Object Pooling

Overview of Object Pooling and how the Runtime Spawner uses this

Object Pooling Overview

The Runtime Spawner uses an integrated object pooling system to ensure spawning and despawning are fast, deterministic, and GC-free — even in large-scale encounters or multiplayer environments.

Pooling eliminates the performance overhead of frequent Instantiate() and Destroy() calls, which are some of the most expensive operations in Unity.

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1. What Is Object Pooling?

Normally, to add an object into a scene, you call:

Instantiate(enemyPrefab, position, rotation);

While simple, this operation allocates new memory, builds components, and triggers Awake/Start calls — all of which can cause frame-time spikes when done frequently.

Pooling solves this by reusing existing instances instead of creating new ones.

Basic Pooling Concept

Action	Built-in	With Pool
Spawn	Instantiate()	Get() from pool
Despawn	Destroy()	Return() to pool
Performance	Expensive	Constant-time
Memory	Frequent allocs	Stable footprint

When the level starts, a pool pre-spawns objects. During gameplay, the spawner simply borrows from that pool, and when an object is no longer needed, it’s returned and disabled.

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2. Why It Matters

• Stable Framerate: No runtime spikes when enemies, projectiles, or FX appear.

• Lower GC Pressure: Prevents allocation churn and temporary garbage.

• Scalable: Enables hundreds or thousands of active entities without bottlenecks.

• Network Ready: Syncs cleanly when paired with pooled network systems like Photon Fusion or PUN.

The Runtime Spawner automatically handles pooling internally — you do not need to write custom pooling code unless you want to.

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3. The Megacrush Object Pool Package

Runtime Spawner uses the Megacrush Object Pool package under the hood.

Key features:

• Zero-GC allocation model.

• Configurable prewarm counts and limits.

• Thread-safe handle lifecycle.

• Built-in adapters for local and networked modes.

You can use it independently or extend it with your own adapter for specialized behaviors.

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Next Steps

• Spawner Pool Integration — how the Runtime Spawner automatically manages pooling through factories and providers.

• Custom Pooling Systems — how to plug in your own pooling backend.