+					ucode += _typestr(ShaderLanguage::TYPE_UINT);
+				} else {
+					ucode += _prestr(E->get().precision);
+					ucode += _typestr(E->get().type);
+				}
+
 				ucode += " " + _mkid(E->key());
 				ucode += ";\n";
 				if (SL::is_sampler_type(E->get().type)) {
@@ -446,6 +539,10 @@ String ShaderCompilerRD::_dump_node_code(const SL::Node *p_node, int p_level, Ge
 					texture.type = E->get().type;
 					texture.filter = E->get().filter;
 					texture.repeat = E->get().repeat;
+					texture.global = E->get().scope == ShaderLanguage::ShaderNode::Uniform::SCOPE_GLOBAL;
+					if (texture.global) {
+						r_gen_code.uses_global_textures = true;
+					}
 
 					r_gen_code.texture_uniforms.write[E->get().texture_order] = texture;
 				} else {
@@ -455,8 +552,14 @@ String ShaderCompilerRD::_dump_node_code(const SL::Node *p_node, int p_level, Ge
 						uses_uniforms = true;
 					}
 					uniform_defines.write[E->get().order] = ucode;
-					uniform_sizes.write[E->get().order] = _get_datatype_size(E->get().type);
-					uniform_alignments.write[E->get().order] = _get_datatype_alignment(E->get().type);
+					if (is_buffer_global) {
+						//globals are indices into the global table
+						uniform_sizes.write[E->get().order] = _get_datatype_size(ShaderLanguage::TYPE_UINT);
+						uniform_alignments.write[E->get().order] = _get_datatype_alignment(ShaderLanguage::TYPE_UINT);
+					} else {
+						uniform_sizes.write[E->get().order] = _get_datatype_size(E->get().type);
+						uniform_alignments.write[E->get().order] = _get_datatype_alignment(E->get().type);
+					}
 				}
 
 				p_actions.uniforms->insert(E->key(), E->get());
@@ -690,9 +793,29 @@ String ShaderCompilerRD::_dump_node_code(const SL::Node *p_node, int p_level, Ge
 			if (p_default_actions.renames.has(vnode->name))
 				code = p_default_actions.renames[vnode->name];
 			else {
-				code = _mkid(vnode->name);
-				if (actions.base_uniform_string != String() && shader->uniforms.has(vnode->name) && shader->uniforms[vnode->name].texture_order < 0) {
-					code = actions.base_uniform_string + code;
+				if (shader->uniforms.has(vnode->name)) {
+					//its a uniform!
+					const ShaderLanguage::ShaderNode::Uniform &u = shader->uniforms[vnode->name];
+					if (u.texture_order >= 0) {
+						code = _mkid(vnode->name); //texture, use as is
+					} else {
+						//a scalar or vector
+						if (u.scope == ShaderLanguage::ShaderNode::Uniform::SCOPE_GLOBAL) {
+							code = actions.base_uniform_string + _mkid(vnode->name); //texture, use as is
+							//global variable, this means the code points to an index to the global table
+							code = _get_global_variable_from_type_and_index(p_default_actions.global_buffer_array_variable, code, u.type);
+						} else if (u.scope == ShaderLanguage::ShaderNode::Uniform::SCOPE_INSTANCE) {
+							//instance variable, index it as such
+							code = "(" + p_default_actions.instance_uniform_index_variable + "+" + itos(u.instance_index) + ")";
+							code = _get_global_variable_from_type_and_index(p_default_actions.global_buffer_array_variable, code, u.type);
+						} else {
+							//regular uniform, index from UBO
+							code = actions.base_uniform_string + _mkid(vnode->name);
+						}
+					}
+
+				} else {
+					code = _mkid(vnode->name); //its something else (local var most likely) use as is
 				}
 			}
 
@@ -1037,9 +1160,14 @@ String ShaderCompilerRD::_dump_node_code(const SL::Node *p_node, int p_level, Ge
 	return code;
 }
 
+ShaderLanguage::DataType ShaderCompilerRD::_get_variable_type(const StringName &p_type) {
+	RS::GlobalVariableType gvt = ((RasterizerStorageRD *)(RasterizerStorage::base_singleton))->global_variable_get_type_internal(p_type);
+	return RS::global_variable_type_get_shader_datatype(gvt);
+}
+
 Error ShaderCompilerRD::compile(RS::ShaderMode p_mode, const String &p_code, IdentifierActions *p_actions, const String &p_path, GeneratedCode &r_gen_code) {
 
-	Error err = parser.compile(p_code, ShaderTypes::get_singleton()->get_functions(p_mode), ShaderTypes::get_singleton()->get_modes(p_mode), ShaderTypes::get_singleton()->get_types());
+	Error err = parser.compile(p_code, ShaderTypes::get_singleton()->get_functions(p_mode), ShaderTypes::get_singleton()->get_modes(p_mode), ShaderTypes::get_singleton()->get_types(), _get_variable_type);
 
 	if (err != OK) {
 
@@ -1060,6 +1188,7 @@ Error ShaderCompilerRD::compile(RS::ShaderMode p_mode, const String &p_code, Ide
 	r_gen_code.light = String();
 	r_gen_code.uses_fragment_time = false;
 	r_gen_code.uses_vertex_time = false;
+	r_gen_code.uses_global_textures = false;
 
 	used_name_defines.clear();
 	used_rmode_defines.clear();
diff --git a/servers/rendering/rasterizer_rd/shader_compiler_rd.h b/servers/rendering/rasterizer_rd/shader_compiler_rd.h
index 7d78469e9c..16d53197a7 100644
--- a/servers/rendering/rasterizer_rd/shader_compiler_rd.h
+++ b/servers/rendering/rasterizer_rd/shader_compiler_rd.h
@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@ public:
 			ShaderLanguage::ShaderNode::Uniform::Hint hint;
 			ShaderLanguage::TextureFilter filter;
 			ShaderLanguage::TextureRepeat repeat;
+			bool global;
 		};
 
 		Vector<Texture> texture_uniforms;
@@ -70,6 +71,7 @@ public:
 		String fragment;
 		String light;
 
+		bool uses_global_textures;
 		bool uses_fragment_time;
 		bool uses_vertex_time;
 	};
@@ -86,6 +88,8 @@ public:
 		int base_texture_binding_index = 0;
 		int texture_layout_set = 0;
 		String base_uniform_string;
+		String global_buffer_array_variable;
+		String instance_uniform_index_variable;
 		uint32_t base_varying_index = 0;
 	};
 
@@ -113,6 +117,8 @@ private:
 
 	DefaultIdentifierActions actions;
 
+	static ShaderLanguage::DataType _get_variable_type(const StringName &p_type);
+
 public:
 	Error compile(RS::ShaderMode p_mode, const String &p_code, IdentifierActions *p_actions, const String &p_path, GeneratedCode &r_gen_code);
 
diff --git a/servers/rendering/rasterizer_rd/shaders/canvas_uniforms_inc.glsl b/servers/rendering/rasterizer_rd/shaders/canvas_uniforms_inc.glsl
index 1ac43480cd..a39866004b 100644
--- a/servers/rendering/rasterizer_rd/shaders/canvas_uniforms_inc.glsl
+++ b/servers/rendering/rasterizer_rd/shaders/canvas_uniforms_inc.glsl
@@ -132,6 +132,11 @@ layout(set = 2, binding = 6) uniform sampler shadow_sampler;
 
