pixijs-migration-v8
pixijs/pixijs-skills
Migrate PixiJS v7 code to v8: async init, new Graphics API, single package, shader rework.
What is pixijs-migration-v8?
A breaking-change checklist for upgrading PixiJS v7 codebases to v8. Covers async Application.init(), the consolidated pixi.js package (deprecating @pixi/* sub-packages), the new Graphics shape-then-fill API, texture/shader changes, and event system updates. Use this when upgrading or diagnosing broken v7 code after migration.
- Guides async app.init() and Application type parameters
- Consolidates imports from deprecated @pixi/* sub-packages to single pixi.js
- Converts Graphics API from beginFill/endFill to shape-then-fill pattern
- Maps BaseTexture → TextureSource and handles texture loading changes
- Updates shader/filter constructors and uniform definitions
- Refactors ParticleContainer and Particle usage patterns
How to install pixijs-migration-v8
npx skills add https://github.com/pixijs/pixijs-skills --skill pixijs-migration-v8- PixiJS v8 installed (npm install pixi.js@latest)
- Existing PixiJS v7 codebase to migrate
- Familiarity with PixiJS v7 API patterns
How to use pixijs-migration-v8
- 1.Review the Quick Start example to understand the new async init pattern
- 2.Work through the Migration Checklist top-to-bottom: Initialization → Imports → Graphics → Text → Sprites/Mesh → Events → Shaders
- 3.Replace all @pixi/* imports with single pixi.js import
- 4.Convert Graphics calls: beginFill → fill, drawRect → rect, lineStyle → stroke, beginHole/endHole → cut
- 5.Update Application initialization to use async app.init() instead of constructor options
- 6.Change eventMode from interactive: true to eventMode: 'static' or 'dynamic'
- 7.Fix Ticker callbacks to use ticker.deltaTime instead of treating callback parameter as a number
- 8.Test each section incrementally to catch breaking changes early
Use cases
- Upgrading a v7 PixiJS project to v8 to use new features and performance improvements
- Diagnosing runtime errors after upgrading (e.g., NaN rotation from incorrect Ticker callback signature)
- Refactoring Graphics code from beginFill/drawRect to the new rect/fill chainable API
- Converting custom shaders and filters to the new options-based constructor pattern
- Migrating from @pixi/* sub-package imports to the consolidated pixi.js package
- PixiJS developers upgrading from v7 to v8
- Game developers using PixiJS for rendering
- Graphics/animation engineers maintaining legacy PixiJS codebases
- Teams adopting v8 features like improved performance and new APIs
pixijs-migration-v8 FAQ
In v8, the Ticker callback receives a Ticker object, not a number. Use ticker.deltaTime instead: app.ticker.add((ticker) => { bunny.rotation += ticker.deltaTime; })
No, all @pixi/* core sub-packages are deprecated in v8. Import from the single pixi.js package instead. Supplemental packages like @pixi/sound remain valid.
Use the new shape-then-fill pattern: graphics.rect(0, 0, 100, 100).fill({ color: 0xff0000 }).stroke({ width: 2, color: 0x000000 })
Yes, v8 uses options objects. Change new Text('Hello', style) to new Text({ text: 'Hello', style: {...} })
Set skipExtensionImports: true in app.init() when building custom bundles. Then explicitly import only the extensions you need (e.g., import 'pixi.js/graphics') to reduce bundle size.
Full instructions (SKILL.md)
Source of truth, from pixijs/pixijs-skills.
name: pixijs-migration-v8 description: "Use this skill when upgrading to PixiJS v8 from v7 or diagnosing broken v7 code after an upgrade. Covers async app.init, single pixi.js package (deprecated @pixi/* sub-packages), Graphics shape-then-fill, BaseTexture → TextureSource, shader/uniform rework, ParticleContainer+Particle, constructor options objects, DisplayObject removal, settings/utils removal, Ticker signature, events rewrite. Triggers on: migrate v7, v8 breaking changes, @pixi/ import, DisplayObject, beginFill, endFill, cacheAsBitmap, BaseTexture, deprecated." license: MIT
This skill is a breaking-change checklist for bringing a v7 codebase up to v8. Work top-down through the categories; the list maps each v7 pattern to its v8 replacement.
Quick Start
Install the single package, then port in this order: imports → Application init → Graphics → Text → events → shaders/filters → cleanup.
const app = new Application();
await app.init({ width: 800, height: 600 });
document.body.appendChild(app.canvas);
const g = new Graphics()
.rect(0, 0, 100, 100)
.fill({ color: 0xff0000 })
.stroke({ width: 2, color: 0x000000 });
app.stage.addChild(g);
Related skills: pixijs-application (async init), pixijs-scene-graphics (new fill/stroke API), pixijs-custom-rendering (shader rework), pixijs-scene-text (Text constructor changes), pixijs-performance (destroy patterns).
