It isn’t long now until Albion Online’s next major content update arrives, and we can reveal its name: Radiant Wilds, arriving April 13. This update has at its core a broad visual overhaul of Albion’s open world, maintaining its characteristic style while giving it a fresher, more up-to-date look for veterans and new players alike. In this new Dev Talk, Game Director Moritz Bokelmann and Environment Artist Johannes Geier give you a first look at these changes.

[previewyoutube=4w5EwhOkqYU;full][/previewyoutube]
Radiant Wilds promises to bring Albion Online up to a new visual standard, making it fresher but still familiar, and setting it up for the years ahead. It brings some significant changes to the way the game’s visuals work behind the scenes, with new lighting systems, a removal of some technical limitations, and new tools that allow changes to be made significantly faster.

From the moment you arrive on the shores of Albion, you can see the effects of these developments, including:

• A new water shader system[/*]
• Improved atmospheric lighting[/*]
• Better colors and contrasts[/*]
• New visual textures[/*]

[video autoplay="yes" loop="yes" muted="yes"]https://assets.albiononline.com/uploads/media/default/media/video_/media/69777df908839_720.mp4[/video]

Each biome has had its unique visuals enhanced, to make them more varied and immersive.

• The strength of sunlight and intensity of colors has been increased[/*]
• Cloud shadows help the world come alive[/*]
• The sun is reflected by glittering snow, sand, and water[/*]

[video autoplay="yes" loop="yes" muted="yes"]https://assets.albiononline.com/uploads/media/default/media/video_/media/69777e365f4f1_720.mp4[/video]

Improved textures make the world feel real and physical.

• Ground textures feel uneven and messy – with mossy undergrowth, sandy dunes, and muddy marshes[/*]
• The sky, clouds, and sun are reflected in the water and its ripples[/*]
• Water feels cooling and refreshing in the Steppes, freezing cold in the Mountains, and dirty and muddy in the Swamps[/*]

[video autoplay="yes" loop="yes" muted="yes"]https://assets.albiononline.com/uploads/media/default/media/video_/media/69778b0e6e629_720.mp4[/video]

New details further enhance the characteristics of each biome, for example:

• New vegetation, such as cacti in the Steppes[/*]
• Gusts of sand, snow, and pollen on the wind[/*]
• Insects hiding in the grass[/*]

-<

The new visuals also help Albion’s world align better with its character models, reflecting the vibrant colors and playful shapes of players and mobs.

Furthermore, we’re confident to say that this visual upgrade will not negatively impact performance. These changes have been tested extensively, and the game’s recommended system specifications are not changing with this update. In fact, with some broader client improvements in this update, you may in fact see better performance than before.

We’ll go into more detail on those performance changes, along with other new developments like the Armory, the 1v1 Arena, and Destiny Board changes, in our next Dev Talk. Until then, check out the official update page, and stay tuned for more!