Why do shadows disappear past 100m in Godot?

DirectionalLight3D shadow_max_distance default 100. Increase to scene size; raise directional_shadow_split_1/2/3 ratios so cascades cover more area.

4 cascades by default. Each covers a depth range. Tune split distances based on important shadow distances; default works for most scenes ~100m.

Performance vs distance?

Larger distance = less per-pixel shadow detail. Increase shadow map size to compensate (1024 -> 2048). Or use Distance Field shadows for very long-range.

Fix: Godot MeshInstance3D Shadow Clips At Distance

Quick answer: DirectionalLight3D → shadow_max_distance = 500. Tune split ratios for distant cascades.

Open world; trees beyond 100m have no shadow. Default cap was 100. Raise it.

The Fix

DirectionalLight3D:
  shadow_enabled:                true
  shadow_max_distance:           500
  directional_shadow_split_1:    0.1
  directional_shadow_split_2:    0.3
  directional_shadow_split_3:    0.6
  directional_shadow_size:       4096
  directional_shadow_mode:       SHADOW_PARALLEL_4_SPLITS

Larger distance + larger map balance distant shadow accuracy.

Verifying

Distant trees cast shadows. Frame rate cost slightly higher; acceptable.

“Distance up. Splits tuned. Shadows reach.”

Related Issues

For shader UV flip, see UV flip. For ortho clipping, see ortho.

Distance up. Shadows reach.