Migration Checklist: v7 to v8
Work through each category. Each item shows the expected v8 pattern and the v7 pattern that must be replaced.
Initialization
Async app.init() -- Expected:
const app = new Application();
await app.init({ width: 800, height: 600 });
document.body.appendChild(app.canvas);
Fail: passing options to new Application({...}) and using synchronously.
app.canvas replaces app.view -- app.view emits a deprecation warning.
Application type parameter -- Expected: new Application<Renderer<HTMLCanvasElement>>(). Fail: new Application<HTMLCanvasElement>().
Imports
Single package -- Expected:
import { Sprite, Application, Assets, Graphics } from "pixi.js";
Fail: importing from any of the deprecated v7 core @pixi/* sub-packages (see list below). Supplemental packages like @pixi/sound are still valid and should continue to be used.
Deprecated @pixi/* packages (never use, any version):
@pixi/accessibility, @pixi/app, @pixi/assets, @pixi/compressed-textures, @pixi/core, @pixi/display, @pixi/events, @pixi/extensions, @pixi/extract, @pixi/filter-alpha, @pixi/filter-blur, @pixi/filter-color-matrix, @pixi/filter-displacement, @pixi/filter-fxaa, @pixi/filter-noise, @pixi/graphics, @pixi/mesh, @pixi/mesh-extras, @pixi/mixin-cache-as-bitmap, @pixi/mixin-get-child-by-name, @pixi/mixin-get-global-position, @pixi/particle-container, @pixi/prepare, @pixi/sprite, @pixi/sprite-animated, @pixi/sprite-tiling, @pixi/spritesheet, @pixi/text, @pixi/text-bitmap, @pixi/text-html.
Custom builds -- Set skipExtensionImports: true and import only needed extensions:
import "pixi.js/graphics";
import "pixi.js/text";
import "pixi.js/events";
import { Application } from "pixi.js";
await app.init({ skipExtensionImports: true });
Note: manageImports: false is still accepted but @deprecated since 8.1.6; prefer skipExtensionImports: true.
Extensions not auto-imported (require explicit import even with default auto-imports enabled):
pixi.js/advanced-blend-modes, pixi.js/unsafe-eval, pixi.js/prepare, pixi.js/math-extras, pixi.js/dds, pixi.js/ktx, pixi.js/ktx2, pixi.js/basis.
Community filters -- Expected: import { AdjustmentFilter } from 'pixi-filters/adjustment'. Fail: @pixi/filter-adjustment.
Graphics API
Shape-then-fill -- Expected:
const g = new Graphics().rect(50, 50, 100, 100).fill(0xff0000);
Fail: beginFill(0xff0000).drawRect(50, 50, 100, 100).endFill().
Renamed shape methods:
| v7 | v8 |
|---|---|
drawRect | rect |
drawCircle | circle |
drawEllipse | ellipse |
drawPolygon | poly |
drawRoundedRect | roundRect |
drawStar | star |
drawRegularPolygon | regularPoly |
drawRoundedPolygon | roundPoly |
drawRoundedShape | roundShape |
drawChamferRect | chamferRect |
drawFilletRect | filletRect |
Fill replaces beginFill/beginTextureFill -- Expected:
graphics
.rect(0, 0, 100, 100)
.fill({ texture: Texture.WHITE, alpha: 0.5, color: 0xff0000 });
Fail: beginFill(color, alpha) or beginTextureFill({ texture, alpha, color }).
Stroke replaces lineStyle -- Expected:
graphics.rect(0, 0, 100, 100).fill("blue").stroke({ width: 2, color: "white" });
Fail: lineStyle(2, 'white') or lineTextureStyle({ texture, width, color }).
Holes use cut() -- Expected:
graphics.rect(0, 0, 100, 100).fill(0x00ff00).circle(50, 50, 20).cut();
Fail: beginHole() / endHole().
GraphicsContext replaces GraphicsGeometry -- Expected:
const context = new GraphicsContext().rect(0, 0, 100, 100).fill(0xff0000);
const g1 = new Graphics(context);
const g2 = new Graphics(context);
Fail: new Graphics(graphics.geometry).
Text
Options object constructor -- Expected:
const text = new Text({ text: "Hello", style: { fontSize: 24 } });
const bmp = new BitmapText({ text: "Hello", style: { fontFamily: "MyFont" } });
const html = new HTMLText({ text: "<b>Hello</b>", style: { fontSize: 24 } });
Fail: new Text('Hello', { fontSize: 24 }) (positional args).
Bitmap font loading -- Must import 'pixi.js/text-bitmap' before Assets.load('font.fnt').
