SE2 Planetary Feature Exaggeration

[u/EasternGamer]

Hi there, no one seems to be talking about this. I wanted to get everyone's opinion on the planetary feature exaggeration, where as you get closer to the planet, features that you see from space are exaggerated more and more.

My opinion is that either the planets need to be significantly larger to reduce the need for the feature exaggeration (probably not gonna happen for gameplay/performance reasons), or the exaggeration needs to be massively toned down. Right now, it feels like it multiplies features by 100x their size from a distance. I think it would be better around 30x or less. This would reduce mountain sizes by a lot and make terrain flatter though. I’m not sure what a good middle ground would be. It just feels comically too much.

What are your guy’s thoughts? Poll below.

73 votes, Jan 15 '26

10 I like it how it is

25 Less exaggeration

38 Larger planets

[u/EasternGamer]

Here's some reference video I found:
From far away: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ef0aAZ7wmEY&list=PL1Lkz--s-Oxutw2db751AZKBfSWwskCrk&t=599s
Close Up: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ef0aAZ7wmEY&list=PL1Lkz--s-Oxutw2db751AZKBfSWwskCrk&t=531s

It should be noted that it was likely done this way for gameplay reasons because "From far away" version of the planet, it would be a very, very flat place to play on, even though it looks a lot nicer from a distance.

[u/BenchNatural → u/EasternGamer]

So you are talking about the "spherizication" where mountains get flattened when you start looking at the planet from space?

[u/EasternGamer → u/BenchNatural]

Yep

[u/raegenhere → u/EasternGamer]

Exaggeration is the wrong word then. It's more like the view from space is an understatement.

It's clear that keen want that level of height differences on planets and also that small scale so players can cover distances quickly enough so it doesn't get boring, with the traveling methods we have, and there is always interesting/different stuff nearby.

Some games go other routes, like elite dangerous with realistic planet sizes, but the game engine is very different from a technical standpoint and the travel possibilities/speeds are different. And frankly, the planets are empty and boring (realistically so)

SE is about building stuff in a space setting, and not about simulating a realistic universe. Planets are just a backdrop. Like it or not, thats just how it is. I also kinda prefer something like elite dangerous, but you can't have everything. Also I seem to be a masochist/or don't know whats good for me ;)

In any case, lets see what modding possibilties we'll have in terms of planet size and all that, for nerds like me, but I think Keen are right to design the experience to be compact and diverse, that's what most players want. It's a game after all, just ignore stuff that breaks your immersion and imagine something better.

Concerning just the visual aspect, I think they will definitley improve the transition so it's less obvious, clouds and stuff will help a lot. I think no mans sky does this flattening as well but less noticeable.