 #endif
 
+layout(set = 2, binding = 7, std430) restrict readonly buffer GlobalVariableData {
+	vec4 data[];
+}
+global_variables;
+
 /* SET3: Render Target Data */
 
 #ifdef SCREEN_TEXTURE_USED
diff --git a/servers/rendering/rasterizer_rd/shaders/scene_high_end_inc.glsl b/servers/rendering/rasterizer_rd/shaders/scene_high_end_inc.glsl
index b5e3de5e82..ce4fabf9f2 100644
--- a/servers/rendering/rasterizer_rd/shaders/scene_high_end_inc.glsl
+++ b/servers/rendering/rasterizer_rd/shaders/scene_high_end_inc.glsl
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ struct InstanceData {
 	mat4 transform;
 	mat4 normal_transform;
 	uint flags;
-	uint instance_ofs; //instance_offset in instancing/skeleton buffer
+	uint instance_uniforms_ofs; //base offset in global buffer for instance variables
 	uint gi_offset; //GI information when using lightmapping (VCT or lightmap)
 	uint layer_mask;
 };
@@ -287,6 +287,11 @@ cluster_data;
 
 layout(set = 0, binding = 15) uniform texture2D directional_shadow_atlas;
 
+layout(set = 0, binding = 16, std430) restrict readonly buffer GlobalVariableData {
+	vec4 data[];
+}
+global_variables;
+
 // decal atlas
 
 /* Set 1, Radiance */
diff --git a/servers/rendering/rasterizer_rd/shaders/sky.glsl b/servers/rendering/rasterizer_rd/shaders/sky.glsl
index c6c863ec60..7dd101ca23 100644
--- a/servers/rendering/rasterizer_rd/shaders/sky.glsl
+++ b/servers/rendering/rasterizer_rd/shaders/sky.glsl
@@ -58,6 +58,11 @@ params;
 
 layout(set = 0, binding = 0) uniform sampler material_samplers[12];
 
+layout(set = 0, binding = 1, std430) restrict readonly buffer GlobalVariableData {
+	vec4 data[];
+}
+global_variables;
+
 #ifdef USE_MATERIAL_UNIFORMS
 layout(set = 1, binding = 0, std140) uniform MaterialUniforms{
 	/* clang-format off */
diff --git a/servers/rendering/rendering_device.h b/servers/rendering/rendering_device.h
index 63aa8dde1c..97fe417def 100644
--- a/servers/rendering/rendering_device.h
+++ b/servers/rendering/rendering_device.h
@@ -1025,7 +1025,6 @@ public:
 	virtual uint32_t get_frame_delay() const = 0;
 
 	static RenderingDevice *get_singleton();
-
 	RenderingDevice();
 };
 
diff --git a/servers/rendering/rendering_server_raster.h b/servers/rendering/rendering_server_raster.h
index 6f7ce7728d..f7b963a015 100644
--- a/servers/rendering/rendering_server_raster.h
+++ b/servers/rendering/rendering_server_raster.h
@@ -98,6 +98,8 @@ public:
 
 #define BIND0R(m_r, m_name) \
 	m_r m_name() { return BINDBASE->m_name(); }
+#define BIND0RC(m_r, m_name) \
+	m_r m_name() const { return BINDBASE->m_name(); }
 #define BIND1R(m_r, m_name, m_type1) \
 	m_r m_name(m_type1 arg1) { return BINDBASE->m_name(arg1); }
 #define BIND1RC(m_r, m_name, m_type1) \
@@ -111,8 +113,12 @@ public:
 #define BIND4RC(m_r, m_name, m_type1, m_type2, m_type3, m_type4) \
 	m_r m_name(m_type1 arg1, m_type2 arg2, m_type3 arg3, m_type4 arg4) const { return BINDBASE->m_name(arg1, arg2, arg3, arg4); }
 
+#define BIND0(m_name) \
+	void m_name() { DISPLAY_CHANGED BINDBASE->m_name(); }
 #define BIND1(m_name, m_type1) \
 	void m_name(m_type1 arg1) { DISPLAY_CHANGED BINDBASE->m_name(arg1); }
+#define BIND1C(m_name, m_type1) \
+	void m_name(m_type1 arg1) const { DISPLAY_CHANGED BINDBASE->m_name(arg1); }
 #define BIND2(m_name, m_type1, m_type2) \
 	void m_name(m_type1 arg1, m_type2 arg2) { DISPLAY_CHANGED BINDBASE->m_name(arg1, arg2); }
 #define BIND2C(m_name, m_type1, m_type2) \
@@ -620,6 +626,11 @@ public:
 	BIND5(instance_geometry_set_draw_range, RID, float, float, float, float)
 	BIND2(instance_geometry_set_as_instance_lod, RID, RID)
 
+	BIND3(instance_geometry_set_shader_parameter, RID, const StringName &, const Variant &)
+	BIND2RC(Variant, instance_geometry_get_shader_parameter, RID, const StringName &)
+	BIND2RC(Variant, instance_geometry_get_shader_parameter_default_value, RID, const StringName &)
+	BIND2C(instance_geometry_get_shader_parameter_list, RID, List<PropertyInfo> *)
+
 #undef BINDBASE
 //from now on, calls forwarded to this singleton
 #define BINDBASE RSG::canvas
@@ -717,6 +728,23 @@ public:
 
 	BIND2(canvas_occluder_polygon_set_cull_mode, RID, CanvasOccluderPolygonCullMode)
 
+	/* GLOBAL VARIABLES */
+
+#undef BINDBASE
+//from now on, calls forwarded to this singleton
+#define BINDBASE RSG::storage
+
+	BIND3(global_variable_add, const StringName &, GlobalVariableType, const Variant &)
+	BIND1(global_variable_remove, const StringName &)
+	BIND0RC(Vector<StringName>, global_variable_get_list)
+	BIND2(global_variable_set, const StringName &, const Variant &)
+	BIND2(global_variable_set_override, const StringName &, const Variant &)
+	BIND1RC(GlobalVariableType, global_variable_get_type, const StringName &)
+	BIND1RC(Variant, global_variable_get, const StringName &)
+
+	BIND1(global_variables_load_settings, bool)
+	BIND0(global_variables_clear)
+
 	/* BLACK BARS */
 
 	virtual void black_bars_set_margins(int p_left, int p_top, int p_right, int p_bottom);
diff --git a/servers/rendering/rendering_server_scene.cpp b/servers/rendering/rendering_server_scene.cpp
index fc7c160c0b..9d141ea570 100644
--- a/servers/rendering/rendering_server_scene.cpp
+++ b/servers/rendering/rendering_server_scene.cpp
@@ -968,6 +968,67 @@ void RenderingServerScene::instance_geometry_set_draw_range(RID p_instance, floa
 void RenderingServerScene::instance_geometry_set_as_instance_lod(RID p_instance, RID p_as_lod_of_instance) {
 }
 
