Visual Planet Terraforming and Achievement Rewards

That is the idea behind a potential new feature we are currently exploring: visual planet terraforming. The system would allow players to customize the appearance of planets they control, turning familiar worlds into volcanic planets covered in flowing lava, frozen landscapes dominated by ice, vast ocean worlds, and other unusual celestial environments.

Unlike traditional terraforming, which often involves changing a planet's environment or physical properties, the feature we are considering would be entirely cosmetic. Its purpose would be to give players more freedom to personalize their territories without affecting the underlying gameplay. A volcanic appearance would not increase resource production, an icy world would not gain additional defenses, and an ocean-themed planet would not unlock new mechanics.

In this developer diary, we will explore the designs we are considering, how players might acquire and use them, and how the system could work alongside the territorial conflicts that are such an important part of WarForGalaxy. We will also discuss permanent usage rights, unique rewards for achievements, and our ideas for managing planet appearances through the shop and Arsenal.

Important: Visual planet terraforming is still in the planning and design stage. The feature has not been released. All prices, discounts, bundle contents, acquisition methods, and usage conditions discussed here are preliminary and may change before a future update.

Create Your Own Planetary Style

We want the planets of WarForGalaxy to become more visually diverse and recognizable. Every player builds an empire differently, choosing which colonies to develop, where to concentrate resources, and which territories to defend. We believe it would be interesting to offer a similar degree of personal expression when it comes to the appearance of those worlds.

Imagine a star system containing several planets under your control. One could take on the appearance of a volcanic world, with glowing rivers of lava cutting across its surface. Another might become a frozen planet covered in enormous ice fields, while a third could resemble an ocean world with vast stretches of deep blue water. Although their roles within your empire would remain unchanged, their appearance could make the entire system feel more distinctive.

Players could also experiment with consistent themes. Someone who prefers volcanic planets might choose to give every world in a particular star system the same appearance. Others might prefer variety, assigning different designs to important colonies to reflect their individual roles or the history behind their acquisition.

This could become especially interesting in large empires, where dozens of planets serve different economic and military purposes. A capital world could receive a particularly striking appearance, an important military base could be made visually distinctive, and a recently conquered planet could become a symbol of territorial expansion.

We want players to be able to express their preferences through these choices without affecting the strategic balance of the game. A volcanic planet would not automatically generate more resources, an icy appearance would not provide an additional defensive bonus, and an ocean design would not change the mechanics available on that world.

Every transformation would affect appearance only. That distinction is central to the concept: players should be free to choose the designs they find most appealing rather than feel compelled to select a particular appearance because it provides an economic or military advantage.

How Could Visual Terraforming Be Purchased?

We are exploring several ways to make planet appearances available, taking into account the different sizes of player empires. Some players may want to customize only one important world, while others might prefer to transform an entire group of planets or create a consistent visual theme across a star system.

Our preliminary purchasing model includes individual usage rights, bundles that allow the same design to be applied to several planets simultaneously, and collections containing multiple different appearances. We want players to be able to choose an option that matches their plans without having to purchase more than they need.

The following prices are currently being considered:

For example, if you particularly like the appearance of volcanic worlds, you could acquire the right to apply that design to one of your planets. If you later decide to create an entire system of volcanic planets, a bundle allowing five or ten simultaneous applications of the same design could be a more convenient option.

It is important to distinguish between the type of appearance and the number of simultaneous applications available. Under the proposed system, each acquired usage right would allow one planet to display the corresponding design at a time. If you have five applications of a volcanic design, you could use that appearance on five planets simultaneously. Those applications would not allow you to customize five other planets as icy worlds, because each appearance would have its own separately tracked quantity.

We are also considering a collection containing five different planet designs. In this case, the player would receive one usage right for each of the five included appearances. This would make it possible to decorate five planets with five different designs at the same time, rather than apply each of those five designs to five planets.

We want the shop to make these distinctions clear before any purchase is made. Players should be able to see exactly which appearances are included in a bundle, how many simultaneous applications each one provides, and how many planets they can customize with their purchase.

This clarity will be particularly important for players planning to decorate an entire star system. Whether someone wants five matching volcanic worlds or five completely different appearances, the purchasing options should be easy to understand.

