The new show “Inside Star Citizen: H2O” explores the advanced water features in the game, with streamer Dark_Law showcasing the realistic water simulation developed by the “moist Masters” team. The game’s water system includes detailed foam effects, interactions with ships, and environmental elements, aiming to provide visually stunning and immersive experiences while maintaining system performance efficiency.
On the 18th of April 2024, a new show called Inside Star Citizen: H2O was released, focusing on the water features in the game. The streamer Dark_Law, known for low flying, explored these new features in real-time on Twitch. Star Citizen’s development team includes water experts known as “moist Masters” or “Hydro homies.” Rendering water in games is challenging, requiring dynamic surfaces, fog layers, splashes, and other factors to create a realistic effect.
The latest iteration of the water simulation in Star Citizen has made significant strides in pushing the boundaries of visual realism. Detailed foam, which breaks apart and disintegrates, adds to the authenticity of the water surface. Players walking through the water experience complex interactions, with efforts made to ensure a realistic eye-level water line. Additionally, water vapor in the form of rooster tails is incorporated as ships move over the surface, creating iconic visuals for both low and high-speed ships.
The interaction between the water surface and the environment is crucial, with water vapor interacting with thrusters and forming droplets on the ship’s canopy. The game’s system calculates various scenarios, such as bullets hitting the water surface or ships crashing into the water, to provide an appropriate visual interpretation while maintaining system performance efficiency. A water buffer system now manages the rendering of the water surface, optimizing the technical aspects of water simulation in the game.
Despite the progress made, the development team acknowledges that there is still work to be done to further enhance the water simulation in Star Citizen. They expressed satisfaction with the results achieved so far but emphasized the ongoing efforts to refine and improve the water features. The team aims to preserve system performance while delivering a visually stunning and immersive water experience for players. The show concludes with a message of gratitude to viewers for their time and support, encouraging them to “fly safe” and look forward to experiencing the game’s evolving water mechanics in the virtual universe.