Refreshed Planets
<<< AI TRIGGER WARNING >>> Mod author is a dirty human sellout who uses generative AI platforms to generate aspects of mod content.
- v1.1.2 — 11 February 2025 — Changed "carbonaceous" image
- v1.1.1 — 10 February 2025 — Changed "ice" and "ocean" images to have more distinct color palettes
- v1.1.0 — 01 February 2025 — Changed various images based on feedback
- v1.0.0 — 24 January 2025 — Initial release
Everything I know of. The mod only replaces the original art. No .xml files edited.
XL Compatible Load my mod AFTER XL to get all this mod’s content.
There is a quirk with DW2 that requires a full-game restart after downloading and enabling any mod. So be sure you exit out of the game after turning the mod on, then re-launch DW2. Otherwise assets and changes won’t work.
The original UI art for stars, planets and asteroids is fine. But after a few playthroughs, sometimes you want something more, something different, something fresh.
What I noticed was the game used and re-used screenshots of planets in various spots through the UI. For example, there’s a planet detail view screen in the UI that simply…shows the planet again in the background. Clicking on a colony to see your troops…again, simply shows the planet again in the background.
I wanted to give more "scenes" from various planets. I think it gives our minds some more fodder for imagination. Seeing a rocky plain or an icy tundra is just more immersive, in my opinion.
In DW:Universe, looking at your ground troops shows them on a tactical map, based on the biome of the hosting planet. I noticed that in DW2, I could swap out those screens in a mod. So I put in these "tactical maps" to attempt to spice up the ground combat screen.
This mod is purely cosmetic and seeks to just add a dash of something new to your DW2 experience.
This makes some ground unit icons hard to see on some of these tactical maps. I can’t do anything about that, at this time.
I honestly considered not releasing this mod b/c of this auto-color thing, but went for it anyway.
DW2 Dev Team, please let us choose empire colors and give options that give better contrast in-game!
- Subscribe to Refreshed Resources here in steam workshop.
- Launch DW2.
- Within the game, In the Modifications menu, enable this mod.
- <<< IMPORTANT >>> You must EXIT and RESTART Distant Worlds 2 before the mod will work.
- After re-loading DW2, start a new game and enjoy!
Hey! I’m salemonz, the mod author.
The Distant Worlds 2 Refreshed mod series is my attempt to increase my skills with generative AI applications, 3D modeling and photo-editing programs.
I’m just a dad gamer with limited time for hobbies who enjoys tinkering with his games. I hope these mods add to your enjoyment of DW2!
Revisions:
Old revisions of this mod are available below. Click the link to download.
