diff --git a/cocos/3d/CCMesh.cpp b/cocos/3d/CCMesh.cpp
index 30688d27bd..939cd2d15f 100644
--- a/cocos/3d/CCMesh.cpp
+++ b/cocos/3d/CCMesh.cpp
@@ -283,6 +283,9 @@ void Mesh::setTexture(Texture2D* tex)
         auto technique = _material->_currentTechnique;
         for(auto& pass: technique->_passes)
         {
+            // FIXME: Ideally it should use glProgramState->setUniformTexture()
+            // and set CC_Texture0 that way. But trying to it, will trigger
+            // another bug
             pass->setTexture(tex);
         }
     }
diff --git a/cocos/3d/CCSprite3D.cpp b/cocos/3d/CCSprite3D.cpp
index f231591cd4..e0afe20449 100644
--- a/cocos/3d/CCSprite3D.cpp
+++ b/cocos/3d/CCSprite3D.cpp
@@ -606,8 +606,8 @@ void Sprite3D::setTexture(const std::string& texFile)
 
 void Sprite3D::setTexture(Texture2D* texture)
 {
-    for (auto& state : _meshes) {
-        state->setTexture(texture);
+    for (auto mesh: _meshes) {
+        mesh->setTexture(texture);
     }
 }
 AttachNode* Sprite3D::getAttachNode(const std::string& boneName)
diff --git a/cocos/renderer/CCGLProgramState.cpp b/cocos/renderer/CCGLProgramState.cpp
index 470704caca..616e5b2d92 100644
--- a/cocos/renderer/CCGLProgramState.cpp
+++ b/cocos/renderer/CCGLProgramState.cpp
@@ -359,7 +359,7 @@ GLProgramState* GLProgramState::getOrCreateWithShaders(const std::string& vertex
 
 GLProgramState::GLProgramState()
 : _uniformAttributeValueDirty(true)
-, _textureUnitIndex(1)
+, _textureUnitIndex(4)  // first 4 textures unites are reserved for CC_Texture0-3
 , _vertexAttribsFlags(0)
 , _glprogram(nullptr)
 , _nodeBinding(nullptr)
diff --git a/cocos/renderer/CCMaterial.cpp b/cocos/renderer/CCMaterial.cpp
index 57b0dbe6e6..06a618b957 100644
--- a/cocos/renderer/CCMaterial.cpp
+++ b/cocos/renderer/CCMaterial.cpp
@@ -198,9 +198,7 @@ bool Material::parsePass(Technique* technique, Properties* passProperties)
     while (space)
     {
         const char* name = space->getNamespace();
-        if (strcmp(name, "sampler") == 0)
-            parseSampler(pass, space);
-        else if (strcmp(name, "shader") == 0)
+        if (strcmp(name, "shader") == 0)
             parseShader(pass, space);
         else if (strcmp(name, "renderState") == 0)
             parseRenderState(pass, space);
@@ -216,10 +214,12 @@ bool Material::parsePass(Technique* technique, Properties* passProperties)
 }
 
 // cocos2d-x doesn't support Samplers yet. But will be added soon
-bool Material::parseSampler(Pass* pass, Properties* textureProperties)
+bool Material::parseSampler(GLProgramState* glProgramState, Properties* samplerProperties)
 {
+    CCASSERT(samplerProperties->getId(), "Sampler must have an id. The id is the uniform name");
+    
     // required
-    auto filename = textureProperties->getString("path");
+    auto filename = samplerProperties->getString("path");
 
     auto texture = Director::getInstance()->getTextureCache()->addImage(filename);
     if (!texture) {
@@ -234,14 +234,14 @@ bool Material::parseSampler(Pass* pass, Properties* textureProperties)
 
         // mipmap
         bool usemipmap = false;
-        const char* mipmap = getOptionalString(textureProperties, "mipmap", "false");
+        const char* mipmap = getOptionalString(samplerProperties, "mipmap", "false");
         if (mipmap && strcasecmp(mipmap, "true")==0) {
             texture->generateMipmap();
             usemipmap = true;
         }
 
         // valid options: REPEAT, CLAMP
-        const char* wrapS = getOptionalString(textureProperties, "wrapS", "CLAMP_TO_EDGE");
+        const char* wrapS = getOptionalString(samplerProperties, "wrapS", "CLAMP_TO_EDGE");
         if (strcasecmp(wrapS, "REPEAT")==0)
             texParams.wrapS = GL_REPEAT;
         else if(strcasecmp(wrapS, "CLAMP_TO_EDGE")==0)
@@ -251,7 +251,7 @@ bool Material::parseSampler(Pass* pass, Properties* textureProperties)
 
