How to build an open world environment with less than 10 rocks

Lucas_Duguin · Jun 9 2026

Hi,

I've been working on a game for the past 3 years and tried to come up with innovative techniques throughout production to increase quality without tanking dev time. I think one of the biggest achievements was managing to create a modular set of cliffs that were reused across multiple biomes and served as the core for the majority of the open world we put together.

I know I didn't re invent the wheel or anything but I wanted to share this here and take on feedback or opinions on it if people ever tried similar techniques

You can find the full projects here if you're interested in the process:
https://www.artstation.com/artwork/BkBy4k

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/4u/h8emp6yunukx.png

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/3c/wtbr2q0v54hm.png

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/2b/2ssi6942r2u9.png

More breakdown elements here: https://www.artstation.com/artwork/x385wW

Eric Chadwick · Jun 9 2026

Nice! Looks beautiful, love the stylization.

Can you share a bit of the creation process for these rocks? I’m guessing maybe a macro-sized bake for unique normal map, combined with micro-level tiled detail maps?

Reminds me of some of the work Naughty Dog has shared here before.
https://polycount.com/discussion/98332/uncharted-3-environment-art-dump-anthony-vaccaro/p1

Grubber · Jun 9 2026

Indeed, beautiful rocks!
I am also interested to see how wireframe and uvs look.

Lucas_Duguin · Jun 9 2026

Eric Chadwick said:

Nice! Looks beautiful, love the stylization.

Can you share a bit of the creation process for these rocks? I’m guessing maybe a macro-sized bake for unique normal map, combined with micro-level tiled detail maps?

Reminds me of some of the work Naughty Dog has shared here before.
https://polycount.com/discussion/98332/uncharted-3-environment-art-dump-anthony-vaccaro/p1

That's pretty much how it was done yeah. There is a breakdown on the artstation post but here is a shot of the details map.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/be/xthzadmeu5j7.png

UVs and Wireframe breakdown is definitly a good request I don't know why I didn't add one in there @Grubber

I will work on adding that in. The majority of the stones average around 5-8k though and are baked on a 2048 or a 1024 map depending on their size

sacboi · Jun 9 2026

Yeah lovely rocks so I reckon deserves a post on Rawk - https://polycount.com/discussion/125857/rawk-post-any-rocks-you-make-here/p22

Lucas_Duguin · 10:27AM

sacboi said:

Yeah lovely rocks so I reckon deserves a post on Rawk - https://polycount.com/discussion/125857/rawk-post-any-rocks-you-make-here/p22

Thanks for the recommendation, I posted a small breakdown over there

How to build an open world environment with less than 10 rocks

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