Second Extinction - Arctic Biome (2021 release)

Second Extinction - Arctic Biome (Art Direction)

Role: Art Director

This work covers an art direction pass on the Arctic biome during Early Access (2021).

The focus was to improve overall readability and atmosphere while making the environment feel more dramatic and rewarding during downtime in gameplay. The goal was to make the world carry more visual weight, not just during combat but in the quieter moments between encounters.

Key areas of focus:
- improving readability across terrain and gameplay spaces
- refining lighting for a clearer mood and contrast
- introducing more dramatic and varied weather conditions
- expanding the time of day setups to create more distinct visual states
- strengthening environmental storytelling and composition

In addition to overseeing the overall visual direction, I worked hands-on on weather authoring and time-of-day lighting setups, while also defining key hero shots and improving composition across the map.

All final artwork was produced by the talented team at Systemic Reaction (Avalanche Studios Group).
My role was to guide the direction, shape the visual experience, and ensure consistency across the biome.

Credits
Art team at Systemic Reaction.