In developing a day and night cycle for an outdoor strategy game, how can you simulate the passage of time?

Simulating the passage of time in a day and night cycle involves creating a realistic representation of how lighting conditions change throughout the day. Rotating the directional light is a key method for achieving this effect, as the directional light in Unity typically simulates sunlight. By adjusting the angle of this light source throughout the game, you can mimic the sun’s movement across the sky, which effectively changes the lighting conditions to reflect different times of day, like dawn, midday, and sunset.

This approach not only affects the brightness of the scene but also alters shadows, making them longer during sunset and sunrise, or more direct at noon. As a result, players experience a tangible progression of time, enhancing immersion in the game world.

While other options, like changing skybox textures or adjusting light intensity, can contribute visual changes, they don't inherently simulate the natural progression of the day. Skybox textures can reflect different times of day but do not create dynamic light changes on their own. Increasing light intensity is also limited since it does not represent the nuanced variations in sunlight throughout the day. Adjusting HDR settings can enhance the visual quality of lighting but does not affect the simulation of time itself. Thus, rotating the directional light stands out as the most effective solution for creating