+void RenderingServerScene::instance_geometry_set_shader_parameter(RID p_instance, const StringName &p_parameter, const Variant &p_value) {
+
+	Instance *instance = instance_owner.getornull(p_instance);
+	ERR_FAIL_COND(!instance);
+
+	Map<StringName, RasterizerScene::InstanceBase::InstanceShaderParameter>::Element *E = instance->instance_shader_parameters.find(p_parameter);
+
+	if (!E) {
+		RasterizerScene::InstanceBase::InstanceShaderParameter isp;
+		isp.index = -1;
+		isp.info = PropertyInfo();
+		isp.value = p_value;
+		instance->instance_shader_parameters[p_parameter] = isp;
+	} else {
+		E->get().value = p_value;
+		if (E->get().index >= 0 && instance->instance_allocated_shader_parameters) {
+			//update directly
+			RSG::storage->global_variables_instance_update(p_instance, E->get().index, p_value);
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+Variant RenderingServerScene::instance_geometry_get_shader_parameter(RID p_instance, const StringName &p_parameter) const {
+
+	const Instance *instance = const_cast<RenderingServerScene *>(this)->instance_owner.getornull(p_instance);
+	ERR_FAIL_COND_V(!instance, Variant());
+
+	if (instance->instance_shader_parameters.has(p_parameter)) {
+		return instance->instance_shader_parameters[p_parameter].value;
+	}
+	return Variant();
+}
+
+Variant RenderingServerScene::instance_geometry_get_shader_parameter_default_value(RID p_instance, const StringName &p_parameter) const {
+
+	const Instance *instance = const_cast<RenderingServerScene *>(this)->instance_owner.getornull(p_instance);
+	ERR_FAIL_COND_V(!instance, Variant());
+
+	if (instance->instance_shader_parameters.has(p_parameter)) {
+		return instance->instance_shader_parameters[p_parameter].default_value;
+	}
+	return Variant();
+}
+
+void RenderingServerScene::instance_geometry_get_shader_parameter_list(RID p_instance, List<PropertyInfo> *p_parameters) const {
+	const Instance *instance = const_cast<RenderingServerScene *>(this)->instance_owner.getornull(p_instance);
+	ERR_FAIL_COND(!instance);
+
+	const_cast<RenderingServerScene *>(this)->update_dirty_instances();
+
+	Vector<StringName> names;
+	for (Map<StringName, RasterizerScene::InstanceBase::InstanceShaderParameter>::Element *E = instance->instance_shader_parameters.front(); E; E = E->next()) {
+		names.push_back(E->key());
+	}
+	names.sort_custom<StringName::AlphCompare>();
+	for (int i = 0; i < names.size(); i++) {
+		PropertyInfo pinfo = instance->instance_shader_parameters[names[i]].info;
+		p_parameters->push_back(pinfo);
+	}
+}
+
 void RenderingServerScene::_update_instance(Instance *p_instance) {
 
 	p_instance->version++;
@@ -2761,6 +2822,35 @@ void RenderingServerScene::render_probes() {
 	}
 }
 
+void RenderingServerScene::_update_instance_shader_parameters_from_material(Map<StringName, RasterizerScene::InstanceBase::InstanceShaderParameter> &isparams, const Map<StringName, RasterizerScene::InstanceBase::InstanceShaderParameter> &existing_isparams, RID p_material) {
+
+	List<RasterizerStorage::InstanceShaderParam> plist;
+	RSG::storage->material_get_instance_shader_parameters(p_material, &plist);
+	for (List<RasterizerStorage::InstanceShaderParam>::Element *E = plist.front(); E; E = E->next()) {
+		StringName name = E->get().info.name;
+		if (isparams.has(name)) {
+			if (isparams[name].info.type != E->get().info.type) {
+				WARN_PRINT("More than one material in instance export the same instance shader uniform '" + E->get().info.name + "', but they do it with different data types. Only the first one (in order) will display correctly.");
+			}
+			if (isparams[name].index != E->get().index) {
+				WARN_PRINT("More than one material in instance export the same instance shader uniform '" + E->get().info.name + "', but they do it with different indices. Only the first one (in order) will display correctly.");
+			}
+			continue; //first one found always has priority
+		}
+
+		RasterizerScene::InstanceBase::InstanceShaderParameter isp;
+		isp.index = E->get().index;
+		isp.info = E->get().info;
+		isp.default_value = E->get().default_value;
+		if (existing_isparams.has(name)) {
+			isp.value = existing_isparams[name].value;
+		} else {
+			isp.value = E->get().default_value;
+		}
+		isparams[name] = isp;
+	}
+}
+
 void RenderingServerScene::_update_dirty_instance(Instance *p_instance) {
 
 	if (p_instance->update_aabb) {
@@ -2800,12 +2890,18 @@ void RenderingServerScene::_update_dirty_instance(Instance *p_instance) {
 
 			bool can_cast_shadows = true;
 			bool is_animated = false;
+			Map<StringName, RasterizerScene::InstanceBase::InstanceShaderParameter> isparams;
 
 			if (p_instance->cast_shadows == RS::SHADOW_CASTING_SETTING_OFF) {
 				can_cast_shadows = false;
-			} else if (p_instance->material_override.is_valid()) {
-				can_cast_shadows = RSG::storage->material_casts_shadows(p_instance->material_override);
+			}
+
+			if (p_instance->material_override.is_valid()) {
+				if (!RSG::storage->material_casts_shadows(p_instance->material_override)) {
+					can_cast_shadows = false;
+				}
 				is_animated = RSG::storage->material_is_animated(p_instance->material_override);
+				_update_instance_shader_parameters_from_material(isparams, p_instance->instance_shader_parameters, p_instance->material_override);
 			} else {
 
 				if (p_instance->base_type == RS::INSTANCE_MESH) {
@@ -2830,6 +2926,8 @@ void RenderingServerScene::_update_dirty_instance(Instance *p_instance) {
 									is_animated = true;
 								}
 
+								_update_instance_shader_parameters_from_material(isparams, p_instance->instance_shader_parameters, mat);
+
 								RSG::storage->material_update_dependency(mat, p_instance);
 							}
 						}
@@ -2862,6 +2960,8 @@ void RenderingServerScene::_update_dirty_instance(Instance *p_instance) {
 									is_animated = true;
 								}
 
+								_update_instance_shader_parameters_from_material(isparams, p_instance->instance_shader_parameters, mat);
+
 								RSG::storage->material_update_dependency(mat, p_instance);
 							}
 						}
@@ -2876,13 +2976,19 @@ void RenderingServerScene::_update_dirty_instance(Instance *p_instance) {
 
 					RID mat = RSG::storage->immediate_get_material(p_instance->base);
 
