Procedural grass & vegetation rendering in Unity URP using DrawMeshInstancedIndirect with FilterMap artist-editable mask control.
Unlike many "Mobile DrawMeshInstancedIndirect" examples, this project is truly mobile-friendly:
it avoids SSBO (StructuredBuffer) and uses RenderTexture to store results, making it compatible with a wide range of Android devices.
You can directly test the demo on Android devices using the APK below:
Download UnityURP-Procedural-DrawMeshInstancedIndirect.apk (Google Drive)
- Procedural instance generation — no pre-generated assets or transform buffers
- FilterMap editing support — paint distribution masks directly in the editor
- WeightMap multi-color control — different colors = different vegetation types
- DrawMeshInstancedIndirect pipeline — maximum GPU efficiency for large-scale rendering
- Verified on mid-range Android devices (Galaxy S10 shown above)
Many existing "Mobile DrawMeshInstancedIndirect" examples rely on StructuredBuffers (SSBO)
to store instance data. This works on PC and some high-end devices, but fails on many Android phones
(e.g., Samsung Galaxy S10).
This project is designed for broad mobile compatibility:
- Stores results in RenderTexture (not SSBO)
- Runs smoothly on mid-range Android hardware
- Avoids PC-only assumptions — every feature has been validated on real devices
If your goal is to support the majority of mobile devices,
this design choice makes a critical difference.
Traditional approaches often require either:
- Pre-generated transform arrays (huge memory cost)
- Manual placement (time-consuming for artists)
With FilterMap, distribution becomes procedural + editable:
- Artists paint masks (brush tools, multiple colors)
- The GPU generates variation & randomness
- No manual placement required, instant feedback in-editor
This workflow bridges procedural generation with artistic direction.
Read the full technical article on Google Blog
If you need a ready-to-use, production-level system with:
- Powerful Compute Shader brush tools for painting vegetation
- Automatic Ground(Any Mesh) height & normal alignment
- Support for four vegetation types (billboard-based)
- Built-in wind animation and large-scale character interaction
- User-friendly Unity Editor integration
Check out GPUPlantPainter on the Unity Asset Store.
For advanced workflows with procedural random curve vegetation effects (Ghost of Tsushima style),
see: GPUGrassBladePainter on the Unity Asset Store.