 
         // valid options: REPEAT, CLAMP
-        const char* wrapT = getOptionalString(textureProperties, "wrapT", "CLAMP_TO_EDGE");
+        const char* wrapT = getOptionalString(samplerProperties, "wrapT", "CLAMP_TO_EDGE");
         if (strcasecmp(wrapT, "REPEAT")==0)
             texParams.wrapT = GL_REPEAT;
         else if(strcasecmp(wrapT, "CLAMP_TO_EDGE")==0)
@@ -261,7 +261,7 @@ bool Material::parseSampler(Pass* pass, Properties* textureProperties)
 
 
         // valid options: NEAREST, LINEAR, NEAREST_MIPMAP_NEAREST, LINEAR_MIPMAP_NEAREST, NEAREST_MIPMAP_LINEAR, LINEAR_MIPMAP_LINEAR
-        const char* minFilter = getOptionalString(textureProperties, "minFilter", usemipmap ? "LINEAR_MIPMAP_NEAREST" : "LINEAR");
+        const char* minFilter = getOptionalString(samplerProperties, "minFilter", usemipmap ? "LINEAR_MIPMAP_NEAREST" : "LINEAR");
         if (strcasecmp(minFilter, "NEAREST")==0)
             texParams.minFilter = GL_NEAREST;
         else if(strcasecmp(minFilter, "LINEAR")==0)
@@ -278,7 +278,7 @@ bool Material::parseSampler(Pass* pass, Properties* textureProperties)
             CCLOG("Invalid minFilter: %s", minFilter);
 
         // valid options: NEAREST, LINEAR
-        const char* magFilter = getOptionalString(textureProperties, "magFilter", "LINEAR");
+        const char* magFilter = getOptionalString(samplerProperties, "magFilter", "LINEAR");
         if (strcasecmp(magFilter, "NEAREST")==0)
             texParams.magFilter = GL_NEAREST;
         else if(strcasecmp(magFilter, "LINEAR")==0)
@@ -289,7 +289,7 @@ bool Material::parseSampler(Pass* pass, Properties* textureProperties)
         texture->setTexParameters(texParams);
     }
 
-    pass->_textures.pushBack(texture);
+    glProgramState->setUniformTexture(samplerProperties->getId(), texture);
     return true;
 }
 
@@ -321,7 +321,16 @@ bool Material::parseShader(Pass* pass, Properties* shaderProperties)
             property = shaderProperties->getNextProperty();
         }
 
-//        glProgramState->updateUniformsAndAttributes();
+        auto space = shaderProperties->getNextNamespace();
+        while (space)
+        {
+            const char* name = space->getNamespace();
+            if (strcmp(name, "sampler") == 0)
+            {
+                parseSampler(glProgramState, space);
+            }
+            space = shaderProperties->getNextNamespace();
+        }
     }
 
     return true;
diff --git a/cocos/renderer/CCMaterial.h b/cocos/renderer/CCMaterial.h
index ddae8425dc..dde8591895 100644
--- a/cocos/renderer/CCMaterial.h
+++ b/cocos/renderer/CCMaterial.h
@@ -133,8 +133,8 @@ protected:
     bool parseProperties(Properties* properties);
     bool parseTechnique(Properties* properties);
     bool parsePass(Technique* technique, Properties* properties);
-    bool parseSampler(Pass* pass, Properties* properties);
     bool parseShader(Pass* pass, Properties* properties);
+    bool parseSampler(GLProgramState* glProgramState, Properties* properties);
     bool parseUniform(GLProgramState* programState, Properties* properties, const char* uniformName);
     bool parseRenderState(RenderState* renderState, Properties* properties);
 
diff --git a/cocos/renderer/CCPass.cpp b/cocos/renderer/CCPass.cpp
index 29dd7eff4c..2ac59e3092 100644
--- a/cocos/renderer/CCPass.cpp
+++ b/cocos/renderer/CCPass.cpp
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ uint32_t Pass::getHash() const
 {
     if (_hashDirty || _state->isDirty()) {
         uint32_t glProgram = (uint32_t)_glProgramState->getGLProgram()->getProgram();
-        uint32_t textureid = (uint32_t)_textures.at(0)->getName();
+        uint32_t textureid = _texture ? _texture->getName() : -1;
         uint32_t stateblockid = _state->getHash();
 
