Why Planets Should Spin

One of the most exciting opportunities for Space Engineers 2 is the chance to make planetary environments feel more alive and immersive. A major step toward that goal would be giving planets axial rotation. Currently, planets in the original game are static, which limits both realism and gameplay variety.

1. Realism & Immersion

Planets in real space rotate. Seeing the sun rise and set as a result of planetary spin, instead of a fixed skybox, would make the universe feel dynamic. It would deepen immersion by giving each world its own sense of time and rhythm.

2. Day/Night Cycles

Rotating planets would naturally create day and night cycles. This would make solar power management more strategic, as engineers would need to adapt their bases and ships to changing light conditions. Nighttime could also add atmosphere, encouraging the use of lighting systems and making exploration feel different depending on the time of day.

3. Gameplay Depth

Rotation introduces new design challenges and opportunities. For example:

• Bases near the equator would experience regular, balanced cycles.
• Bases near the poles might have long days or nights, affecting power and survival strategies.
• Navigation and timing could matter more when planning expeditions or attacks.

4. Technical Benefits

Unlike orbiting planets (which could break physics grids and require massive reworks), spinning planets are simpler to implement. The world can remain fixed while just the sky, lighting, and atmosphere are rotated around the player. This allows developers to simulate planetary spin without destabilizing ships, bases, or voxel interactions.

5. Long-Term Potential

Adding rotation lays the groundwork for more advanced systems in the future, such as seasonal changes, dynamic weather tied to latitude, or even tidal effects on oceans if water is introduced.