-					can_cast_shadows = !mat.is_valid() || RSG::storage->material_casts_shadows(mat);
+					if (!(!mat.is_valid() || RSG::storage->material_casts_shadows(mat))) {
+						can_cast_shadows = false;
+					}
 
 					if (mat.is_valid() && RSG::storage->material_is_animated(mat)) {
 						is_animated = true;
 					}
 
 					if (mat.is_valid()) {
+						_update_instance_shader_parameters_from_material(isparams, p_instance->instance_shader_parameters, mat);
+					}
+
+					if (mat.is_valid()) {
 						RSG::storage->material_update_dependency(mat, p_instance);
 					}
 
@@ -2915,6 +3021,8 @@ void RenderingServerScene::_update_dirty_instance(Instance *p_instance) {
 									is_animated = true;
 								}
 
+								_update_instance_shader_parameters_from_material(isparams, p_instance->instance_shader_parameters, mat);
+
 								RSG::storage->material_update_dependency(mat, p_instance);
 							}
 						}
@@ -2937,6 +3045,22 @@ void RenderingServerScene::_update_dirty_instance(Instance *p_instance) {
 			}
 
 			geom->material_is_animated = is_animated;
+			p_instance->instance_shader_parameters = isparams;
+
+			if (p_instance->instance_allocated_shader_parameters != (p_instance->instance_shader_parameters.size() > 0)) {
+				p_instance->instance_allocated_shader_parameters = (p_instance->instance_shader_parameters.size() > 0);
+				if (p_instance->instance_allocated_shader_parameters) {
+					p_instance->instance_allocated_shader_parameters_offset = RSG::storage->global_variables_instance_allocate(p_instance->self);
+					for (Map<StringName, RasterizerScene::InstanceBase::InstanceShaderParameter>::Element *E = p_instance->instance_shader_parameters.front(); E; E = E->next()) {
+						if (E->get().value.get_type() != Variant::NIL) {
+							RSG::storage->global_variables_instance_update(p_instance->self, E->get().index, E->get().value);
+						}
+					}
+				} else {
+					RSG::storage->global_variables_instance_free(p_instance->self);
+					p_instance->instance_allocated_shader_parameters_offset = -1;
+				}
+			}
 		}
 
 		if (p_instance->skeleton.is_valid()) {
@@ -2998,6 +3122,10 @@ bool RenderingServerScene::free(RID p_rid) {
 		instance_geometry_set_material_override(p_rid, RID());
 		instance_attach_skeleton(p_rid, RID());
 
+		if (instance->instance_allocated_shader_parameters) {
+			//free the used shader parameters
+			RSG::storage->global_variables_instance_free(instance->self);
+		}
 		update_dirty_instances(); //in case something changed this
 
 		instance_owner.free(p_rid);
diff --git a/servers/rendering/rendering_server_scene.h b/servers/rendering/rendering_server_scene.h
index f5f7c50ea0..db2fbd6707 100644
--- a/servers/rendering/rendering_server_scene.h
+++ b/servers/rendering/rendering_server_scene.h
@@ -435,6 +435,13 @@ public:
 	virtual void instance_geometry_set_draw_range(RID p_instance, float p_min, float p_max, float p_min_margin, float p_max_margin);
 	virtual void instance_geometry_set_as_instance_lod(RID p_instance, RID p_as_lod_of_instance);
 
+	void _update_instance_shader_parameters_from_material(Map<StringName, RasterizerScene::InstanceBase::InstanceShaderParameter> &isparams, const Map<StringName, RasterizerScene::InstanceBase::InstanceShaderParameter> &existing_isparams, RID p_material);
+
+	virtual void instance_geometry_set_shader_parameter(RID p_instance, const StringName &p_parameter, const Variant &p_value);
+	virtual void instance_geometry_get_shader_parameter_list(RID p_instance, List<PropertyInfo> *p_parameters) const;
+	virtual Variant instance_geometry_get_shader_parameter(RID p_instance, const StringName &p_parameter) const;
+	virtual Variant instance_geometry_get_shader_parameter_default_value(RID p_instance, const StringName &p_parameter) const;
+
 	_FORCE_INLINE_ void _update_instance(Instance *p_instance);
 	_FORCE_INLINE_ void _update_instance_aabb(Instance *p_instance);
 	_FORCE_INLINE_ void _update_dirty_instance(Instance *p_instance);
diff --git a/servers/rendering/rendering_server_wrap_mt.h b/servers/rendering/rendering_server_wrap_mt.h
index 79f328cb3b..d4e58485b8 100644
--- a/servers/rendering/rendering_server_wrap_mt.h
+++ b/servers/rendering/rendering_server_wrap_mt.h
@@ -532,6 +532,11 @@ public:
 	FUNC5(instance_geometry_set_draw_range, RID, float, float, float, float)
 	FUNC2(instance_geometry_set_as_instance_lod, RID, RID)
 
+	FUNC3(instance_geometry_set_shader_parameter, RID, const StringName &, const Variant &)
+	FUNC2RC(Variant, instance_geometry_get_shader_parameter, RID, const StringName &)
+	FUNC2RC(Variant, instance_geometry_get_shader_parameter_default_value, RID, const StringName &)
+	FUNC2SC(instance_geometry_get_shader_parameter_list, RID, List<PropertyInfo> *)
+
 	/* CANVAS (2D) */
 
 	FUNCRID(canvas)
@@ -625,6 +630,18 @@ public:
 
 	FUNC2(canvas_occluder_polygon_set_cull_mode, RID, CanvasOccluderPolygonCullMode)
 
+	/* GLOBAL VARIABLES */
+
+	FUNC3(global_variable_add, const StringName &, GlobalVariableType, const Variant &)
+	FUNC1(global_variable_remove, const StringName &)
+	FUNC0RC(Vector<StringName>, global_variable_get_list)
+	FUNC2(global_variable_set, const StringName &, const Variant &)
+	FUNC2(global_variable_set_override, const StringName &, const Variant &)
+	FUNC1RC(GlobalVariableType, global_variable_get_type, const StringName &)
+	FUNC1RC(Variant, global_variable_get, const StringName &)
+	FUNC1(global_variables_load_settings, bool)
+	FUNC0(global_variables_clear)
+
 	/* BLACK BARS */
 
