TL;DR
- Decentraland’s Dev Cycle 9 introduces exciting updates like revamped maps, animated textures, and enhanced in-world camera features to improve user experience and platform functionality.
- The new Map Layers feature and Categories filter make it easier for users to discover relevant content, while the Creator Hub updates provide more tools for creativity.
- SDK7’s dynamic material effects allow creators to craft immersive 3D scenes, enhancing the overall user experience in Decentraland.
Decentraland, the popular blockchain-based virtual world, has successfully completed its latest development cycle, Dev Cycle 9. This cycle brings a host of exciting updates and features aimed at enhancing user experience and improving the platform’s overall functionality.
From revamped maps to animated textures, Decentraland continues to innovate and evolve, providing its community with new tools and opportunities for creativity and exploration.
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 development cycle incorporates user feedback, data analysis, technical feasibility, and market trends to guide development.
Dev Cycle 9 focused on improving the Map and Discoverability, with the guiding question: “How can we make things easier to find?” This theme led to the introduction of several impactful features.
Map Updates: More Power to Your Exploration
One of the most significant updates in Dev Cycle 9 is the return of the Categories filter. Users can now filter locations based on their interests, such as Art or Games, making it easier to discover relevant content.
Additionally, the new Map Layers feature allows users to filter the map by Live Events, Quest mini-games, and Points of Interest. The Places Panel has also been updated, providing LAND owners with improved tools to showcase their parcels and events.
Enhanced In-World Camera and Creator Hub Updates
The beloved in-World camera has returned with new features, including tilting, up/down movements, zoom, and night/day cycle control. These enhancements allow users to capture and share their experiences more creatively. The Creator Hub has also received updates, introducing Custom Items that can be saved and reused across scenes, and a new Deploy Status UI that shows the exact status of scene deployments.
Unlocking Dynamic Material Effects
With SDK7, creators now have more flexibility to craft immersive and interactive 3D scenes. The new features include texture tiling and tween-driven texture animations, allowing for dynamic patterns and seamless transitions. These updates enable creators to bring their static designs to life, enhancing the overall user experience.
