Weekly Development Update 2.13.2026

Hey everyone 👋

This week was focused heavily on interior systems, lighting improvements, and world expansion. A lot of foundational work is happening that will improve both performance and immersion long-term.

Here’s what I’ve been working on:

🏢 Improved Interior Handling (Performance + Lighting)

I’ve been upgrading how interior scenes are handled throughout the world.

This includes:

• Better interior scene loading logic

• Improved lighting management inside buildings

• More efficient rendering for enclosed spaces

• Foundation for supporting more detailed interiors without tanking performance

The goal is to make indoor environments feel richer while keeping the game smooth.

⛽ Gas Station Interior (In Progress)

I’ve started building out the gas station interior.

This will tie into:

• The upcoming shop system foundation

• Future item purchasing

• More interactive city locations

Right now, it’s focused on layout, lighting, and structural setup before gameplay logic is layered in.

👗 Clothing Shops Added to the World

Clothing stores are now being built into NeonStrip.

These will connect to:

• The upcoming shop system

• Player wardrobe functionality

• Expanded customization progression

This is laying the groundwork for the city to feel more alive and functional.

🌅 Day & Night Lighting Improvements

The day/night cycle has been refined significantly.

Changes include:

• Nights are no longer overly dark

• Improved ambient balance

• Better sunrise and sunset coloration

• More atmospheric sky lighting

The city now feels more natural across different times of day while still keeping the neon vibe intact.

👕 Wardrobe System (In Development)

I’ve started building the Wardrobe feature.

Players will be able to:

• Switch clothing at their house

• Manage outfit categories (Head / Body / Feet)

• Apply changes directly to their character

This system will later connect with clothing shops and expanded customization options. These are still in active development and will continue to evolve.

Thank you all for supporting NeonStrip 💜

A lot of this work is foundational, but it’s building toward a more interactive, better-performing, and more immersive world.

More updates soon.

— AfterDark Studio