diff --git a/src/core/Application.js b/src/core/Application.js
index bc730db..ea0f058 100644
--- a/src/core/Application.js
+++ b/src/core/Application.js
@@ -33,6 +33,9 @@
      *      need to call toDataUrl on the webgl context
      * @param {number} [options.resolution=1] - The resolution / device pixel ratio of the renderer, retina would be 2
      * @param {boolean} [noWebGL=false] - prevents selection of WebGL renderer, even if such is present
+     * @param {boolean} [options.legacy=false] - If true Pixi will aim to ensure compatibility
+     * with older / less advanced devices. If you experience unexplained flickering try setting this to true.
+
      */
     constructor(width, height, options, noWebGL)
     {

diff --git a/src/core/Application.js b/src/core/Application.js
index bc730db..ea0f058 100644
--- a/src/core/Application.js
+++ b/src/core/Application.js
@@ -33,6 +33,9 @@
      *      need to call toDataUrl on the webgl context
      * @param {number} [options.resolution=1] - The resolution / device pixel ratio of the renderer, retina would be 2
      * @param {boolean} [noWebGL=false] - prevents selection of WebGL renderer, even if such is present
+     * @param {boolean} [options.legacy=false] - If true Pixi will aim to ensure compatibility
+     * with older / less advanced devices. If you experience unexplained flickering try setting this to true.
+
      */
     constructor(width, height, options, noWebGL)
     {
diff --git a/src/core/renderers/webgl/WebGLRenderer.js b/src/core/renderers/webgl/WebGLRenderer.js
index ce0e1c4..75ae9b5 100644
--- a/src/core/renderers/webgl/WebGLRenderer.js
+++ b/src/core/renderers/webgl/WebGLRenderer.js
@@ -49,11 +49,20 @@
      *  enable this if you need to call toDataUrl on the webgl context.
      * @param {boolean} [options.roundPixels=false] - If true Pixi will Math.floor() x/y values when
      *  rendering, stopping pixel interpolation.
+     * @param {boolean} [options.legacy=false] - If true Pixi will aim to ensure compatibility
+     * with older / less advanced devices. If you experiance unexplained flickering try setting this to true.
      */
     constructor(width, height, options = {})
     {
         super('WebGL', width, height, options);
 
+        this.legacy = !!options.legacy;
+
+        if (this.legacy)
+        {
+            glCore.VertexArrayObject.FORCE_NATIVE = true;
+        }
+
         /**
          * The type of this renderer as a standardised const
          *

diff --git a/src/core/Application.js b/src/core/Application.js
index bc730db..ea0f058 100644
--- a/src/core/Application.js
+++ b/src/core/Application.js
@@ -33,6 +33,9 @@
      *      need to call toDataUrl on the webgl context
      * @param {number} [options.resolution=1] - The resolution / device pixel ratio of the renderer, retina would be 2
      * @param {boolean} [noWebGL=false] - prevents selection of WebGL renderer, even if such is present
+     * @param {boolean} [options.legacy=false] - If true Pixi will aim to ensure compatibility
+     * with older / less advanced devices. If you experience unexplained flickering try setting this to true.
+
      */
     constructor(width, height, options, noWebGL)
     {
diff --git a/src/core/renderers/webgl/WebGLRenderer.js b/src/core/renderers/webgl/WebGLRenderer.js
index ce0e1c4..75ae9b5 100644
--- a/src/core/renderers/webgl/WebGLRenderer.js
+++ b/src/core/renderers/webgl/WebGLRenderer.js
@@ -49,11 +49,20 @@
      *  enable this if you need to call toDataUrl on the webgl context.
      * @param {boolean} [options.roundPixels=false] - If true Pixi will Math.floor() x/y values when
      *  rendering, stopping pixel interpolation.
+     * @param {boolean} [options.legacy=false] - If true Pixi will aim to ensure compatibility
+     * with older / less advanced devices. If you experiance unexplained flickering try setting this to true.
      */
     constructor(width, height, options = {})
     {
         super('WebGL', width, height, options);
 
+        this.legacy = !!options.legacy;
+
+        if (this.legacy)
+        {
+            glCore.VertexArrayObject.FORCE_NATIVE = true;
+        }
+
         /**
          * The type of this renderer as a standardised const
          *
diff --git a/src/core/sprites/webgl/SpriteRenderer.js b/src/core/sprites/webgl/SpriteRenderer.js
index 9b349bd..f7cc1a0 100644
--- a/src/core/sprites/webgl/SpriteRenderer.js
+++ b/src/core/sprites/webgl/SpriteRenderer.js
@@ -103,11 +103,18 @@
     {
         const gl = this.renderer.gl;
 
