# Wallpaper Engine Wallpaper Engine 2.8 - Dynamic Model Generation & Text Rendering Improvements - Product: Wallpaper Engine (https://whatsnew.fyi/product/wallpaper-engine) - Vendor: Wallpaper Engine - Date: 2026-05-28 - Original notes: https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/431960/view/705520776093106485 - Permalink: https://whatsnew.fyi/product/wallpaper-engine/releases/2026-05-28-wallpaper-engine-2.8-dynamic-model-generation-tex What's New is an index, not a publisher: every entry below links to the vendor's own release notes, which are the authoritative source. Entries are labelled where they are hand-curated sample data, pre-releases, or drawn from a secondary source such as a developer blog. Reuse: the summaries, labels and curation here are © What's New. Quote freely with attribution and a link back; wholesale republication of the corpus is not permitted — terms: https://whatsnew.fyi/terms. The vendors' own release notes remain their publishers'. --- - **changed** — User interface process renamed from ui32.exe to wallpaperui.exe and switched to 64-bit executable - **added** — Dynamic model generation via SceneScript with createModelData and destroyModelData functions to generate custom 2D and 3D shapes and models from code - **added** — Text layer features including outlines, drop shadows, blur, letter spacing, and effect padding - **added** — Smooth font scaling for text layers to keep text crisp at any size using optional msdf rendering system - **added** — New video framework option with DirectX 11 video backend supporting true HDR videos, flip functionality, and image filters - **added** — Directories in asset window and ability to create custom materials for dynamic models - **added** — Support for numbers in min and max for all SceneScript vector classes - **added** — Generic linear algebra functions added to JavaScript vector and matrix classes - **changed** — Android app now requires Android 10 as minimum version - **changed** — Improved overall performance of skeletal animations - **changed** — Made all model data and GPU buffers shared to improve efficiency - **changed** — Optimized V8 engine integration to improve script performance - **changed** — Overhauled shader precompiler to run faster and handle complex directive setups more accurately - **added** — Precache option for the registerAsset function - **added** — Built-in DevTools replacing the previous remote debugging port - **fixed** — YouTube previews not working - **fixed** — Media engine deadlock during device loss such as graphics driver crashes or updates - **fixed** — Custom textures on solid placeholders not importing correctly from Steam Workshop assets While Wallpaper Engine 2.8 was primarily planned as a maintenance release with various bug fixes and improvements under the hood, we also found the time to add some cool new features which you should soon start seeing on new wallpapers. ##### Switch to 64-bit We have been performing a lot of background maintenance recently to improve performance, fix issues and overall future-proof the app. While some Wallpaper Engine processes were already available in 64-bit, we are now largely moving to 64-bit executables. Because of this, we have renamed the user interface process from **ui32.exe** to **wallpaperui.exe**. If you run into any issues with updating the app, be sure to exclude the _wallpaper_engine_ directory and specifically _wallpaperui.exe_ from any antivirus app or firewall. ##### New Features ##### Dynamic Models The first new feature we are introducing is dynamic model generation as part of Wallpaper Engine's SceneScript language. This allows wallpaper creators to generate custom 2D and 3D shapes and models entirely from code. Up until now, you had to import pre-made 3D models, but with this update, wallpapers can draw and animate geometry completely on the fly. For everyday users, this means you can look forward to wildly new types of dynamic, interactive and audio-reactive wallpapers hitting the Workshop. _Generate 3D models via SceneScript code, including full support for advanced materials with lighting._ _3D models can also be altered dynamically as shown in this 3D audio bars example._ As shown in the examples above, you now have the ability to create not just very basic models but even procedural and interactive geometry. If you are interested in learning more about this functionality, be sure to check out our designer documentation on the new SceneScript-based dynamic model feature: - [Click here to learn more.](https://docs.wallpaperengine.io/scene/scenescript/tutorial/models.html) ##### Text Rendering Improvements Text layers have received some major new features. You can now enable smooth font scaling to keep your text perfectly crisp at any size. We have also added a bunch of new styling options, including blur, drop shadows, letter spacing, and the highly requested font outline support to really make your text stand out. All of these properties can also be animated on the fly: Because font files are notoriously complex, the new rendering techniques might have occasional quirks with specific custom fonts, but the new system, msdf, is optional and can either be enabled manually on a text layer or by using any of the new styling features. ##### Video Improvements: True HDR Video Support & More We have also introduced a new video framework option. Behind the scenes, this switches video rendering to the custom video renderer we already use for video textures. On top of that, we have also added true HDR support to our renderer. This results in a much improved video rendering system which supports HDR videos along with the ability to flip videos and apply image filters directly to them. While we are very confident in the new system, we did not want to risk introducing any stability issues for existing setups, which is why the new framework remains disabled by default for existing users for the time being. However, it will be enabled by default for new installations. If you want to try it out now, head over to the "General" tab in the Wallpaper Engine settings and change the **"Video framework"** option to **"Scene DX11 (HDR Support)"**. ##### Additions / Changes ##### General Changes & Updates - The user interface is now a 64-bit application and the executable has been renamed to wallpaperui.exe. - Added a new video framework option with a DirectX 11 video backend based on the Scene video texture system. This supports true HDR videos, flip functionality, and image filters. It is disabled for existing users for now, but you can opt in by selecting the new "Scene DX11" video framework option in _[Truncated at 4000 characters — full notes: https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/431960/view/705520776093106485]_