Dev Cycle 9 Recap: Map Updates Are Here!
By Decentraland, , in Announcements
Decentraland’s latest development cycle is complete! From revamped maps to animated textures, there's something for everyone. Let's dive in and explore what's new.
How Dev Cycles Work at Decentraland
In 2023, the Decentraland Foundation adopted the Shape Up methodology to deliver product updates more efficiently and effectively. Each cycle incorporates user feedback, data analysis, technical feasibility, and market trends to guide development. You can track the progress of each cycle here.
Dev Cycle 9 Goals and Theme
Every development cycle is centered around a theme to improve a key area of the Decentraland platform. For Cycle 9 the focus was on the Map and Discoverability. With the guiding question: “How can we make things easier to find?” To address this, several impactful features were introduced.
Map Updates: More Power to Your Exploration
Categories are BACK
https://www.youtube.com/embed/ABrypC1cG2E
Good news, explorers! The Categories filter has made its triumphant return. Now when you open the map, you can filter locations based on your interests. Love Art? Click the associated icon and discover a world of galleries. Craving some action? Select “Games” and choose where to take on your next challenge. Got a list of must-visit spots? No problem—mark them as “Favorites” to keep all of them in one convenient place.
Creators: Don’t forget to tag your scenes with the appropriate categories so players can find them! Get an overview of Categories and how to use them here.
Introducing Map Layers (with a splash of red grass)
https://www.youtube.com/embed/iYizsG8Gb1Q
In the bottom left of your map you’ll now see the “Layers” icon. Click on this nifty feature to filter the map by:
Live Events: Stay updated on the hottest happenings.
Quest Mini Games: Find your next task.
Points of Interest: Locate highlighted spaces with ease.
You can also switch between the Parcel and Satellite views for a more customized exploration experience.
Places Panel: LAND owners rejoice!
https://www.youtube.com/embed/1GcAobQ6nqQ
The Places Panel has now been updated with three different sections to showcase your parcel and help explorers see what’s happening!
Improved Description UI: Easily view location details at a glance.
Photos Tab: Make memories and snap pictures of your parcel using the camera tool to show off updates.
Events: Now when posting about your latest party on the Events page, they’ll link to your location on the map for everyone to see. Time to start planning!
Say “Cheese!” with the Improved In-World Camera
https://www.youtube.com/embed/ua3_mZzLIi4
Cheers were heard across social media when the beloved in-World camera returned. Snap some pics or record videos by selecting the Camera icon on the left of your screen or by hitting the “C” on your keyboard. This is the IMPROVED camera because it has been deployed with some fun new features.
Tilting: Adjust angles with Q and E.
Up/Down Movements: Use R and F.
Zoom: Film from a much greater distance.
Night/Day Cycle Control: Command the Sky
https://www.youtube.com/embed/3S06hioUlds
God mode activated. Night/Day cycle control is now located on the bottom left with a half-moon, half-sun icon. Whether you’re chasing sunsets, testing your scene’s vibe under a full moon, or filming your latest piece of content, the sky is now at your command! Toggle between the automatic settings or choose a time of day to craft your ideal ambiance.
Creator Hub Updates: Giving You More Control
Custom Items are here!
https://www.youtube.com/embed/7cGLu8P7dso
Basically the copy/ paste of the Creator Hub! Custom Items have been added to make it easy to save items that you have carefully configured and want to reuse. Once you define a Custom Item, you can use it on any of your scenes and even share it with other creators! Custom Items are now discoverables in the bottom UI of the Creator Hub. Better understand how Custom Items work here.
Deploy Status
Creators using the Hub can now see the exact status of their deployments with a popup UI that shows which step of the process your scene is in. While your scene is moving through the steps, players in-world will see an older version of the scene until the new one is ready!
Unlocking Dynamic Material Effects
https://www.youtube.com/embed/HGr8nuNMdHM
With SDK7 creators now have more flexibility to craft immersive and interactive 3D scenes by controlling material textures—directly through code.
Texture Tiling: Customize how often your textures repeat across a surface. Want a fine grid on a wall or a scaled-up look for bold designs? With tiling adjustments, you have precise control over the frequency and scale of textures.
Tween-Driven Texture Animations: Perfect for creating dynamic patterns like rolling waves, conveyor belts, or endlessly scrolling backgrounds. SDK7 now supports smooth texture animations through Tweening. This feature allows you to create seamless, time-based transitions for your textures. Whether you're simulating flowing water, animating glowing energy grids, or creating hypnotic visual patterns, Tweening brings your static designs to life. More on how to implement this feature in your scene's code here.
Want More Details?
Dive into the nitty-gritty of Cycle 9 by checking out our latest Pull Request or visit the Support page for updates. For a sneak peek at what’s coming next, head over to our Cycles page.