 	FUNC4(black_bars_set_margins, int, int, int, int)
diff --git a/servers/rendering/shader_language.cpp b/servers/rendering/shader_language.cpp
index 76a81a4a1c..bec0958f71 100644
--- a/servers/rendering/shader_language.cpp
+++ b/servers/rendering/shader_language.cpp
@@ -194,6 +194,8 @@ const char *ShaderLanguage::token_names[TK_MAX] = {
 	"SEMICOLON",
 	"PERIOD",
 	"UNIFORM",
+	"INSTANCE",
+	"GLOBAL",
 	"VARYING",
 	"IN",
 	"OUT",
@@ -207,6 +209,7 @@ const char *ShaderLanguage::token_names[TK_MAX] = {
 	"HINT_BLACK_ALBEDO_TEXTURE",
 	"HINT_COLOR",
 	"HINT_RANGE",
+	"HINT_INSTANCE_INDEX",
 	"FILTER_NEAREST",
 	"FILTER_LINEAR",
 	"FILTER_NEAREST_MIPMAP",
@@ -300,6 +303,8 @@ const ShaderLanguage::KeyWord ShaderLanguage::keyword_list[] = {
 	{ TK_CF_RETURN, "return" },
 	{ TK_CF_DISCARD, "discard" },
 	{ TK_UNIFORM, "uniform" },
+	{ TK_INSTANCE, "instance" },
+	{ TK_GLOBAL, "global" },
 	{ TK_VARYING, "varying" },
 	{ TK_ARG_IN, "in" },
 	{ TK_ARG_OUT, "out" },
@@ -319,6 +324,7 @@ const ShaderLanguage::KeyWord ShaderLanguage::keyword_list[] = {
 	{ TK_HINT_BLACK_ALBEDO_TEXTURE, "hint_black_albedo" },
 	{ TK_HINT_COLOR, "hint_color" },
 	{ TK_HINT_RANGE, "hint_range" },
+	{ TK_HINT_INSTANCE_INDEX, "instance_index" },
 	{ TK_FILTER_NEAREST, "filter_nearest" },
 	{ TK_FILTER_LINEAR, "filter_linear" },
 	{ TK_FILTER_NEAREST_MIPMAP, "filter_nearest_mipmap" },
@@ -864,6 +870,7 @@ String ShaderLanguage::get_datatype_name(DataType p_type) {
 		case TYPE_USAMPLER3D: return "usampler3D";
 		case TYPE_SAMPLERCUBE: return "samplerCube";
 		case TYPE_STRUCT: return "struct";
+		case TYPE_MAX: return "invalid";
 	}
 
 	return "";
@@ -2678,6 +2685,8 @@ Variant ShaderLanguage::constant_value_to_variant(const Vector<ShaderLanguage::C
 				break;
 			case ShaderLanguage::TYPE_VOID:
 				break;
+			case ShaderLanguage::TYPE_MAX:
+				break;
 		}
 		return value;
 	}
@@ -2774,6 +2783,8 @@ PropertyInfo ShaderLanguage::uniform_to_property_info(const ShaderNode::Uniform
 		case ShaderLanguage::TYPE_STRUCT: {
 			// FIXME: Implement this.
 		} break;
+		case ShaderLanguage::TYPE_MAX:
+			break;
 	}
 	return pi;
 }
@@ -2822,6 +2833,8 @@ uint32_t ShaderLanguage::get_type_size(DataType p_type) {
 		case TYPE_STRUCT:
 			// FIXME: Implement.
 			return 0;
+		case ShaderLanguage::TYPE_MAX:
+			return 0;
 	}
 	return 0;
 }
@@ -5685,6 +5698,8 @@ Error ShaderLanguage::_parse_shader(const Map<StringName, FunctionInfo> &p_funct
 
 	int texture_uniforms = 0;
 	int uniforms = 0;
+	int instance_index = 0;
+	ShaderNode::Uniform::Scope uniform_scope = ShaderNode::Uniform::SCOPE_LOCAL;
 
 	while (tk.type != TK_EOF) {
 
@@ -5853,6 +5868,27 @@ Error ShaderLanguage::_parse_shader(const Map<StringName, FunctionInfo> &p_funct
 				shader->vstructs.push_back(st); // struct's order is important!
 
 			} break;
+			case TK_GLOBAL: {
+
+				tk = _get_token();
+				if (tk.type != TK_UNIFORM) {
+					_set_error("Expected 'uniform' after 'global'");
+					return ERR_PARSE_ERROR;
+				}
+				uniform_scope = ShaderNode::Uniform::SCOPE_GLOBAL;
+			};
+				[[fallthrough]];
+			case TK_INSTANCE: {
+				if (uniform_scope == ShaderNode::Uniform::SCOPE_LOCAL) {
+					tk = _get_token();
+					if (tk.type != TK_UNIFORM) {
+						_set_error("Expected 'uniform' after 'instance'");
+						return ERR_PARSE_ERROR;
+					}
+					uniform_scope = ShaderNode::Uniform::SCOPE_INSTANCE;
+				}
+			};
+				[[fallthrough]];
 			case TK_UNIFORM:
 			case TK_VARYING: {
 
@@ -5910,25 +5946,50 @@ Error ShaderLanguage::_parse_shader(const Map<StringName, FunctionInfo> &p_funct
 
 				if (uniform) {
 
+					if (uniform_scope == ShaderNode::Uniform::SCOPE_GLOBAL) {
+						//validate global uniform
+						DataType gvtype = global_var_get_type_func(name);
+						if (gvtype == TYPE_MAX) {
+							_set_error("Global uniform '" + String(name) + "' does not exist. Create it in Project Settings.");
+							return ERR_PARSE_ERROR;
+						}
+
+						if (type != gvtype) {
+							_set_error("Global uniform '" + String(name) + "' must be of type '" + get_datatype_name(gvtype) + "'.");
+							return ERR_PARSE_ERROR;
+						}
+					}
 					ShaderNode::Uniform uniform2;
 
 					if (is_sampler_type(type)) {
+						if (uniform_scope == ShaderNode::Uniform::SCOPE_INSTANCE) {
+							_set_error("Uniforms with 'instance' qualifiers can't be of sampler type.");
+							return ERR_PARSE_ERROR;
+						}
 						uniform2.texture_order = texture_uniforms++;
 						uniform2.order = -1;
 						if (_validate_datatype(type) != OK) {
 							return ERR_PARSE_ERROR;
 						}
 					} else {
+						if (uniform_scope == ShaderNode::Uniform::SCOPE_LOCAL && (type == TYPE_MAT2 || type == TYPE_MAT3 || type == TYPE_MAT4)) {
+							_set_error("Uniforms with 'instance' qualifiers can't be of matrix type.");
+							return ERR_PARSE_ERROR;
+						}
+
 						uniform2.texture_order = -1;
 						uniform2.order = uniforms++;
 					}
 					uniform2.type = type;
+					uniform2.scope = uniform_scope;
 					uniform2.precision = precision;
 
 					//todo parse default value
 
 					tk = _get_token();
 