All prices, discount percentages, and bundle combinations shown above are provisional. We are still working on the system's economy, so the final offers may differ from these examples.

Permanent Access to Planet Designs and Reusable Usage Rights

One of the main principles behind the proposed system is that acquired usage rights should remain permanently associated with the player's account. We do not want players to have to purchase the same appearance again after removing it from a planet, nor should a previously acquired cosmetic design disappear simply because a certain amount of time has passed.

Each usage right would allow the corresponding appearance to be applied to one planet at a time. Players could remove a design from a planet they control and then assign the freed usage right to another planet belonging to their empire.

For example, imagine that you acquire five applications of a volcanic design and use them on five colonies. Later, you decide to give one of those colonies a different appearance. Once you remove the volcanic design, its usage right becomes available again and can be applied to another planet you control.

This flexibility would allow players to experiment with different visual styles as their empires expand. A design originally used for an early colony would not have to remain tied to that location forever. If a player moves their attention to another region of the galaxy or simply changes their preferred style, the same acquired appearance could be reassigned.

Additional acquisitions of the same design would also increase the total number of simultaneous applications available. If you initially have five volcanic design usage rights and later acquire ten more, your total would increase to fifteen. You could then have up to fifteen planets displaying that volcanic appearance simultaneously.

Each design would continue to have its own separately managed quantity. Acquiring more volcanic applications would not increase the number of icy or ocean-themed appearances available on your account.

We believe this approach would make collecting planet designs more useful over time. Players could gradually expand their collections without losing access to earlier acquisitions, while still being able to rearrange existing appearances whenever they wish.

What Happens If You Lose a Customized Planet?

Territorial conflict is an important part of WarForGalaxy. Planets can change hands during wars, and even a carefully developed colony may eventually be captured by another player. Any cosmetic customization system therefore needs to account for the possibility of losing a planet that has already been given a special appearance.

Imagine applying a rare icy design to an important colony, only to lose that planet during a war. Losing control of the territory is already a consequence of the conflict. Permanently losing the acquired cosmetic usage right as well would create an additional penalty that we would prefer to avoid.

Our proposed solution is straightforward: when a planet is lost or removed, the visual terraforming usage right assigned to that planet would automatically be released and returned to the former owner's available collection.

The player could then reuse that appearance on another planet they still control. The right to use the design would remain associated with the account that originally acquired it, regardless of what happens to the particular world where it was previously applied.

The new owner of a captured planet would not receive the former owner's cosmetic usage right. Capturing territory would not transfer another player's acquired planet appearances into the conqueror's collection.

For example, if a player loses a colony displaying a rare icy appearance, the corresponding usage right would become available to that player again. They could apply it to another colony without having to acquire the design a second time.

We consider this a more suitable approach for WarForGalaxy, where territorial control can change as a result of strategic decisions and military conflicts. Players should be able to customize their territories without worrying that every lost battle might permanently remove part of their cosmetic collection.

Unique Planet Designs as Achievement Rewards

Beyond appearances that could be acquired through the shop, we are particularly interested in rewarding players with special planet designs for their accomplishments in WarForGalaxy.

Not every unusual world needs to be available for credits. Some appearances could instead be earned through difficult achievements, victories in major game events, or other important objectives. We believe this would allow planet customization to represent not only personal taste but also the experiences that shape an empire's history.

Imagine taking part in a large-scale event and earning a unique planet appearance as a reward for your performance. You could then apply that design to one of your own worlds, creating a lasting reminder of the achievement. Other players might recognize that its distinctive appearance was not simply purchased in the shop but earned by completing a particular challenge.

That is the idea we find especially appealing. A planet could become a visible symbol of an important victory, a difficult achievement, or participation in a memorable event. Rather than being just another decorative item, the design could carry a story connected to the player who earned it.

We are considering the possibility of linking certain special appearances to significant game events. For instance, winners of particular competitions might receive a planet design that cannot be purchased with credits. Such rewards could help distinguish exceptional accomplishments from the regular cosmetic options available to everyone.