-        // step 1: first check max textures the GPU can handle.
-        this.MAX_TEXTURES = Math.min(gl.getParameter(gl.MAX_TEXTURE_IMAGE_UNITS), settings.SPRITE_MAX_TEXTURES);
+        if (this.renderer.legacy)
+        {
+            this.MAX_TEXTURES = 1;
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            // step 1: first check max textures the GPU can handle.
+            this.MAX_TEXTURES = Math.min(gl.getParameter(gl.MAX_TEXTURE_IMAGE_UNITS), settings.SPRITE_MAX_TEXTURES);
 
-        // step 2: check the maximum number of if statements the shader can have too..
-        this.MAX_TEXTURES = checkMaxIfStatmentsInShader(this.MAX_TEXTURES, gl);
+            // step 2: check the maximum number of if statements the shader can have too..
+            this.MAX_TEXTURES = checkMaxIfStatmentsInShader(this.MAX_TEXTURES, gl);
+        }
 
         const shader = this.shader = generateMultiTextureShader(gl, this.MAX_TEXTURES);
 

diff --git a/src/core/Application.js b/src/core/Application.js
index bc730db..ea0f058 100644
--- a/src/core/Application.js
+++ b/src/core/Application.js
@@ -33,6 +33,9 @@
      *      need to call toDataUrl on the webgl context
      * @param {number} [options.resolution=1] - The resolution / device pixel ratio of the renderer, retina would be 2
      * @param {boolean} [noWebGL=false] - prevents selection of WebGL renderer, even if such is present
+     * @param {boolean} [options.legacy=false] - If true Pixi will aim to ensure compatibility
+     * with older / less advanced devices. If you experience unexplained flickering try setting this to true.
+
      */
     constructor(width, height, options, noWebGL)
     {
diff --git a/src/core/renderers/webgl/WebGLRenderer.js b/src/core/renderers/webgl/WebGLRenderer.js
index ce0e1c4..75ae9b5 100644
--- a/src/core/renderers/webgl/WebGLRenderer.js
+++ b/src/core/renderers/webgl/WebGLRenderer.js
@@ -49,11 +49,20 @@
      *  enable this if you need to call toDataUrl on the webgl context.
      * @param {boolean} [options.roundPixels=false] - If true Pixi will Math.floor() x/y values when
      *  rendering, stopping pixel interpolation.
+     * @param {boolean} [options.legacy=false] - If true Pixi will aim to ensure compatibility
+     * with older / less advanced devices. If you experiance unexplained flickering try setting this to true.
      */
     constructor(width, height, options = {})
     {
         super('WebGL', width, height, options);
 
+        this.legacy = !!options.legacy;
+
+        if (this.legacy)
+        {
+            glCore.VertexArrayObject.FORCE_NATIVE = true;
+        }
+
         /**
          * The type of this renderer as a standardised const
          *
diff --git a/src/core/sprites/webgl/SpriteRenderer.js b/src/core/sprites/webgl/SpriteRenderer.js
index 9b349bd..f7cc1a0 100644
--- a/src/core/sprites/webgl/SpriteRenderer.js
+++ b/src/core/sprites/webgl/SpriteRenderer.js
@@ -103,11 +103,18 @@
     {
         const gl = this.renderer.gl;
 
-        // step 1: first check max textures the GPU can handle.
-        this.MAX_TEXTURES = Math.min(gl.getParameter(gl.MAX_TEXTURE_IMAGE_UNITS), settings.SPRITE_MAX_TEXTURES);
+        if (this.renderer.legacy)
+        {
+            this.MAX_TEXTURES = 1;
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            // step 1: first check max textures the GPU can handle.
+            this.MAX_TEXTURES = Math.min(gl.getParameter(gl.MAX_TEXTURE_IMAGE_UNITS), settings.SPRITE_MAX_TEXTURES);
 
-        // step 2: check the maximum number of if statements the shader can have too..
-        this.MAX_TEXTURES = checkMaxIfStatmentsInShader(this.MAX_TEXTURES, gl);
+            // step 2: check the maximum number of if statements the shader can have too..
+            this.MAX_TEXTURES = checkMaxIfStatmentsInShader(this.MAX_TEXTURES, gl);
+        }
 
         const shader = this.shader = generateMultiTextureShader(gl, this.MAX_TEXTURES);
 
diff --git a/test/core/WebGLRenderer.js b/test/core/WebGLRenderer.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f0e9bc8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/core/WebGLRenderer.js
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+'use strict';
+
+function isWebGLSupported(fn)
+{
+    return PIXI.utils.isWebGLSupported() ? fn : function () {}; // eslint-disable-line no-empty-function
+}
+
+describe('PIXI.WebGLRenderer', isWebGLSupported(function ()
+{
+    it('setting option legacy should disable VAOs and set minimum SPRITE_MAX_TEXTURES to 1', function ()
+    {
+        const renderer = new PIXI.WebGLRenderer(1, 1, { legacy: true });
+
+        expect(PIXI.glCore.VertexArrayObject.FORCE_NATIVE).to.equal(true);
+        expect(renderer.plugins.sprite.MAX_TEXTURES).to.equal(1);
+
+        renderer.destroy();
+    });
+}));

