diff --git a/src/core/textures/BaseTexture.js b/src/core/textures/BaseTexture.js
index 684eee3..709b7cf 100644
--- a/src/core/textures/BaseTexture.js
+++ b/src/core/textures/BaseTexture.js
@@ -115,14 +115,6 @@
      */
     this._glTextures = {};
 
-    /**
-     * Does the texture on the GPU need to be updated?
-     *
-     * @member {boolean}
-     * @private
-     */
-    this._needsUpdate = false;
-
     // if no source passed don't try to load
     if (source)
     {
@@ -149,23 +141,14 @@
 
 utils.eventTarget.mixin(BaseTexture.prototype);
 
-Object.defineProperties(BaseTexture.prototype, {
-    needsUpdate: {
-        get: function ()
-        {
-            return this._needsUpdate;
-        },
-        set: function (val)
-        {
-            this._needsUpdate = val;
-
-            if (val)
-            {
-                this.emit('update', this);
-            }
-        }
-    }
-});
+/**
+ * Updates the texture on all the webgl renderers.
+ *
+ * @fires update
+ */
+BaseTexture.prototype.update = function () {
+    this.emit('update', this);
+};
 
 /**
  * Load a source.
@@ -294,7 +277,7 @@
     this.width = this.source.naturalWidth || this.source.width;
     this.height = this.source.naturalHeight || this.source.height;
 
-    this.needsUpdate = true;
+    this.update();
 };
 
 /**

diff --git a/src/core/textures/BaseTexture.js b/src/core/textures/BaseTexture.js
index 684eee3..709b7cf 100644
--- a/src/core/textures/BaseTexture.js
+++ b/src/core/textures/BaseTexture.js
@@ -115,14 +115,6 @@
      */
     this._glTextures = {};
 
-    /**
-     * Does the texture on the GPU need to be updated?
-     *
-     * @member {boolean}
-     * @private
-     */
-    this._needsUpdate = false;
-
     // if no source passed don't try to load
     if (source)
     {
@@ -149,23 +141,14 @@
 
 utils.eventTarget.mixin(BaseTexture.prototype);
 
-Object.defineProperties(BaseTexture.prototype, {
-    needsUpdate: {
-        get: function ()
-        {
-            return this._needsUpdate;
-        },
-        set: function (val)
-        {
-            this._needsUpdate = val;
-
-            if (val)
-            {
-                this.emit('update', this);
-            }
-        }
-    }
-});
+/**
+ * Updates the texture on all the webgl renderers.
+ *
+ * @fires update
+ */
+BaseTexture.prototype.update = function () {
+    this.emit('update', this);
+};
 
 /**
  * Load a source.
@@ -294,7 +277,7 @@
     this.width = this.source.naturalWidth || this.source.width;
     this.height = this.source.naturalHeight || this.source.height;
 
-    this.needsUpdate = true;
+    this.update();
 };
 
 /**
diff --git a/src/core/textures/Texture.js b/src/core/textures/Texture.js
index 949991d..6eed011 100644
--- a/src/core/textures/Texture.js
+++ b/src/core/textures/Texture.js
@@ -125,17 +125,6 @@
 eventTarget.mixin(Texture.prototype);
 
 Object.defineProperties(Texture.prototype, {
-    needsUpdate: {
-        get: function ()
-        {
-            return this.baseTexture.needsUpdate;
-        },
-        set: function (val)
-        {
-            this.baseTexture.needsUpdate = val;
-        }
-    },
-
     frame: {
         get: function ()
         {
@@ -176,6 +165,15 @@
 });
 
 /**
+ * Updates this texture on the gpu.
+ *
+ */
+Texture.prototype.update = function ()
+{
+    this.baseTexture.update();
+};
+
+/**
  * Called when the base texture is loaded
  *
  * @private

diff --git a/src/core/textures/BaseTexture.js b/src/core/textures/BaseTexture.js
index 684eee3..709b7cf 100644
--- a/src/core/textures/BaseTexture.js
+++ b/src/core/textures/BaseTexture.js
@@ -115,14 +115,6 @@
      */
     this._glTextures = {};
 
-    /**
-     * Does the texture on the GPU need to be updated?
-     *
-     * @member {boolean}
-     * @private
-     */
-    this._needsUpdate = false;
-
     // if no source passed don't try to load
     if (source)
     {
@@ -149,23 +141,14 @@
 
 utils.eventTarget.mixin(BaseTexture.prototype);
 
-Object.defineProperties(BaseTexture.prototype, {
-    needsUpdate: {
-        get: function ()
-        {
-            return this._needsUpdate;
-        },
-        set: function (val)
-        {
-            this._needsUpdate = val;
-
-            if (val)
-            {
-                this.emit('update', this);
-            }
-        }
-    }
-});
+/**
+ * Updates the texture on all the webgl renderers.
+ *
+ * @fires update
+ */
+BaseTexture.prototype.update = function () {
+    this.emit('update', this);
+};
 
