Playnexus Station - Progression update

Redesigned entry with explanation of new gem-system
Select a skybox
Unlock new skyboxes with gems
Mars background
Neutron Star background 1
Sharable moment
Neptune background

Inspiration

We were inspired by the idea of combining casual multiplayer games with an evolving visual experience. Our backgrounds are based on original Unity scenes from our award-winning VR worlds Exoplanet Journey and Solar System, previously featured in AltspaceVR and VRChat. The goal: make visuals more than just decoration - make them feel earned, emotional, and immersive.

What it does

Playnexus Station lets users play quiz and drawing games to earn Gems. These Gems unlock stunning space skyboxes that shift the entire mood of the world - ranging from real Solar System planets to mysterious exoplanets. Unlocks scale in difficulty, encouraging long-term engagement. A newly added Quest System deepens progression and gives users more reasons to return.

How we built it

We used Horizon Worlds’ tools to build a game hub with two core games, an integrated reward system, and dynamically changeable environments. Skyboxes are generated from custom-built Unity scenes, then exported into formats suitable for Horizon Worlds (cubemap strips, equirectangular radiancemaps). Lighting and reflections had to be carefully adjusted due to differences in Horizon's engine versus Unity. Our new workflow allows rapid export of skyboxes for future updates.

Challenges we ran into

Changing environments live in-world posed technical hurdles, especially aligning light, reflection, and material behavior. Creating skyboxes required rethinking materials after realizing the reflection system behaved differently than in Unity. We also had difficulty generating accurate environment maps, but solved this with a streamlined export pipeline. Adding new content like our Quest System required integrating modular logic without disrupting existing systems.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We delivered a mobile-friendly multiplayer world with rewarding visuals and scalable progression. The skyboxes aren’t just cosmetic—they’re emotional payoffs rooted in artistic, handcrafted scenes. We expanded our quiz system using GPT-4 Pro (which cost us a significant budget) and added human-curated questions to ensure high-quality gameplay. We’re proud to have designed a system that motivates players not through power-ups, but through emotional immersion and long-term goals.

What we learned

We gained deep insight into mobile-friendly design workflows, skybox conversion pipelines, and reflection behavior in Horizon Worlds. We learned how to optimize Unity-generated environments for a completely different platform. Additionally, we saw the value of AI-assisted content generation when paired with human oversight, especially for game balance and educational value.

What's next for Playnexus Station Update

We plan to add new games, unlockable cosmetic upgrades, and more animated skyboxes as Horizon Worlds opens new capabilities. We're exploring other Station Modes, multiplayer challenges, and ways to enhance sharing and social play. Future updates will bring more seasonal content and interactive background elements—allowing players not just to unlock environments, but to feel part of their evolution.