A method of performing adaptive shading of image frames by a graphics processing unit (GPU) includes determining, by the GPU, a first shading rate based on determining that a change in a plurality of underlying assets between a first image frame and a second image frame is above a first threshold; determining, by the GPU, a second shading rate based on determining that one or more viewports in the second image frame is similar to one or more viewports in the first image frame; determining, by the GPU, a third shading rate based on determining that a quality reduction filter is used; and selecting, by the GPU, a shading rate from among the first shading rate, the second shading rate, and the third shading rate for the first image frame.