 /**
  * Load a source.
@@ -294,7 +277,7 @@
     this.width = this.source.naturalWidth || this.source.width;
     this.height = this.source.naturalHeight || this.source.height;
 
-    this.needsUpdate = true;
+    this.update();
 };
 
 /**
diff --git a/src/core/textures/Texture.js b/src/core/textures/Texture.js
index 949991d..6eed011 100644
--- a/src/core/textures/Texture.js
+++ b/src/core/textures/Texture.js
@@ -125,17 +125,6 @@
 eventTarget.mixin(Texture.prototype);
 
 Object.defineProperties(Texture.prototype, {
-    needsUpdate: {
-        get: function ()
-        {
-            return this.baseTexture.needsUpdate;
-        },
-        set: function (val)
-        {
-            this.baseTexture.needsUpdate = val;
-        }
-    },
-
     frame: {
         get: function ()
         {
@@ -176,6 +165,15 @@
 });
 
 /**
+ * Updates this texture on the gpu.
+ *
+ */
+Texture.prototype.update = function ()
+{
+    this.baseTexture.update();
+};
+
+/**
  * Called when the base texture is loaded
  *
  * @private
diff --git a/src/core/textures/VideoBaseTexture.js b/src/core/textures/VideoBaseTexture.js
index f03ef64..fb658ec 100644
--- a/src/core/textures/VideoBaseTexture.js
+++ b/src/core/textures/VideoBaseTexture.js
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@
     if (this.autoUpdate)
     {
         window.requestAnimationFrame(this._boundOnUpdate);
-        this.needsUpdate = true;
+        this.update();
     }
 };
 

diff --git a/src/core/textures/BaseTexture.js b/src/core/textures/BaseTexture.js
index 684eee3..709b7cf 100644
--- a/src/core/textures/BaseTexture.js
+++ b/src/core/textures/BaseTexture.js
@@ -115,14 +115,6 @@
      */
     this._glTextures = {};
 
-    /**
-     * Does the texture on the GPU need to be updated?
-     *
-     * @member {boolean}
-     * @private
-     */
-    this._needsUpdate = false;
-
     // if no source passed don't try to load
     if (source)
     {
@@ -149,23 +141,14 @@
 
 utils.eventTarget.mixin(BaseTexture.prototype);
 
-Object.defineProperties(BaseTexture.prototype, {
-    needsUpdate: {
-        get: function ()
-        {
-            return this._needsUpdate;
-        },
-        set: function (val)
-        {
-            this._needsUpdate = val;
-
-            if (val)
-            {
-                this.emit('update', this);
-            }
-        }
-    }
-});
+/**
+ * Updates the texture on all the webgl renderers.
+ *
+ * @fires update
+ */
+BaseTexture.prototype.update = function () {
+    this.emit('update', this);
+};
 
 /**
  * Load a source.
@@ -294,7 +277,7 @@
     this.width = this.source.naturalWidth || this.source.width;
     this.height = this.source.naturalHeight || this.source.height;
 
-    this.needsUpdate = true;
+    this.update();
 };
 
 /**
diff --git a/src/core/textures/Texture.js b/src/core/textures/Texture.js
index 949991d..6eed011 100644
--- a/src/core/textures/Texture.js
+++ b/src/core/textures/Texture.js
@@ -125,17 +125,6 @@
 eventTarget.mixin(Texture.prototype);
 
 Object.defineProperties(Texture.prototype, {
-    needsUpdate: {
-        get: function ()
-        {
-            return this.baseTexture.needsUpdate;
-        },
-        set: function (val)
-        {
-            this.baseTexture.needsUpdate = val;
-        }
-    },
-
     frame: {
         get: function ()
         {
@@ -176,6 +165,15 @@
 });
 
 /**
+ * Updates this texture on the gpu.
+ *
+ */
+Texture.prototype.update = function ()
+{
+    this.baseTexture.update();
+};
+
+/**
  * Called when the base texture is loaded
  *
  * @private
diff --git a/src/core/textures/VideoBaseTexture.js b/src/core/textures/VideoBaseTexture.js
index f03ef64..fb658ec 100644
--- a/src/core/textures/VideoBaseTexture.js
+++ b/src/core/textures/VideoBaseTexture.js
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@
     if (this.autoUpdate)
     {
         window.requestAnimationFrame(this._boundOnUpdate);
-        this.needsUpdate = true;
+        this.update();
     }
 };
 
diff --git a/src/extras/TilingSprite.js b/src/extras/TilingSprite.js
index 25b5a0e..4c90363 100644
--- a/src/extras/TilingSprite.js
+++ b/src/extras/TilingSprite.js
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
  */
 function TilingSprite(texture, width, height)
 {
-    core.Sprite.call( this, texture);
+    core.Sprite.call(this, texture);
 