However, these achievement-related designs would still be entirely cosmetic. A rare planet would not automatically generate additional resources, receive stronger defenses, or improve the combat performance of fleets. Its value would come from its appearance, rarity, and the achievement associated with obtaining it.

Several important questions remain open. We have not yet decided which achievements could unlock these appearances, how many reward designs might be introduced, or whether players would be able to earn multiple usage rights for the same special design.

We want to develop this part of the system carefully so that achievement rewards feel meaningful. Ideally, obtaining a special planet appearance would be something players remember because of the effort or success behind it, rather than simply another item added to their collection.

Common, Epic, Seasonal, and Achievement Reward Designs

To make the collection of planet appearances more interesting, we are considering several categories of visual terraforming. These categories could differ in visual complexity, availability, and acquisition methods, while remaining consistent with the principle that cosmetic designs should not affect gameplay balance.

Our current concept includes common designs, epic appearances, seasonal designs, and rewards associated with achievements or game events. The final names and acquisition rules for these categories are still being discussed.

Common Designs

Common designs would form the foundation of the visual terraforming system. We are considering making these appearances regularly available in the shop, allowing players to choose suitable visual themes for their empires whenever they wish.

Volcanic worlds, frozen planets, ocean worlds, and other recognizable environments could serve as examples of this category. These designs would provide an accessible way to personalize individual colonies or create matching appearances across a larger group of planets.

Players who enjoy a particular style could gradually expand their collection of corresponding usage rights, allowing more planets to display that appearance simultaneously.

Epic Designs

Epic designs could feature more unusual artwork, richer visual details, and more striking effects than ordinary appearances. They might be intended for players who want certain planets to stand out more prominently within their empires.

We are considering making these designs available for credits, although their final appearance, pricing, and availability would need to be decided during development.

The distinction between common and epic designs would concern their visual presentation rather than gameplay performance. An epic appearance would not improve resource production, defense, or any other game statistic.

Seasonal Designs

Seasonal designs could be introduced in connection with particular game events. For example, thematic collections might become available for purchase during a limited period, giving players an opportunity to add distinctive appearances to their collections.

For this category, clear purchasing conditions would be especially important. Players should know when a seasonal offer ends and whether a particular design might return in the future.

If we cannot guarantee that a design will never be offered again, we do not intend to describe it as permanently exclusive. We believe players should be able to make informed decisions based on reliable information rather than promises that may not be possible to uphold.

Achievement Reward Designs

Achievement reward designs would be a separate category connected to specific accomplishments within WarForGalaxy. Under our current proposal, these appearances would be granted after players meet certain conditions and would not be available through ordinary credit purchases.

Over time, this could allow players to build collections that reflect their personal experiences in the game. Some worlds might display purchased designs chosen for their appearance, while others could carry special themes earned through achievements or important events.

The final selection of categories, their names, and their acquisition methods remain subject to further development. We want to create a system that offers plenty of visual variety while preserving a meaningful distinction between purchasable cosmetics and rewards earned through gameplay.

A New Decor Section in the Shop

If visual terraforming is introduced, players will need a convenient place to browse and acquire planet designs. We are therefore planning a dedicated Decor section within the WarForGalaxy shop.

This section could contain individual planet appearances, bundles offering multiple simultaneous applications of the same design, collections containing different visual styles, and special offers. We want players to be able to compare the available options without having to search through unrelated items.

One feature we would particularly like to include is a preview of each appearance. Before purchasing a design, players should be able to get a clear idea of how a planet might look after the visual transformation has been applied.

This could be especially useful for those planning to customize several planets at once. If you want an entire star system to share a volcanic theme, for example, you should have an opportunity to assess that appearance before acquiring a bundle intended for multiple worlds.

The shop should also clearly display the contents of every bundle and the number of usage rights included. Players would need to know how many planets could simultaneously use a particular design and whether a collection contains multiple copies of one appearance or a single application of several different styles.

For seasonal designs, we are considering displaying the period during which they can be purchased. Rare appearances may require additional information about their acquisition conditions, while designs earned through achievements should be handled separately from regular shop products.

Our goal is to make the purchasing process straightforward and transparent. The system should help players create the visual style they want for their empires without making them navigate complicated or unclear purchasing rules.

