Weekly Development Update 7.18.2026
This week's development has focused on expanding the world, improving NPC combat behavior, and continuing to optimize the residential district for better performance.
NPC Combat Improvements
One of my primary goals this week has been improving combat AI.
I'm currently implementing a cover system that allows NPCs to intelligently seek cover during firefights instead of remaining exposed. This system will allow enemies to respond more effectively to combat situations and create more dynamic encounters.
Current work includes:
Developing NPC cover behaviors.
Allowing NPCs to search for nearby cover positions.
Improving overall combat decision-making.
Combat AI is still a work in progress, but it's already beginning to make firefights feel much more natural.
Residential Area Improvements
Work has continued on the residential district with a focus on visual quality and optimization.
Several houses are being rebuilt and optimized to better fit the environment while also improving performance.
Current improvements include:
Updating residential house models.
Applying higher quality textures.
Improving overall neighborhood appearance.
Continuing environment polish.
The residential area is slowly becoming one of my favorite parts of the map, and I think these improvements are making a noticeable difference.
New Dock Area
I've also begun building a new dock and marina area.
The goal is to create a more upscale waterfront district featuring luxury homes, private docks, boats, and yachts. This helps make the island feel more diverse while giving the world additional areas to explore.
This area is still early in development, but it's starting to come together nicely.
Optimization
Optimization continues to be a major focus for v0.36.0.
I've been reducing vegetation density in several areas of the map while redesigning portions of the environment. This not only improves visibility in some locations but also helps improve overall game performance.
As the environment evolves, I'm continuing to look for opportunities to balance visual quality with better frame rates.
-Blast