Thanks to the active feedback from the Cocos developer community, Cocos Creator 3.8.6 has been released as scheduled after nearly three months of joint efforts.

As an open-source engine, the Cocos team hopes more developers from the community can join in and collectively drive Cocos forward [Fist bump].

Cocos Creator 3.8.6 Key Updates:

1. Package Size Optimization
2. Spine Enhancements
3. Skew Component
4. Node.x/y/z Property Access
5. Box2D C++ Native Platform Support
6. New Mini Game Platform Supported
7. HarmonyOS NEXT Performance Boost
8. Various Bug Fixes & Performance Improvements

See? Every single update is exactly what you've been asking for!

Package Size Optimization

1. Compress Engine Internal Properties

Added the ”Compress Engine Internal Properties“ feature. When enabled, it reduces package size by 160 KB.

2. Granular 2D Module Trimming

Added options for RichText, Mask, Graphics, UISkew, AffineTransform, etc., allowing further optimization of 2D game package size.

3. Multi-configuration Feature Trimming

The engine now supports multiple feature trimming configurations. You can associate specific configuration schemes in the publish panel to apply different trimming solutions across platforms.

Spine Enhancements

1. Spine 4.2 Support

Cocos Creator 3.8.6 now supports both Spine 3.8 and Spine 4.2. You can select the Spine version in the Engine Feature Trimming panel.

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Important Notes:
1.To upgrade existing projects to Spine 4.2, first use the Spine editor to re-export your Spine assets in 4.2 format, then overwrite the files in the corresponding project assets directory
2.After switching Spine versions, restart the editor or scene process
3.Spine 4.2 has removed Effect functionality - JitterEffect and SwirlEffect are no longer available
4.The Mini Game Engine Separation plugin currently doesn't support Spine 4.2

2. Spine Physics Support

Now supports Spine physics effects, enabling smoother and more fluid animations.

3. Improved Spine Preview Window

Added new features including camera reset, premultiplied alpha, and debug information toggle.

Additionally, version 3.8.6 introduces support for multiple Spine instances sharing a single texture atlas, and fixes an issue where dynamic Uniform settings for custom materials in Spine were not functioning properly.

Other Optimizations

Added UISkew Component

Introduced new UISkew component

Added support for rotational skew deformation

Usability Improvements

1. Added getter/setter for Node.x/y/z properties
2. Expanded tween module coverage with added toString method for debugging
3. Added iPad support for iOS build targets
4. Implemented texel offset feature for Tilemap
5. Preference settings now support modifying default TrimType configuration for SpriteFrame imports
6. Updated astcenc to v5.2.0, improving ASTC texture compression speed during builds

Code Optimizations

1. Enhanced type safety for component accessors using generics:

//before 
const clz = node.getComponent('clz') as CLZ | null
//after 
const clz = node.getComponent<CLZ>('clz')

2. Improved type safety for isValid checks
3. Enhanced type safety for js.isNumber and js.isString methods
4. Fixed as any typing in ui-component.ts to preserve UIComponent type
5. Refactored 2D Assembler for better readability and maintainability

Box2D Native Platform Performance Boost

Added Box2D JSB version support, significantly improving 2D physics performance on native platforms

Option explanations:

1. Box2D-based 2D Physics System  TS version
2. Box2D-wasm-based 2D Physics System  WASM version
3. Box2D JSB-based 2D Physics System  C++ version

The Box2D JSB version delivers exceptional performance on native platforms, particularly on iOS devices without JIT compilation.

Platform Enhancements

1. Added Honor Mini Games platform support with one-click publishing

2. Optimized HarmonyOS Next platform for performance, memory usage, and power efficiency

3. Improved communication mechanism between ArkTS and engine

4. Enhanced debugging convenience for JSVM API

5. Implemented Google Play features: auto-login, achievements, and PGS Recall APIs

6. Strengthened WebGPU support

v3.8.7 Spoilers

It's coming, it's coming, it's coming!

1. Continued package and performance optimizations
2. Faster resource loading
3. Multi-tag editing for Prefabs
4. AI-friendly editor plugin development kit and tutorials

Must stop now!

Revealing this much about v3.8.7's features is already pushing the limits—any more, and I might get in trouble.

Reply to this post, and your wish might just make it into the next version!

To all C-friends, see you in v3.8.7 Community Edition—don’t miss it!

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