+					int custom_instance_index = -1;
+
 					if (tk.type == TK_COLON) {
 						//hint
 						do {
@@ -6039,7 +6100,45 @@ Error ShaderLanguage::_parse_shader(const Map<StringName, FunctionInfo> &p_funct
 								}
 
 								if (tk.type != TK_PARENTHESIS_CLOSE) {
-									_set_error("Expected ','");
+									_set_error("Expected ')'");
+									return ERR_PARSE_ERROR;
+								}
+							} else if (tk.type == TK_HINT_INSTANCE_INDEX) {
+
+								if (custom_instance_index != -1) {
+									_set_error("Can only specify 'instance_index' once.");
+									return ERR_PARSE_ERROR;
+								}
+
+								tk = _get_token();
+								if (tk.type != TK_PARENTHESIS_OPEN) {
+									_set_error("Expected '(' after 'instance_index'");
+									return ERR_PARSE_ERROR;
+								}
+
+								tk = _get_token();
+
+								if (tk.type == TK_OP_SUB) {
+									_set_error("The instance index can't be negative.");
+									return ERR_PARSE_ERROR;
+								}
+
+								if (tk.type != TK_INT_CONSTANT) {
+									_set_error("Expected integer constant");
+									return ERR_PARSE_ERROR;
+								}
+
+								custom_instance_index = tk.constant;
+
+								if (custom_instance_index >= MAX_INSTANCE_UNIFORM_INDICES) {
+									_set_error("Allowed instance uniform indices are 0-" + itos(MAX_INSTANCE_UNIFORM_INDICES - 1));
+									return ERR_PARSE_ERROR;
+								}
+
+								tk = _get_token();
+
+								if (tk.type != TK_PARENTHESIS_CLOSE) {
+									_set_error("Expected ')'");
 									return ERR_PARSE_ERROR;
 								}
 							} else if (tk.type == TK_FILTER_LINEAR) {
@@ -6072,6 +6171,20 @@ Error ShaderLanguage::_parse_shader(const Map<StringName, FunctionInfo> &p_funct
 						} while (tk.type == TK_COMMA);
 					}
 
+					if (uniform_scope == ShaderNode::Uniform::SCOPE_INSTANCE) {
+						if (custom_instance_index >= 0) {
+							uniform2.instance_index = custom_instance_index;
+						} else {
+							uniform2.instance_index = instance_index++;
+							if (instance_index > MAX_INSTANCE_UNIFORM_INDICES) {
+								_set_error("Too many 'instance' uniforms in shader, maximum supported is " + itos(MAX_INSTANCE_UNIFORM_INDICES));
+								return ERR_PARSE_ERROR;
+							}
+						}
+					}
+
+					//reset scope for next uniform
+
 					if (tk.type == TK_OP_ASSIGN) {
 
 						Node *expr = _parse_and_reduce_expression(nullptr, Map<StringName, BuiltInInfo>());
@@ -6094,6 +6207,8 @@ Error ShaderLanguage::_parse_shader(const Map<StringName, FunctionInfo> &p_funct
 					}
 
 					shader->uniforms[name] = uniform2;
+					//reset scope for next uniform
+					uniform_scope = ShaderNode::Uniform::SCOPE_LOCAL;
 
 					if (tk.type != TK_SEMICOLON) {
 						_set_error("Expected ';'");
@@ -6639,11 +6754,12 @@ String ShaderLanguage::get_shader_type(const String &p_code) {
 	return String();
 }
 
-Error ShaderLanguage::compile(const String &p_code, const Map<StringName, FunctionInfo> &p_functions, const Vector<StringName> &p_render_modes, const Set<String> &p_shader_types) {
+Error ShaderLanguage::compile(const String &p_code, const Map<StringName, FunctionInfo> &p_functions, const Vector<StringName> &p_render_modes, const Set<String> &p_shader_types, GlobalVariableGetTypeFunc p_global_variable_type_func) {
 
 	clear();
 
 	code = p_code;
+	global_var_get_type_func = p_global_variable_type_func;
 
 	nodes = nullptr;
 
@@ -6656,13 +6772,14 @@ Error ShaderLanguage::compile(const String &p_code, const Map<StringName, Functi
 	return OK;
 }
 
-Error ShaderLanguage::complete(const String &p_code, const Map<StringName, FunctionInfo> &p_functions, const Vector<StringName> &p_render_modes, const Set<String> &p_shader_types, List<ScriptCodeCompletionOption> *r_options, String &r_call_hint) {
+Error ShaderLanguage::complete(const String &p_code, const Map<StringName, FunctionInfo> &p_functions, const Vector<StringName> &p_render_modes, const Set<String> &p_shader_types, GlobalVariableGetTypeFunc p_global_variable_type_func, List<ScriptCodeCompletionOption> *r_options, String &r_call_hint) {
 
 	clear();
 
 	code = p_code;
 
 	nodes = nullptr;
+	global_var_get_type_func = p_global_variable_type_func;
 
 	shader = alloc_node<ShaderNode>();
 	_parse_shader(p_functions, p_render_modes, p_shader_types);
diff --git a/servers/rendering/shader_language.h b/servers/rendering/shader_language.h
index beabae0dda..48f1d1440f 100644
--- a/servers/rendering/shader_language.h
+++ b/servers/rendering/shader_language.h
@@ -143,6 +143,8 @@ public:
 		TK_SEMICOLON,
 		TK_PERIOD,
 		TK_UNIFORM,
+		TK_INSTANCE,
+		TK_GLOBAL,
 		TK_VARYING,
 		TK_ARG_IN,
 		TK_ARG_OUT,
@@ -162,6 +164,7 @@ public:
 		TK_HINT_BLACK_ALBEDO_TEXTURE,
 		TK_HINT_COLOR,
 		TK_HINT_RANGE,
+		TK_HINT_INSTANCE_INDEX,
 		TK_FILTER_NEAREST,
 		TK_FILTER_LINEAR,
 		TK_FILTER_NEAREST_MIPMAP,
@@ -216,6 +219,7 @@ public:
 		TYPE_USAMPLER3D,
 		TYPE_SAMPLERCUBE,
 		TYPE_STRUCT,
+		TYPE_MAX
 	};
 
 	enum DataPrecision {
@@ -317,6 +321,10 @@ public:
 		REPEAT_DEFAULT,
 	};
 
+	enum {
+		MAX_INSTANCE_UNIFORM_INDICES = 16
+	};
+
 	struct Node {
 		Node *next;
 
@@ -650,15 +658,23 @@ public:
 				HINT_MAX
 			};
 
+			enum Scope {
+				SCOPE_LOCAL,
+				SCOPE_INSTANCE,
+				SCOPE_GLOBAL,
+			};
+
 			int order;
 			int texture_order;
 			DataType type;
 			DataPrecision precision;
 			Vector<ConstantNode::Value> default_value;
+			Scope scope;
 			Hint hint;
 			TextureFilter filter;
 			TextureRepeat repeat;
 			float hint_range[3];
+			int instance_index;
 
 			Uniform() :
 					order(0),
@@ -667,7 +683,8 @@ public:
 					precision(PRECISION_DEFAULT),
 					hint(HINT_NONE),
 					filter(FILTER_DEFAULT),
-					repeat(REPEAT_DEFAULT) {
+					repeat(REPEAT_DEFAULT),
+					instance_index(0) {
 				hint_range[0] = 0.0f;
 				hint_range[1] = 1.0f;
 				hint_range[2] = 0.001f;
@@ -764,6 +781,8 @@ public:
 	};
 	static bool has_builtin(const Map<StringName, ShaderLanguage::FunctionInfo> &p_functions, const StringName &p_name);
 
+	typedef DataType (*GlobalVariableGetTypeFunc)(const StringName &p_name);
+
 private:
 	struct KeyWord {
 		TokenType token;
@@ -772,6 +791,8 @@ private:
 
 	static const KeyWord keyword_list[];
 
