UUM-129249 : Deprecate Reflection Probe Node

Author: olivierprat

Packages/com.unity.shadergraph/CHANGELOG.md

@@ -10,6 +10,10 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](http://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0.
 Version Updated
 The version number for this package has increased due to a version update of a related graphics package.
 
+### Changed
+
+- Deprecated Reflection Probe node as its behavior can be incompatible with specific render paths.
+
 ## [17.4.0] - 2025-10-22
 
 This version is compatible with Unity 6000.4.0a4.

Packages/com.unity.shadergraph/Documentation~/Input-Nodes.md

@@ -39,6 +39,15 @@ Supply shaders with essential data such as constants, mesh attributes, gradients
 | [Gradient](Gradient-Node.md)               | Defines a constant Gradient in the shader.                             |
 | [Sample Gradient](Sample-Gradient-Node.md) | Samples a Gradient given the input of Time.                            |
 
+## Lighting
+
+| **Topic**                                              | **Description**                                                              |
+|--------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
+| [Ambient](Ambient-Node.md)                             | Provides access to the Scene's Ambient color values.                         |
+| [Baked GI](Baked-GI-Node.md)                           | Provides access to the Baked GI values at the vertex or fragment's position. |
+| [Main Light Direction](Main-Light-Direction-Node.md)   | Provides access to the direction of the main directional light in the scene. |
+| [Reflection Probe](Reflection-Probe-Node.md)           | Provides access to the nearest Reflection Probe to the object.               |
+
 ## Matrix
 
 | **Topic**                                              | **Description**                                                                              |
@@ -72,12 +81,9 @@ Supply shaders with essential data such as constants, mesh attributes, gradients
 
 | **Topic**                                    | **Description**                                                              |
 |----------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
-| [Ambient](Ambient-Node.md)                   | Provides access to the Scene's Ambient color values.                         |
 | [Camera](Camera-Node.md)                     | Provides access to various parameters of the current Camera.                 |
 | [Fog](Fog-Node.md)                           | Provides access to the Scene's Fog parameters.                               |
-| [Baked GI](Baked-GI-Node.md)                 | Provides access to the Baked GI values at the vertex or fragment's position. |
 | [Object](Object-Node.md)                     | Provides access to various parameters of the Object.                         |
-| [Reflection Probe](Reflection-Probe-Node.md) | Provides access to the nearest Reflection Probe to the object.               |
 | [Scene Color](Scene-Color-Node.md)           | Provides access to the current Camera's color buffer.                        |
 | [Scene Depth](Scene-Depth-Node.md)           | Provides access to the current Camera's depth buffer.                        |
 | [Screen](Screen-Node.md)                     | Provides access to parameters of the screen.                                 |
@@ -106,4 +112,4 @@ Supply shaders with essential data such as constants, mesh attributes, gradients
 |-------------|------------------|
 | [Element Texture UV](element-texture-uv-node.md) | Provides the texture coordinates (UV) typically used to sample the texture assigned to a UI element. |
 | [Element Layout UV](element-layout-uv-node.md) | Provides the layout UV coordinates within a UI element's layout rectangle. |
-| [Element Texture Size](element-texture-size-node.md) | Provides the size of the texture assigned to a UI element. |
+| [Element Texture Size](element-texture-size-node.md) | Provides the size of the texture assigned to a UI element. |

Packages/com.unity.shadergraph/Documentation~/Reflection-Probe-Node.md

@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 # Reflection Probe Node
 
+> [!NOTE]
+> The Reflection Probe node is deprecated. Use the [Custom Function node](Custom-Function-Node.md) instead to replicate the [generated code example](#generated-code-example).
+
 ## Description
 
 Provides access to the nearest **Reflection Probe** to the object. Requires **Normal** and **View Direction** to sample the probe. You can achieve a blurring effect by sampling at a different Level of Detail using the **LOD** input.
@@ -9,7 +12,7 @@ Note: The behavior of this [Node](Node.md) is undefined globally. Shader Graph d
 Different Render Pipelines may produce different results. If you're building a shader in one Render Pipeline that you want to use in both, try checking it in both pipelines before production. A [Node](Node.md) might be defined in one Render Pipeline and undefined in the other. If this [Node](Node.md) is undefined, it returns 0 (black).
 
 #### Unity Render Pipelines Support
-- Universal Render Pipeline
+- Universal Render Pipeline, if you use the Forward or Deferred rendering path. If you use the Forward+ or Deferred+ rendering path, the node returns the skybox instead of the nearest reflection probe.
 
 The High Definition Render Pipeline does **not** support this Node.
 

Packages/com.unity.shadergraph/Editor/Data/Nodes/Input/Lighting/ReflectionProbeNode.cs

@@ -13,12 +13,20 @@ public ReflectionProbeNode()
         }
 
         public override bool hasPreview { get { return false; } }
+        // Hide the node in the search window as it is deprecated.
+        internal override bool ExposeToSearcher => false;
 
         protected override MethodInfo GetFunctionToConvert()
         {
             return GetType().GetMethod("Unity_ReflectionProbe", BindingFlags.Static | BindingFlags.NonPublic);
         }
 
+        public override void ValidateNode()
+        {
+            base.ValidateNode();
+            owner.AddValidationError(this.objectId, "Reflection Probe Node is deprecated. Use a Custom Function Node instead.", Rendering.ShaderCompilerMessageSeverity.Warning);
+        }
+
         static string Unity_ReflectionProbe(
             [Slot(0, Binding.ObjectSpaceViewDirection)] Vector3 ViewDir,
             [Slot(1, Binding.ObjectSpaceNormal)] Vector3 Normal,