What would you like to request:
I am requesting a review and enhancement of the 2D Lighting and Layer system to make it more intuitive, flexible, and powerful for 2D game development. Specifically, I’d like to address the purpose of the “Lighting Layer,” expand background color / ambient light options, and change the default behavior of new layers to not automatically include 3D lighting.
Why you are requesting it:
I am trying to create a cohesive and efficient Layers workflow within GDevelop. The current system works, but several aspects feel inconsistent or limiting, which complicates the process and forces workarounds.
- The “Lighting Layer” Redundancy:
Currently, the “Lighting Layer” seems to be a specific layer type that applies a multiply blend mode. However, we can create a normal layer, set its blend mode to “Multiply,” and use a Tiled Sprite for ambient light to achieve an almost identical effect. This makes me question the unique purpose of the “Lighting Layer.” Is it doing something under the hood that isn’t obvious? Its existence as a special type feels redundant when the same result can be achieved with existing layer properties. - Limited Background / Ambient Light Options:
The ability to set a background color / ambient light is a fantastic feature, but it’s currently restricted to only the “Base Layer” and “Lighting Layer.” This is a missed opportunity. Normal layers could greatly benefit from this. For example, I might want a specific UI layer to have a semi-transparent dark overlay (using a colored background), or a gameplay layer to have a specific tint without placing a full-screen object. Currently, I have to create a Tiled Sprite and manually add it to the layer, which is less efficient. - Default 3D Lighting on New Layers:
By default, every new layer created in the project is initialized with a 3D lighting environment (a Hemisphere Light). As a user who is exclusively making a 2D game, this is unnecessary and adds clutter to the project properties. It would be much cleaner if new layers were created as “pure” 2D layers by default. The 3D lighting feature is excellent for those who need it, but it should be an opt-in setting, not an opt-out one. This would streamline the workspace for 2D-focused developers.
Every new layer is being created with a 3D effect "hemisphere light" without my consent
P.S. I know that it’s not a good practice to create a list in feature request topic, but I feel like all of the points in this list ARE connected.