+	GlobalVariableGetTypeFunc global_var_get_type_func;
+
 	bool error_set;
 	String error_str;
 	int error_line;
@@ -884,8 +905,8 @@ public:
 	void clear();
 
 	static String get_shader_type(const String &p_code);
-	Error compile(const String &p_code, const Map<StringName, FunctionInfo> &p_functions, const Vector<StringName> &p_render_modes, const Set<String> &p_shader_types);
-	Error complete(const String &p_code, const Map<StringName, FunctionInfo> &p_functions, const Vector<StringName> &p_render_modes, const Set<String> &p_shader_types, List<ScriptCodeCompletionOption> *r_options, String &r_call_hint);
+	Error compile(const String &p_code, const Map<StringName, FunctionInfo> &p_functions, const Vector<StringName> &p_render_modes, const Set<String> &p_shader_types, GlobalVariableGetTypeFunc p_global_variable_type_func);
+	Error complete(const String &p_code, const Map<StringName, FunctionInfo> &p_functions, const Vector<StringName> &p_render_modes, const Set<String> &p_shader_types, GlobalVariableGetTypeFunc p_global_variable_type_func, List<ScriptCodeCompletionOption> *r_options, String &r_call_hint);
 
 	String get_error_text();
 	int get_error_line();
diff --git a/servers/rendering_server.cpp b/servers/rendering_server.cpp
index c288c2986e..0d3b44c0dc 100644
--- a/servers/rendering_server.cpp
+++ b/servers/rendering_server.cpp
@@ -1565,6 +1565,42 @@ Array RenderingServer::_mesh_surface_get_skeleton_aabb_bind(RID p_mesh, int p_su
 	return arr;
 }
 #endif
+
+ShaderLanguage::DataType RenderingServer::global_variable_type_get_shader_datatype(GlobalVariableType p_type) {
+
+	switch (p_type) {
+		case RS::GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_BOOL: return ShaderLanguage::TYPE_BOOL;
+		case RS::GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_BVEC2: return ShaderLanguage::TYPE_BVEC2;
+		case RS::GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_BVEC3: return ShaderLanguage::TYPE_BVEC3;
+		case RS::GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_BVEC4: return ShaderLanguage::TYPE_BVEC4;
+		case RS::GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_INT: return ShaderLanguage::TYPE_INT;
+		case RS::GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_IVEC2: return ShaderLanguage::TYPE_IVEC2;
+		case RS::GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_IVEC3: return ShaderLanguage::TYPE_IVEC3;
+		case RS::GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_IVEC4: return ShaderLanguage::TYPE_IVEC4;
+		case RS::GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_RECT2I: return ShaderLanguage::TYPE_IVEC4;
+		case RS::GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_UINT: return ShaderLanguage::TYPE_UINT;
+		case RS::GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_UVEC2: return ShaderLanguage::TYPE_UVEC2;
+		case RS::GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_UVEC3: return ShaderLanguage::TYPE_UVEC3;
+		case RS::GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_UVEC4: return ShaderLanguage::TYPE_UVEC4;
+		case RS::GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_FLOAT: return ShaderLanguage::TYPE_FLOAT;
+		case RS::GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_VEC2: return ShaderLanguage::TYPE_VEC2;
+		case RS::GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_VEC3: return ShaderLanguage::TYPE_VEC3;
+		case RS::GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_VEC4: return ShaderLanguage::TYPE_VEC4;
+		case RS::GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_COLOR: return ShaderLanguage::TYPE_VEC4;
+		case RS::GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_RECT2: return ShaderLanguage::TYPE_VEC4;
+		case RS::GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_MAT2: return ShaderLanguage::TYPE_MAT2;
+		case RS::GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_MAT3: return ShaderLanguage::TYPE_MAT3;
+		case RS::GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_MAT4: return ShaderLanguage::TYPE_MAT4;
+		case RS::GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_TRANSFORM_2D: return ShaderLanguage::TYPE_MAT3;
+		case RS::GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_TRANSFORM: return ShaderLanguage::TYPE_MAT4;
+		case RS::GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_SAMPLER2D: return ShaderLanguage::TYPE_SAMPLER2D;
+		case RS::GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_SAMPLER2DARRAY: return ShaderLanguage::TYPE_SAMPLER2DARRAY;
+		case RS::GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_SAMPLER3D: return ShaderLanguage::TYPE_SAMPLER3D;
+		case RS::GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_SAMPLERCUBE: return ShaderLanguage::TYPE_SAMPLERCUBE;
+		default: return ShaderLanguage::TYPE_MAX; //invalid or not found
+	}
+}
+
 void RenderingServer::_bind_methods() {
 
 	ClassDB::bind_method(D_METHOD("force_sync"), &RenderingServer::sync);
@@ -1921,6 +1957,13 @@ void RenderingServer::_bind_methods() {
 	ClassDB::bind_method(D_METHOD("canvas_occluder_polygon_set_shape_as_lines", "occluder_polygon", "shape"), &RenderingServer::canvas_occluder_polygon_set_shape_as_lines);
 	ClassDB::bind_method(D_METHOD("canvas_occluder_polygon_set_cull_mode", "occluder_polygon", "mode"), &RenderingServer::canvas_occluder_polygon_set_cull_mode);
 
+	ClassDB::bind_method(D_METHOD("global_variable_add", "name", "type", "default_value"), &RenderingServer::global_variable_add);
+	ClassDB::bind_method(D_METHOD("global_variable_remove", "name"), &RenderingServer::global_variable_remove);
+	ClassDB::bind_method(D_METHOD("global_variable_get_list"), &RenderingServer::global_variable_get_list);
+	ClassDB::bind_method(D_METHOD("global_variable_set", "name", "value"), &RenderingServer::global_variable_set);
+	ClassDB::bind_method(D_METHOD("global_variable_get", "name"), &RenderingServer::global_variable_get);
+	ClassDB::bind_method(D_METHOD("global_variable_get_type", "name"), &RenderingServer::global_variable_get_type);
+
 	ClassDB::bind_method(D_METHOD("black_bars_set_margins", "left", "top", "right", "bottom"), &RenderingServer::black_bars_set_margins);
 	ClassDB::bind_method(D_METHOD("black_bars_set_images", "left", "top", "right", "bottom"), &RenderingServer::black_bars_set_images);
 
@@ -2206,6 +2249,36 @@ void RenderingServer::_bind_methods() {
 	BIND_ENUM_CONSTANT(CANVAS_OCCLUDER_POLYGON_CULL_CLOCKWISE);
 	BIND_ENUM_CONSTANT(CANVAS_OCCLUDER_POLYGON_CULL_COUNTER_CLOCKWISE);
 
