[2021] Question about graphics on store page and performance?

This has been covered extensively in previous threads. I’m confident what’s on the store page is in-game footage with no doctoring, except for the live action trailer which is, I hope, obvious.

Regarding “cartoony” specifically, you’re probably noticing the switch in Alpha 19 to linear color space lighting. I’ll just paste what it said in the release notes.

Linear Color Space Lighting

Alpha 19 has gotten a huge visual upgrade with the switch to Linear Color Space Lighting. We have finally achieved full PBR Physically Based Rendering and all of the art has been adjusted to look better and compatible with it. Normal maps look better, bright lights don’t wash out the scene and so much more. It’s hard to describe why it looks better you’ll have to play it to see for yourself.

The video option to adjust gamma has been changed to brightness, so it works with the new lighting. It also has a more balanced range of darker to lighter adjustment.

Lights now use a priority system, so close lights are updated rapidly to reduce visible jumps in their intensity and range.