SpriteKit draw calls not batched when using a texture atlas from data stored in the app bundle

It seems that SpriteKit doesn't batch the draw calls for textures in the same texture atlas. There are two different behaviors, based on how the SKTextureAtlas gets initialized:

  1. The draw calls are not batched when the texture atlas is initialized using SKTextureAtlas(named:) (loading the texture atlas from data stored in the app bundle).

  2. But the draw calls seem to be batched when the texture atlas is created dynamically using SKTextureAtlas(dictionary:).

The following images show the two different behaviors and the SpriteAtlas inside the Assets Catalog.

1. Draw calls not batched:

2. Draw calls batched:

The SpriteAtlas:

I created a sample Xcode 13 project to show the different behavior: https://github.com/clns/spritekit-atlas-batching.
I have tried this on the iOS 15 simulator on macOS Big Sur 11.6.1.

The code to reproduce is very simple:

import SpriteKit

class GameScene: SKScene {
    
    override func didMove(to view: SKView) {
        let atlas = SKTextureAtlas(named: "Sprites")
//        let atlas = SKTextureAtlas(dictionary: ["costume": UIImage(named: "costume")!, "tank": UIImage(named: "tank")!])
        
        let costume = SKSpriteNode(texture: atlas.textureNamed("costume"))
        costume.setScale(0.3)
        costume.position = CGPoint(x: 200, y: 650)
        
        let tank = SKSpriteNode(texture: atlas.textureNamed("tank"))
        tank.setScale(0.3)
        tank.position = CGPoint(x: 500, y: 650)
        
        addChild(costume)
        addChild(tank)
    }
}

Am I missing something?

I also submitted a feedback report with Apple: https://feedbackassistant.apple.com/feedback/9763803

SpriteKit draw calls not batched when using a texture atlas from data stored in the app bundle
 
 
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