     /**
      * The with of the tiling sprite
@@ -129,15 +129,6 @@
     if (!this.tilingTexture || this._refreshTexture)
     {
         this.generateTilingTexture(true);
-
-        if (this.tilingTexture && this.tilingTexture.needsUpdate)
-        {
-            //TODO - tweaking
-            renderer.updateTexture(this.tilingTexture.baseTexture);
-            this.tilingTexture.needsUpdate = false;
-           // this.tilingTexture._uvs = null;
-        }
-
     }
     else
     {
@@ -413,7 +404,7 @@
             canvasBuffer.resize(targetWidth, targetHeight);
             this.tilingTexture.baseTexture.width = targetWidth;
             this.tilingTexture.baseTexture.height = targetHeight;
-            this.tilingTexture.needsUpdate = true;
+            this.tilingTexture.update();
         }
         else
         {

diff --git a/src/core/textures/BaseTexture.js b/src/core/textures/BaseTexture.js
index 684eee3..709b7cf 100644
--- a/src/core/textures/BaseTexture.js
+++ b/src/core/textures/BaseTexture.js
@@ -115,14 +115,6 @@
      */
     this._glTextures = {};
 
-    /**
-     * Does the texture on the GPU need to be updated?
-     *
-     * @member {boolean}
-     * @private
-     */
-    this._needsUpdate = false;
-
     // if no source passed don't try to load
     if (source)
     {
@@ -149,23 +141,14 @@
 
 utils.eventTarget.mixin(BaseTexture.prototype);
 
-Object.defineProperties(BaseTexture.prototype, {
-    needsUpdate: {
-        get: function ()
-        {
-            return this._needsUpdate;
-        },
-        set: function (val)
-        {
-            this._needsUpdate = val;
-
-            if (val)
-            {
-                this.emit('update', this);
-            }
-        }
-    }
-});
+/**
+ * Updates the texture on all the webgl renderers.
+ *
+ * @fires update
+ */
+BaseTexture.prototype.update = function () {
+    this.emit('update', this);
+};
 
 /**
  * Load a source.
@@ -294,7 +277,7 @@
     this.width = this.source.naturalWidth || this.source.width;
     this.height = this.source.naturalHeight || this.source.height;
 
-    this.needsUpdate = true;
+    this.update();
 };
 
 /**
diff --git a/src/core/textures/Texture.js b/src/core/textures/Texture.js
index 949991d..6eed011 100644
--- a/src/core/textures/Texture.js
+++ b/src/core/textures/Texture.js
@@ -125,17 +125,6 @@
 eventTarget.mixin(Texture.prototype);
 
 Object.defineProperties(Texture.prototype, {
-    needsUpdate: {
-        get: function ()
-        {
-            return this.baseTexture.needsUpdate;
-        },
-        set: function (val)
-        {
-            this.baseTexture.needsUpdate = val;
-        }
-    },
-
     frame: {
         get: function ()
         {
@@ -176,6 +165,15 @@
 });
 
 /**
+ * Updates this texture on the gpu.
+ *
+ */
+Texture.prototype.update = function ()
+{
+    this.baseTexture.update();
+};
+
+/**
  * Called when the base texture is loaded
  *
  * @private
diff --git a/src/core/textures/VideoBaseTexture.js b/src/core/textures/VideoBaseTexture.js
index f03ef64..fb658ec 100644
--- a/src/core/textures/VideoBaseTexture.js
+++ b/src/core/textures/VideoBaseTexture.js
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@
     if (this.autoUpdate)
     {
         window.requestAnimationFrame(this._boundOnUpdate);
-        this.needsUpdate = true;
+        this.update();
     }
 };
 
diff --git a/src/extras/TilingSprite.js b/src/extras/TilingSprite.js
index 25b5a0e..4c90363 100644
--- a/src/extras/TilingSprite.js
+++ b/src/extras/TilingSprite.js
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
  */
 function TilingSprite(texture, width, height)
 {
-    core.Sprite.call( this, texture);
+    core.Sprite.call(this, texture);
 
     /**
      * The with of the tiling sprite
@@ -129,15 +129,6 @@
     if (!this.tilingTexture || this._refreshTexture)
     {
         this.generateTilingTexture(true);
-
-        if (this.tilingTexture && this.tilingTexture.needsUpdate)
-        {
-            //TODO - tweaking
-            renderer.updateTexture(this.tilingTexture.baseTexture);
-            this.tilingTexture.needsUpdate = false;
-           // this.tilingTexture._uvs = null;
-        }
-
     }
     else
     {
@@ -413,7 +404,7 @@
             canvasBuffer.resize(targetWidth, targetHeight);
             this.tilingTexture.baseTexture.width = targetWidth;
             this.tilingTexture.baseTexture.height = targetHeight;
-            this.tilingTexture.needsUpdate = true;
+            this.tilingTexture.update();
         }
         else
         {
diff --git a/src/text/Text.js b/src/text/Text.js
index 161ab71..a6b337a 100644
--- a/src/text/Text.js
+++ b/src/text/Text.js
@@ -325,7 +325,7 @@
     this._width = this.canvas.width;
     this._height = this.canvas.height;
 
-    this.texture.needsUpdate = true;
+    this.texture.update();
 
     this.dirty = false;
 };