         _hash = glProgram ^ textureid ^ stateblockid;
diff --git a/cocos/renderer/CCRenderState.cpp b/cocos/renderer/CCRenderState.cpp
index d67482e4a4..d0fb9e45f1 100644
--- a/cocos/renderer/CCRenderState.cpp
+++ b/cocos/renderer/CCRenderState.cpp
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ enum
 
 
 RenderState::RenderState()
-: _textures()
+: _texture(nullptr)
 , _hash(0)
 , _hashDirty(true)
 , _parent(nullptr)
@@ -102,32 +102,27 @@ std::string RenderState::getName() const
 }
 
 
-const Vector<Texture2D*>& RenderState::getTextures() const
-{
-    return _textures;
-}
-
 void RenderState::setTexture(Texture2D* texture)
 {
-    if (_textures.size() > 0)
-        _textures.replace(0, texture);
-    else
-        _textures.pushBack(texture);
+    if (_texture != texture)
+    {
+        CC_SAFE_RELEASE(_texture);
+        _texture = texture;
+        CC_SAFE_RETAIN(_texture);
+    }
 }
 
 Texture2D* RenderState::getTexture() const
 {
-    if (_textures.size() > 0)
-        return _textures.at(0);
-    return nullptr;
+    return _texture;
 }
 
 void RenderState::bind(Pass* pass)
 {
     CC_ASSERT(pass);
 
-    if (_textures.size() > 0)
-        GL::bindTexture2D(_textures.at(0)->getName());
+    if (_texture)
+        GL::bindTexture2D(_texture->getName());
 
     // Get the combined modified state bits for our RenderState hierarchy.
     long stateOverrideBits = _state ? _state->_bits : 0;
@@ -193,7 +188,8 @@ void RenderState::cloneInto(RenderState* renderState) const
     }
 
     renderState->_name = _name;
-    renderState->_textures = _textures;
+    renderState->_texture = _texture;
+    CC_SAFE_RETAIN(renderState->_texture);
     // weak ref. don't retain
     renderState->_parent = _parent;
 }
diff --git a/cocos/renderer/CCRenderState.h b/cocos/renderer/CCRenderState.h
index 088db5621c..3f3a68eb11 100644
--- a/cocos/renderer/CCRenderState.h
+++ b/cocos/renderer/CCRenderState.h
@@ -31,7 +31,6 @@
 #include <functional>
 #include <cstdint>
 
-#include "renderer/CCTexture2D.h"
 #include "platform/CCPlatformMacros.h"
 #include "base/CCRef.h"
 #include "base/ccTypes.h"
@@ -65,14 +64,12 @@ public:
     std::string getName() const;
 
 
-    const Vector<Texture2D*>& getTextures() const;
-
-    /** Replaces the texture that is at the front of _textures array.
-     Added to be backwards compatible.
+    /** Texture that will use in the CC_Texture0 uniform.
+     Added to be backwards compatible. Use Samplers from .material instead.
      */
     void setTexture(Texture2D* texture);
 
-    /** Returns the texture that is at the front of the _textures array.
+    /** Returns the texture that is going to be used for CC_Texture0.
      Added to be backwards compatible.
      */
     Texture2D* getTexture() const;
@@ -413,7 +410,7 @@ protected:
     // name, for filtering
     std::string _name;
 
-    Vector<Texture2D*> _textures;
+    Texture2D* _texture;
 };
 
 NS_CC_END
diff --git a/tests/cpp-tests/Resources/Materials/3d_effects.material b/tests/cpp-tests/Resources/Materials/3d_effects.material
index aab208a426..39e3ad0d50 100644
--- a/tests/cpp-tests/Resources/Materials/3d_effects.material
+++ b/tests/cpp-tests/Resources/Materials/3d_effects.material
@@ -22,19 +22,20 @@ material spaceship
 		// renderState:
 		//   resposinble for depth buffer, cullface, stencil, blending, etc.
 		// shader:
-		//   responsible for the vertex and frag shaders, and its uniforms
-		// sampler:
-		//   responsible for setting the texture and its parameters
+		//   responsible for the vertex and frag shaders, and its uniforms, including the samplers
 		pass 0
 		{
 			shader
 			{
 				vertexShader = Shaders3D/3d_position_tex.vert
 				fragmentShader = Shaders3D/3d_color_tex.frag
-			}
-			sampler 0
-			{
-				path = Sprite3DTest/boss.png
+				// sampler:
+				//   responsible for setting the texture and its parameters
+				//   the Id of the sampler is the uniform name
+				sampler u_sampler0
+				{
+					path = Sprite3DTest/boss.png
+				}
 			}
 		}
 	}
@@ -61,10 +62,6 @@ material spaceship
 				OutLineColor = 1,1,0
 				OutlineWidth = 0.04
 			}
-			sampler 0
-			{
-				path = Sprite3DTest/boss.png
-			}
 		}
 
