We’re back with another dev diary. Today, we want to talk about one of the most important aspects of our worldbuilding: lighting, a key element we’re still refining in search of the perfect balance.
As you can imagine, lighting is one of the most fundamental tools in game design. It adds depth and meaning to the world, shapes the atmosphere, and guides players through both open and confined spaces. Lighting can tell a story on its own, set the tone for different environments, and completely transform the look and feel of a level.
During the concept phase, we experimented extensively to define the color palettes and explore how lighting could enhance the identity of the various environments you’ll be exploring.
In Neterun, we’ve crafted many mysterious locations, places that invite the player to venture further, to uncover what’s lurking behind an asteroid or hidden within a dense nebula. Lighting plays a crucial role in sparking that curiosity, and it must be carefully balanced with other game elements.
Some areas of the galaxy felt too dark compared to what we had envisioned, so we’re making adjustments to ensure the lighting enhances the sense of mystery without making navigation too difficult. Our goal is to encourage exploration, whether it’s a distant, eerie glow or the silhouette of a massive, foreboding alien structure shrouded in mist. Lighting allows us to reveal just enough while keeping certain details obscured, and we’re focused on striking the right balance between clarity and intrigue.
The Neterunian structures in the demo are clearly visible, but what happens when you spot a distant, hostile alien formation, something metallic, something organic? What secrets lie hidden within the swirling mists of Neterun? These are the questions we want to spark in your mind, and lighting helps us craft that sense of mystery.
That’s all for today. We hope we’ve piqued your curiosity, and we’ll see you in the next dev diary.
Farewell, raiders!