+	BIND_ENUM_CONSTANT(GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_BOOL);
+	BIND_ENUM_CONSTANT(GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_BVEC2);
+	BIND_ENUM_CONSTANT(GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_BVEC3);
+	BIND_ENUM_CONSTANT(GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_BVEC4);
+	BIND_ENUM_CONSTANT(GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_INT);
+	BIND_ENUM_CONSTANT(GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_IVEC2);
+	BIND_ENUM_CONSTANT(GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_IVEC3);
+	BIND_ENUM_CONSTANT(GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_IVEC4);
+	BIND_ENUM_CONSTANT(GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_RECT2I);
+	BIND_ENUM_CONSTANT(GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_UINT);
+	BIND_ENUM_CONSTANT(GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_UVEC2);
+	BIND_ENUM_CONSTANT(GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_UVEC3);
+	BIND_ENUM_CONSTANT(GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_UVEC4);
+	BIND_ENUM_CONSTANT(GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_FLOAT);
+	BIND_ENUM_CONSTANT(GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_VEC2);
+	BIND_ENUM_CONSTANT(GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_VEC3);
+	BIND_ENUM_CONSTANT(GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_VEC4);
+	BIND_ENUM_CONSTANT(GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_COLOR);
+	BIND_ENUM_CONSTANT(GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_RECT2);
+	BIND_ENUM_CONSTANT(GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_MAT2);
+	BIND_ENUM_CONSTANT(GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_MAT3);
+	BIND_ENUM_CONSTANT(GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_MAT4);
+	BIND_ENUM_CONSTANT(GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_TRANSFORM_2D);
+	BIND_ENUM_CONSTANT(GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_TRANSFORM);
+	BIND_ENUM_CONSTANT(GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_SAMPLER2D);
+	BIND_ENUM_CONSTANT(GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_SAMPLER2DARRAY);
+	BIND_ENUM_CONSTANT(GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_SAMPLER3D);
+	BIND_ENUM_CONSTANT(GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_SAMPLERCUBE);
+	BIND_ENUM_CONSTANT(GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_MAX);
+
 	BIND_ENUM_CONSTANT(INFO_OBJECTS_IN_FRAME);
 	BIND_ENUM_CONSTANT(INFO_VERTICES_IN_FRAME);
 	BIND_ENUM_CONSTANT(INFO_MATERIAL_CHANGES_IN_FRAME);
@@ -2370,6 +2443,8 @@ RenderingServer::RenderingServer() {
 	ProjectSettings::get_singleton()->set_custom_property_info("rendering/quality/subsurface_scattering/subsurface_scattering_scale", PropertyInfo(Variant::FLOAT, "rendering/quality/subsurface_scattering/subsurface_scattering_scale", PROPERTY_HINT_RANGE, "0.001,1,0.001"));
 	GLOBAL_DEF("rendering/quality/subsurface_scattering/subsurface_scattering_depth_scale", 0.01);
 	ProjectSettings::get_singleton()->set_custom_property_info("rendering/quality/subsurface_scattering/subsurface_scattering_depth_scale", PropertyInfo(Variant::FLOAT, "rendering/quality/subsurface_scattering/subsurface_scattering_depth_scale", PROPERTY_HINT_RANGE, "0.001,1,0.001"));
+
+	GLOBAL_DEF("rendering/high_end/global_shader_variables_buffer_size", 65536);
 }
 
 RenderingServer::~RenderingServer() {
diff --git a/servers/rendering_server.h b/servers/rendering_server.h
index 43c65d8007..3bc182a16b 100644
--- a/servers/rendering_server.h
+++ b/servers/rendering_server.h
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@
 #include "core/rid.h"
 #include "core/variant.h"
 #include "servers/display_server.h"
+#include "servers/rendering/shader_language.h"
 
 class RenderingServer : public Object {
 
@@ -950,6 +951,11 @@ public:
 	virtual void instance_geometry_set_draw_range(RID p_instance, float p_min, float p_max, float p_min_margin, float p_max_margin) = 0;
 	virtual void instance_geometry_set_as_instance_lod(RID p_instance, RID p_as_lod_of_instance) = 0;
 
+	virtual void instance_geometry_set_shader_parameter(RID p_instance, const StringName &, const Variant &p_value) = 0;
+	virtual Variant instance_geometry_get_shader_parameter(RID p_instance, const StringName &) const = 0;
+	virtual Variant instance_geometry_get_shader_parameter_default_value(RID p_instance, const StringName &) const = 0;
+	virtual void instance_geometry_get_shader_parameter_list(RID p_instance, List<PropertyInfo> *p_parameters) const = 0;
+
 	/* CANVAS (2D) */
 
 	virtual RID canvas_create() = 0;
@@ -1090,6 +1096,55 @@ public:
 	};
 	virtual void canvas_occluder_polygon_set_cull_mode(RID p_occluder_polygon, CanvasOccluderPolygonCullMode p_mode) = 0;
 
+	/* GLOBAL VARIABLES */
+
+	enum GlobalVariableType {
+		GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_BOOL,
+		GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_BVEC2,
+		GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_BVEC3,
+		GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_BVEC4,
+		GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_INT,
+		GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_IVEC2,
+		GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_IVEC3,
+		GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_IVEC4,
+		GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_RECT2I,
+		GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_UINT,
+		GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_UVEC2,
+		GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_UVEC3,
+		GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_UVEC4,
+		GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_FLOAT,
+		GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_VEC2,
+		GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_VEC3,
+		GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_VEC4,
+		GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_COLOR,
+		GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_RECT2,
+		GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_MAT2,
+		GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_MAT3,
+		GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_MAT4,
+		GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_TRANSFORM_2D,
+		GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_TRANSFORM,
+		GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_SAMPLER2D,
+		GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_SAMPLER2DARRAY,
+		GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_SAMPLER3D,
+		GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_SAMPLERCUBE,
+		GLOBAL_VAR_TYPE_MAX
+	};
+
+	virtual void global_variable_add(const StringName &p_name, GlobalVariableType p_type, const Variant &p_value) = 0;
+	virtual void global_variable_remove(const StringName &p_name) = 0;
+	virtual Vector<StringName> global_variable_get_list() const = 0;
+
+	virtual void global_variable_set(const StringName &p_name, const Variant &p_value) = 0;
+	virtual void global_variable_set_override(const StringName &p_name, const Variant &p_value) = 0;
+
+	virtual Variant global_variable_get(const StringName &p_name) const = 0;
+	virtual GlobalVariableType global_variable_get_type(const StringName &p_name) const = 0;
+
+	virtual void global_variables_load_settings(bool p_load_textures) = 0;
+	virtual void global_variables_clear() = 0;
+
+	static ShaderLanguage::DataType global_variable_type_get_shader_datatype(GlobalVariableType p_type);
+
 	/* BLACK BARS */
 
 	virtual void black_bars_set_margins(int p_left, int p_top, int p_right, int p_bottom) = 0;
@@ -1217,6 +1272,7 @@ VARIANT_ENUM_CAST(RenderingServer::CanvasItemTextureRepeat);
 VARIANT_ENUM_CAST(RenderingServer::CanvasLightMode);
 VARIANT_ENUM_CAST(RenderingServer::CanvasLightShadowFilter);
 VARIANT_ENUM_CAST(RenderingServer::CanvasOccluderPolygonCullMode);
+VARIANT_ENUM_CAST(RenderingServer::GlobalVariableType);
 VARIANT_ENUM_CAST(RenderingServer::RenderInfo);
 VARIANT_ENUM_CAST(RenderingServer::Features);