 		// 2nd pass:
@@ -85,10 +82,6 @@ material spaceship
 				OutLineColor = 0,0,1
 				OutlineWidth = 0.02
 			}
-			sampler 0
-			{
-				path = Sprite3DTest/boss.png
-			}
 		}
 		// 3rd pass
 		// Renders the model "normally"
@@ -99,10 +92,10 @@ material spaceship
 			{
 				vertexShader = Shaders3D/3d_position_tex.vert
 				fragmentShader = Shaders3D/3d_color_tex.frag
-			}
-			sampler 0
-			{
-				path = Sprite3DTest/boss.png
+				sampler u_sampler0
+				{
+					path = Sprite3DTest/boss.png
+				}
 			}
 		}
 	}
@@ -118,10 +111,10 @@ material spaceship
 				defines = MAX_POINT_LIGHT_NUM 1;MAX_SPOT_LIGHT_NUM 1;MAX_DIRECTIONAL_LIGHT_NUM 1
 				vertexShader = Shaders3D/3d_position_normal_tex.vert
 				fragmentShader = Shaders3D/3d_color_normal_tex.frag
-			}
-			sampler 0
-			{
-				path = Sprite3DTest/boss.png
+				sampler u_sampler0
+				{
+					path = Sprite3DTest/boss.png
+				}
 			}
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/tests/cpp-tests/Resources/Shaders3D/3d_color_normal_tex.frag b/tests/cpp-tests/Resources/Shaders3D/3d_color_normal_tex.frag
index 3ffac456e1..e9ec20ed96 100644
--- a/tests/cpp-tests/Resources/Shaders3D/3d_color_normal_tex.frag
+++ b/tests/cpp-tests/Resources/Shaders3D/3d_color_normal_tex.frag
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ varying vec3 v_normal;
 #endif
 
 uniform vec4 u_color;
+uniform sampler2D u_sampler0;
 
 vec3 computeLighting(vec3 normalVector, vec3 lightDirection, vec3 lightColor, float attenuation)
 {
@@ -101,9 +102,9 @@ void main(void)
 #endif
 
 #if ((MAX_DIRECTIONAL_LIGHT_NUM > 0) || (MAX_POINT_LIGHT_NUM > 0) || (MAX_SPOT_LIGHT_NUM > 0))
-    gl_FragColor = texture2D(CC_Texture0, TextureCoordOut) * u_color * combinedColor;
+    gl_FragColor = texture2D(u_sampler0, TextureCoordOut) * u_color * combinedColor;
 #else
-    gl_FragColor = texture2D(CC_Texture0, TextureCoordOut) * u_color;
+    gl_FragColor = texture2D(u_sampler0, TextureCoordOut) * u_color;
 #endif
 
 }
diff --git a/tests/cpp-tests/Resources/Shaders3D/3d_color_tex.frag b/tests/cpp-tests/Resources/Shaders3D/3d_color_tex.frag
index 0d87c7e229..9808ded895 100644
--- a/tests/cpp-tests/Resources/Shaders3D/3d_color_tex.frag
+++ b/tests/cpp-tests/Resources/Shaders3D/3d_color_tex.frag
@@ -4,9 +4,10 @@ varying mediump vec2 TextureCoordOut;
 varying vec2 TextureCoordOut;
 #endif
 uniform vec4 u_color;
+uniform sampler2D u_sampler0;
 
 void main(void)
 {
-    gl_FragColor = texture2D(CC_Texture0, TextureCoordOut) * u_color;
+    gl_FragColor = texture2D(u_sampler0, TextureCoordOut) * u_color;
 }
 
diff --git a/tests/cpp-tests/Resources/Shaders3D/OutLine.vert b/tests/cpp-tests/Resources/Shaders3D/OutLine.vert
index f4cd386b34..deafa4d387 100644
--- a/tests/cpp-tests/Resources/Shaders3D/OutLine.vert
+++ b/tests/cpp-tests/Resources/Shaders3D/OutLine.vert
@@ -8,6 +8,6 @@ void main(void)
     vec4 normalproj = CC_MVPMatrix * vec4(a_normal, 0);
     normalproj = normalize(normalproj);
     pos.xy += normalproj.xy * (OutlineWidth * (pos.z * 0.5 + 0.5));
-    
+
     gl_Position = pos;
 }