Simple Clouds is a cloud rendering overhaul mod for Minecraft: Java Edition, adding new cloud types, breathtaking visuals, and localized weather. It attempts to mimic real-life weather and cloud formations in a stylized, ambient, and aesthetic way that is meant to build on to the vanilla Minecraft experience.
Simple Clouds is currently in open BETA, and you may experience bugs, crashes, and instability. There are still lots of features I want to implement.
- Overhauled cloud system
- 7 unique cloud types based on their real-life counterparts
- Clouds span over 20,000 blocks and use LODs to increase performance
- ”Storm fog” (as I’ve coined it) appears under stormy clouds, making them look super threatening from a distance
- Localized weather effects
- Rain and snow now only appear under clouds with precipitation, with their rendering completely overhauled
- Custom lightning and delayed thunder which can be seen up close and from a distance
- More to come!
Although Simple Clouds adds cloud types based on their real-life counterparts, Simple Clouds is by no means meant to be a realistic representation of the complex weather phenomenon that happens every day. It is purely a stylized and aesthetic version of what happens in real life.
Simple Clouds can either be loaded client-side only, or included on the server-side for synchronization between players on multiplayer and for local weather effects (rain/lightning under stormy clouds). Certain limitations exist when using the mod client-side only, which is when you connect to a server that does not have Simple Clouds installed:
Client-Side Only Limitations
- Localized weather is disabled and the vanilla, global weather system will be used.
- Cloud positions are not saved and the seed is randomized each time you login to a world. A custom cloud seed can be used that will keep the clouds the same each time you login if wanted.
Server-Side Capabilities
With Simple Clouds is installed on the server-side (singleplayer or connecting to a multiplayer server with Simple Clouds), you will have:
- Localized weather + effects when under stormy clouds
- Cloud saving/synchronization with a unique seed per world
Customizability
Simple Clouds has multiple configs to customize different aspects of the mod, ranging from performance to preference. You can access the config via the light blue S in the options screen.
Simple Clouds also has a built-in cloud editor, which can be accessed in the main config menu. You can customize existing or create your own cloud types, and export them for use in datapacks/resourcepacks. Documentation coming soon.
Ports
Simple Clouds is currently only available for Forge (1.20.1) and NeoForge (1.21+). Please don’t ask for a Fabric port or backports to older versions. Versions for newer versions of the game will come when they are ready.
How Does It Work?
Simple Clouds works by using compute shaders to generate the clouds in semi-realtime. It does this by iterating over a grid of voxels, testing each cube against layers of 3D noise, and adding vertices to create the clouds. This work is done on the GPU which handles parallel tasks such as these more efficiently than the CPU.
Despite being super fast, Simple Clouds can still have a noticeable effect on your frames, especially if you have an older GPU. The client config has options for fine-tweaking the mod to see if you can get something that works well for your system. In general, systems with more modern GPUs should handle Simple Clouds with ease. I’m constantly looking for new ways to make this mod more performant, so it may get better over time.
Modpack Use
Simple Clouds can be used in whatever modpack you so desire, though please be aware of potential compatibility issues.
