Dear Community!
In the previous devblog we presented a new direction we decided to take with our game’s look. These improvements are the result of a few significant technological changes behind the scenes. Here are two key shifts in production that allowed us to move to a new look.
Unreal Engine 5
Right before a stable version of the new engine was released to the public, conversations regarding a switch began and the entire project was moved soon after. This allowed us to implement new tools and methods of optimization. Thanks to them we are able to improve the vast majority of the visual elements of the game including the models and lighting, without compromising framerates and overall performance. The switch to UE5 also increases the longevity of the game itself, as the updates to the engine will continue for much longer and more useful tools will be created over time.
Nanite Virtulized Geometry
One of the key reasons we considered this move beneficial was the introduction of Nanite. Our 3D artists were especially excited about this, as Nanite allows them to create high-quality models without the necessity to painstakingly double-check and limit the polygon counts in every building. This tool shortens the time needed to create a game-ready model, as we can allow every model to have more details than ever, without burning your PCs. You will spend the vast majority of your playthroughs looking at the roofs of your cities. It’s fitting that as the gameplay becomes well-rounded, so do the roofs.
Nanite helps with much more seamless transitions between LODs, especially with a high number of similar meshes in view. Your cities will have many repeating buildings to keep up with your citizens’ needs and this tool will allow them to be rendered and visible with a high level of detail without straining your computer too much.
This also means that optimization is much more straightforward, as there aren’t many obstacles which will take up time. This saved-up time can be used to improve the detailing of the models, which now can get much more love and attention.
These changes will speed up and improve the development process. We’re able to continue our work without worrying about certain aspects. The change in look and lighting will definitely help you immerse yourselves in the beautiful world of Ancient China. Hopefully, this short summary of the upgrades in the tech used behind the scenes will shed some light on the effort we put into ensuring our game’s longevity and beauty!