Sprites / Mesh
Texture.from no longer loads URLs -- Must call await Assets.load('image.png') first, then Texture.from('image.png').
NineSliceSprite replaces NineSlicePlane -- Expected:
const ns = new NineSliceSprite({
texture,
leftWidth: 10,
topHeight: 10,
rightWidth: 10,
bottomHeight: 10,
});
Mesh renames: SimpleMesh -> MeshSimple, SimplePlane -> MeshPlane, SimpleRope -> MeshRope. All use options objects.
MeshGeometry options -- Expected:
const geom = new MeshGeometry({
positions: vertices,
uvs,
indices,
topology: "triangle-list",
});
Fail: new MeshGeometry(vertices, uvs, indices).
ParticleContainer uses Particle -- Expected:
const container = new ParticleContainer({
boundsArea: new Rectangle(0, 0, 800, 600),
});
const particle = new Particle(texture);
container.addParticle(particle);
Fail: container.addChild(new Sprite(texture)).
Events
eventMode replaces interactive -- Expected:
sprite.eventMode = "static";
sprite.cursor = "pointer";
sprite.on("pointertap", () => {
/* handle */
});
Legacy: sprite.interactive = true; (still works as an alias for eventMode = 'static', but prefer the explicit form).
Default eventMode is 'passive' (no events). Must set 'static' or 'dynamic' explicitly.
Ticker callback -- Expected:
app.ticker.add((ticker) => {
bunny.rotation += ticker.deltaTime;
});
Broken: app.ticker.add((dt) => { bunny.rotation += dt; }) -- compiles but dt is a Ticker object, not a number. Coerces to NaN, silently corrupting rotation.
updateTransform removed -- Use this.onRender = this._onRender.bind(this) in constructor instead.
Shaders
Shader.from uses options -- Expected:
const shader = Shader.from({
gl: { vertex: vertexSrc, fragment: fragmentSrc },
resources: {
myUniforms: new UniformGroup({ uTime: { value: 0, type: "f32" } }),
},
});
Fail: Shader.from(vertex, fragment, uniforms).
Filter constructor -- Expected:
const filter = new Filter({
glProgram: GlProgram.from({ fragment, vertex }),
resources: { filterUniforms: { uTime: { value: 0, type: "f32" } } },
});
Fail: new Filter(vertex, fragment, { uTime: 0 }).
Uniforms require type -- new UniformGroup({ uTime: { value: 1, type: 'f32' } }). Fail: new UniformGroup({ uTime: 1 }).
Textures are resources, not uniforms -- Pass as top-level resource entries (texture.source, texture.style), not inside UniformGroup.
Textures
Sprite no longer auto-detects texture UV changes -- If you modify a texture's frame after creation, call texture.update() to recalculate UVs, then call sprite.onViewUpdate() to refresh the sprite. Both calls are required in this order. Updating source data (e.g. video textures) is still automatic.
texture.frame.width = texture.frame.width / 2;
texture.update(); // recalculate texture UVs first
sprite.onViewUpdate(); // then refresh the sprite's display
Mipmaps -- BaseTexture.mipmap renamed to autoGenerateMipmaps. For RenderTextures, you must manually update mipmaps:
const rt = RenderTexture.create({
width: 100,
height: 100,
autoGenerateMipmaps: true,
});
renderer.render({ target: rt, container: scene });
rt.source.updateMipmaps();
Adapters
DOMAdapter replaces settings.ADAPTER -- Expected:
import { DOMAdapter, WebWorkerAdapter } from "pixi.js";
DOMAdapter.set(WebWorkerAdapter);
DOMAdapter.get().createCanvas();
Fail: settings.ADAPTER = WebWorkerAdapter; settings.ADAPTER.createCanvas();.
Built-in adapters: BrowserAdapter (default), WebWorkerAdapter (for web workers).
Other
DisplayObject removed -- Container is the base class. class MyObj extends DisplayObject fails.
Leaf nodes cannot have children -- Sprite, Graphics, Mesh, Text are leaf nodes. Wrap in Container.
Renamed properties (old names still exist as deprecated aliases with warnings):
container.name->container.labelcontainer.cacheAsBitmap = true->container.cacheAsTexture(true)
getBounds() return type changed: getBounds() now returns a Bounds object, not a Rectangle. Bounds has .x, .y, .width, .height getters, so basic usage works. Use .rectangle when you need a Rectangle instance (e.g., for .contains()).
settings object removed -- Use AbstractRenderer.defaultOptions.resolution = 1 and DOMAdapter.set(BrowserAdapter).
utils namespace removed -- import { isMobile } from 'pixi.js' instead of utils.isMobile.