diff --git a/src/core/Application.js b/src/core/Application.js
index bc730db..ea0f058 100644
--- a/src/core/Application.js
+++ b/src/core/Application.js
@@ -33,6 +33,9 @@
      *      need to call toDataUrl on the webgl context
      * @param {number} [options.resolution=1] - The resolution / device pixel ratio of the renderer, retina would be 2
      * @param {boolean} [noWebGL=false] - prevents selection of WebGL renderer, even if such is present
+     * @param {boolean} [options.legacy=false] - If true Pixi will aim to ensure compatibility
+     * with older / less advanced devices. If you experience unexplained flickering try setting this to true.
+
      */
     constructor(width, height, options, noWebGL)
     {
diff --git a/src/core/renderers/webgl/WebGLRenderer.js b/src/core/renderers/webgl/WebGLRenderer.js
index ce0e1c4..75ae9b5 100644
--- a/src/core/renderers/webgl/WebGLRenderer.js
+++ b/src/core/renderers/webgl/WebGLRenderer.js
@@ -49,11 +49,20 @@
      *  enable this if you need to call toDataUrl on the webgl context.
      * @param {boolean} [options.roundPixels=false] - If true Pixi will Math.floor() x/y values when
      *  rendering, stopping pixel interpolation.
+     * @param {boolean} [options.legacy=false] - If true Pixi will aim to ensure compatibility
+     * with older / less advanced devices. If you experiance unexplained flickering try setting this to true.
      */
     constructor(width, height, options = {})
     {
         super('WebGL', width, height, options);
 
+        this.legacy = !!options.legacy;
+
+        if (this.legacy)
+        {
+            glCore.VertexArrayObject.FORCE_NATIVE = true;
+        }
+
         /**
          * The type of this renderer as a standardised const
          *
diff --git a/src/core/sprites/webgl/SpriteRenderer.js b/src/core/sprites/webgl/SpriteRenderer.js
index 9b349bd..f7cc1a0 100644
--- a/src/core/sprites/webgl/SpriteRenderer.js
+++ b/src/core/sprites/webgl/SpriteRenderer.js
@@ -103,11 +103,18 @@
     {
         const gl = this.renderer.gl;
 
-        // step 1: first check max textures the GPU can handle.
-        this.MAX_TEXTURES = Math.min(gl.getParameter(gl.MAX_TEXTURE_IMAGE_UNITS), settings.SPRITE_MAX_TEXTURES);
+        if (this.renderer.legacy)
+        {
+            this.MAX_TEXTURES = 1;
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            // step 1: first check max textures the GPU can handle.
+            this.MAX_TEXTURES = Math.min(gl.getParameter(gl.MAX_TEXTURE_IMAGE_UNITS), settings.SPRITE_MAX_TEXTURES);
 
-        // step 2: check the maximum number of if statements the shader can have too..
-        this.MAX_TEXTURES = checkMaxIfStatmentsInShader(this.MAX_TEXTURES, gl);
+            // step 2: check the maximum number of if statements the shader can have too..
+            this.MAX_TEXTURES = checkMaxIfStatmentsInShader(this.MAX_TEXTURES, gl);
+        }
 
         const shader = this.shader = generateMultiTextureShader(gl, this.MAX_TEXTURES);
 
diff --git a/test/core/WebGLRenderer.js b/test/core/WebGLRenderer.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f0e9bc8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/core/WebGLRenderer.js
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+'use strict';
+
+function isWebGLSupported(fn)
+{
+    return PIXI.utils.isWebGLSupported() ? fn : function () {}; // eslint-disable-line no-empty-function
+}
+
+describe('PIXI.WebGLRenderer', isWebGLSupported(function ()
+{
+    it('setting option legacy should disable VAOs and set minimum SPRITE_MAX_TEXTURES to 1', function ()
+    {
+        const renderer = new PIXI.WebGLRenderer(1, 1, { legacy: true });
+
+        expect(PIXI.glCore.VertexArrayObject.FORCE_NATIVE).to.equal(true);
+        expect(renderer.plugins.sprite.MAX_TEXTURES).to.equal(1);
+
+        renderer.destroy();
+    });
+}));
diff --git a/test/core/index.js b/test/core/index.js
index 2a056a2..63a8f21 100755
--- a/test/core/index.js
+++ b/test/core/index.js
@@ -23,4 +23,5 @@
 require('./Circle');
 require('./Graphics');
 require('./SpriteRenderer');
+require('./WebGLRenderer');
 require('./Ellipse');