Managing Visual Terraforming Through the Arsenal

Once players acquire planet appearances, they will need a practical way to manage their collections. We are currently considering using WarForGalaxy's existing Arsenal system, potentially by adding a dedicated appearance category or a separate section for visual terraforming.

This area could allow players to view all the designs available to their accounts, including appearances acquired through the shop and special designs earned through achievements or events. It could also show the total number of usage rights for each design, how many are currently assigned to planets, and how many remain available.

We would like players to be able to preview the available appearances and select the planets to which they want to apply them. Keeping this information in one place could make the system easier to understand, particularly for those with extensive collections.

For example, suppose your collection contains three unused applications of an icy planet design. You could assign them to three planets you control. If all three usage rights are already in use and you want to customize another planet with the same appearance, you would first need to release one of the existing applications or acquire an additional right.

This approach would allow players to manage their appearances flexibly without losing track of how many simultaneous applications are available. A design could be removed from one colony and reassigned to another whenever the player's plans change.

We also want this system to remain practical for large empires, where dozens of planets might be eligible for customization. A useful management interface should make it easy to see which appearances are available and where they are currently assigned.

Could Designs Be Applied Directly From the Galaxy Map?

In addition to managing appearances through the Arsenal, we are exploring the possibility of applying visual terraforming directly from the galaxy map.

One option would be to provide an appropriate action when a player hovers over a planet they own. This could allow them to open the available appearance options and select a design without navigating through several separate interface sections.

Such a feature could make customization more convenient, especially for players who frequently reorganize the appearance of their colonies or manage large numbers of planets.

However, we still need to assess the technical requirements and determine how this interaction would fit into the existing interface. Wherever practical, we would prefer to reuse familiar Arsenal functionality rather than introduce an entirely separate management system.

We believe visual terraforming should feel like a natural extension of WarForGalaxy. The goal is to give players additional creative possibilities without making the interface unnecessarily complicated.

What Comes Next?

Visual planet terraforming is an opportunity to make the galaxy of WarForGalaxy more diverse and give individual empires a more recognizable identity. We would like players to have the freedom to create unusual worlds, develop consistent themes across their territories, and highlight the colonies that matter most to them.

We are particularly interested in how unique achievement rewards could contribute to this experience. Imagine an empire where certain rare planets commemorate major victories, difficult challenges, or participation in important events. Each of those worlds could become a reminder of a particular moment in its owner's history.

That is the direction we find exciting: allowing the appearance of an empire to reflect not only its current territory and military strength but also some of the experiences that helped shape it.

Before anything like this can become part of the game, several aspects still need further work. We are continuing to examine the proposed purchasing model, usage rights, acquisition methods, design categories, and interface options. We also need to determine how cosmetic collections and achievement rewards should be integrated into the existing systems.

Throughout this process, we intend to maintain several important principles. Acquired visual terraforming usage rights should remain permanently associated with the player's account. They should be reusable and transferable between planets belonging to that player, and losing a planet should not mean permanently losing the corresponding cosmetic right.

Equally important, all visual transformations should remain cosmetic. They should not increase resource output, improve planetary defenses, or provide any advantage in combat. We want the value of these designs to come from their appearance and the stories behind them, not from stronger game statistics.

All prices, discounts, bundle contents, rarity categories, acquisition conditions, and usage rules described in this diary remain preliminary. The feature is still being planned, and these details may change before a future update. We will share the final rules once the relevant mechanics have been fully developed.

What Kind of Planets Would You Like to See?

If visual terraforming becomes available in WarForGalaxy, which appearances would you be most interested in using? Would you prefer volcanic worlds covered in glowing lava, frozen planets surrounded by ice, or ocean worlds with vast stretches of water? Or do you have ideas for completely different, more unusual science-fiction environments?

We would also love to hear your thoughts about achievement-exclusive designs. Should certain appearances be reserved for particularly difficult achievements or victories in major game events? What kinds of cosmetic rewards would feel meaningful to you?

Share your ideas and suggestions on the official WarForGalaxy forum. We are interested in your feedback because it is the players who will ultimately shape the history and appearance of future galactic empires.