Text parser renames:
TextFormat->bitmapFontTextParserXMLStringFormat->bitmapFontXMLStringParserXMLFormat->bitmapFontXMLParser
Assets.add -- Assets.add({ alias: 'bunny', src: 'bunny.png' }). Fail: Assets.add('bunny', 'bunny.png').
Enum constants replaced with strings:
| v7 | v8 |
|---|---|
SCALE_MODES.NEAREST | 'nearest' |
SCALE_MODES.LINEAR | 'linear' |
WRAP_MODES.CLAMP | 'clamp-to-edge' |
WRAP_MODES.REPEAT | 'repeat' |
WRAP_MODES.MIRRORED_REPEAT | 'mirror-repeat' |
DRAW_MODES.TRIANGLES | 'triangle-list' |
DRAW_MODES.TRIANGLE_STRIP | 'triangle-strip' |
DRAW_MODES.LINES | 'line-list' |
DRAW_MODES.LINE_STRIP | 'line-strip' |
DRAW_MODES.POINTS | 'point-list' |
Culling is manual -- Set cullable = true, then call Culler.shared.cull(container, viewRect) before render. Or add CullerPlugin via extensions.add(CullerPlugin).
Pre-Migration Summary
- No deprecated v7 core
@pixi/*packages in dependencies (supplemental packages like@pixi/soundare fine) - All core
@pixi/*imports converted topixi.js - All
new Application({...})converted toawait app.init({...}) - All Graphics code uses shape-then-fill pattern
- All constructors use options objects (Text, Mesh, NineSliceSprite, etc.)
- Shader/Filter code uses
{gl, resources}pattern with typed uniforms - ParticleContainer code uses
Particle, notSprite - Ticker callbacks access
ticker.deltaTime, not first param as delta - Event handling uses
eventModeinstead ofinteractive -
settingsandutilsreferences removed -
DisplayObjectreferences replaced withContainer - Texture UV modifications call
sprite.onViewUpdate()where needed - RenderTexture mipmap code calls
source.updateMipmaps()manually -
settings.ADAPTERreplaced withDOMAdapter.set()
Common Mistakes
[CRITICAL] Importing from deprecated v7 core @pixi/* sub-packages
Wrong:
import { Sprite } from "@pixi/sprite";
import { Application } from "@pixi/app";
Correct:
import { Sprite, Application } from "pixi.js";
v8 uses a single pixi.js package. The v7 core @pixi/* sub-packages are deprecated and must not be used (see the full list under Imports above). Supplemental packages like @pixi/sound are still valid.
[CRITICAL] Using DisplayObject as base class
Wrong: class MyObject extends DisplayObject { ... }
Correct: class MyObject extends Container { ... }
DisplayObject was removed in v8. Container is the base class for all display objects.
[HIGH] Using old SCALE_MODES/WRAP_MODES/DRAW_MODES enums
Wrong: texture.source.scaleMode = SCALE_MODES.NEAREST;
Correct: texture.source.scaleMode = 'nearest';
v8 uses string values. Old enums may work as deprecated aliases but should be replaced.
[HIGH] Using interactive = true instead of eventMode
Legacy: sprite.interactive = true; (still works as an alias for eventMode = 'static')
Preferred: sprite.eventMode = 'static';
Default eventMode is 'passive' (no events). Must set 'static' (hit-testable, no tick checks) or 'dynamic' (hit-testable with tick checks) explicitly. interactive = true still works without a deprecation warning, but eventMode is the canonical v8 API.
[HIGH] Using utils namespace
Wrong: import { utils } from 'pixi.js'; utils.isMobile.any();
Correct: import { isMobile } from 'pixi.js'; isMobile.any();
The utils namespace was removed. All utility functions are direct imports.
[HIGH] Expecting texture UV changes to auto-update sprites
Wrong: modifying texture.frame and assuming the sprite updates automatically.
Correct: call sprite.onViewUpdate() after modifying texture UVs.
Sprites no longer subscribe to texture UV change events for performance. Source data updates (e.g. video) still auto-reflect.
API Reference
Related skills
More from pixijs/pixijs-skills and the wider catalog.

pixijs-performance
Profile and optimize PixiJS v8 apps for FPS, draw calls, and GPU memory with targeted patterns.

pixijs-scene-container
Group, position, and transform display objects in PixiJS v8 scenes.

pixijs-scene-core-concepts
Understand PixiJS v8 scene graph architecture: containers, leaves, transforms, and render order.

pixijs-scene-dom-container
Overlay HTML elements on PixiJS v8 canvas with scene-graph-driven CSS transforms.

pixijs-scene-gif
Play animated GIFs in PixiJS v8 with frame-by-frame control and callbacks.

pixijs-scene-graphics
Draw vector shapes and paths in PixiJS v8 with the Graphics API.