One of the best Switch games out there right now has just been given a big discount. Unicorn Overlord, the much-loved and innovative high-fantasy RPG has dropped down to just £44 on eBay, making it one of the very best Switch deals right now.
If you’ve not played the game before, it’s a character-driven adventure and one of the most exciting RPGs to have come out on the Switch platform. If you’ve been waiting for an opportunity to pick this one up, then now is your time, this is the best Unicorn Overlord deal we’ve seen in a while.
To get the deal, all you’ll need to do is make sure you’re purchasing the game on the eBay app, and use the code APP20 at checkout.
The game has proven immensely popular with Switch players since it came out, and it’s easy to see why. In our review, we gave it a 9/10, saying: “Reflecting on the incredibly diverse and remarkably creative world I explored across my 45-hour journey, any issues I had with Unicorn Overlord ended up feeling like nothing more than nitpicks. The tactical combat system is unique and complex while also being easy to understand, expertly blending mechanics from many of its peers with smart new additions of its own. The interesting terrain across the continent of Fevrith makes every fight feel unique, with some of the best map gimmicks I’ve seen in any strategy RPG.”
The new eBay code is the latest offering from the website, but this one is operating slightly differently compared to recent codes from eBay. All the previous codes were on selected sellers only, and while that’s the case again for this one, there’s an added caveat that you can only use this code when purchasing items on the eBay app. So bear that in mind when you’re doing your shopping.
The code has a minimum spend of £9.99, and you can redeem it a maximum of three times. You’ve got the whole weekend to take advantage of the deal, as it doesn’t come to an end until 11:59 PM on April 15.
Joe O’Neill-Parker is a freelance writer and audio producer. He is the owner of O’Neill Multimedia. He writes commerce, sports, and audio-related tech articles for IGN.
Matt has been reviewing the Fallout TV show, and he’s so happy about how it’s turned out that he could explode. Rather than going nuclear, he’s on this week’s IGN UK podcast to tell you all about how good it is. He’s joined by Emma, who’s played a little of Ubisoft’s surprise roguelike The Rogue Prince of Persia, and Mat J, who’s back from his pilgrimage to Wrestlemania. There’s also another round of the Endless Search, and your feedback.
Tell us what your favourite sauce is. Get in touch at ign_ukfeedback@ign.com.
Publisher QubicGames has announced that it is launching a 20th Anniversary Switch eShop sale in North America and Europe, slashing the prices of over 100 digital titles. It will be available from 12th April to 1st May 2024.
The paramaters and prices are very much dependent on your region with this one, so let’s take a look at North America first. According to QubicGames, all games included in the sale will be priced at a mere $0.20 each, but in order to qualify, you’ll need to own a digital copy of Coloring Book.
Save the date! The Quake-powered first-person shooter Wrath: Aeon of Ruin has locked in a new release date for the Switch.
After it was meant to arrive in Spring 2023, the new date for consoles has now been scheduled for later this month on 25th April. The same title exited early access on Steam in February of this year.
Nintendo continues to add to its Switch Online retro service and today it’s added three more titles to the Super Nintendo library.
These titles include the Nintendo game Wrecking Crew ’98, Sunsoft’s Amazing Hebereke, and IREM’s Super R-Type. Japan’s line up is a little bit different this time. Along with Wrecking Crew and Super R-Type, it’s also got Battletoads: Battlemaniacs and Marvelous: Mōhitotsu no Takarajima.
Warhorse Studios, the developer behind the popular role-playing game Kingdom Come: Deliverance, is getting ready to reveal its next game.
The Czech studio took to X/Twitter on Thursday to announce that it would be revealing a new game on April 18 at 11am PT / 2pm ET. Fans immediately began buzzing about the possibility of a sequel to Kingdom Come, which earned a loyal following thanks to the way that it grounded its Skyrim-like design in a more realistic medieval open world.
Referring to Kingdom Come’s protagonist, one fans asked, “Oh my god are we finally gonna see the rest of Henry’s story?”
First released in 2018, Kingdom Come Deliverance has consistently topped lists of the best RPGs. We wrote in our review at the time, “There’s a shining suit of mail underneath Kingdom Come: Deliverance’s authentically medieval grime. Strong characters and storytelling, one of my favorite first-person melee combat systems ever, and special attention given to building moment-to-moment immersion come together as a mighty alloy that ranks among the most unique, memorable RPGs I’ve played in years.”
Kingdom Come: Deliverance is available on PC, PS4, and Xbox One, and also received a Switch release last March.
Shortly after the release of Kingdom Come: Deliverance, Warhorse Studios was acquired by Plaion, the company formerly known as Koch Media that includes Deep Silver. Plaion is part of the Embracer Group, which recently underwent layoffs and cancellations amid heavy restructuring.
We’ll know soon enough what Warhorse Studios has in store. In the meantime, check out all the biggest game releases of 2024.
Kat Bailey is IGN’s News Director as well as co-host of Nintendo Voice Chat. Have a tip? Send her a DM at @the_katbot.
The 2024 BAFTA Games Awards have come and gone but didn’t leave without another round of wins for Larian Studios’ Baldur’s Gate 3. The Dungeons and Dragons RPG rolled away from the show with five wins (including Best Game) while other highlights saw solid wins for projects like Alan Wake 2, Super Mario Bros. Wonder, and Viewfinder.
Larian’s night at the BAFTAs saw studio head Swen Vincke and the rest of the team taking home awards for Best Game, Music, Performer in a Supporting Role, and Narrative. It also won the public vote for EE Players’ Choice award, giving the studio that grand total of fine wins.
The total of 18 categories saw awards spread out among the nominees. Alan Wake 2 developer Remedy Entertainment nabbed awards for Artistic Achievement and Audio Achievement, while Nintendo managed to grab the Family and Multiplayer Awards for Super Mario Bros. Wonder. Viewfinder was another surprise standout, taking home awards for New Intellectual Property and British Game. Other highlights saw Venba win for Debut Game, Tchia win for Game Beyond Entertainment, and Dave the Diver win for Game Design.
The BAFTA Games Awards also took the time to honor this year’s Special Award recipient: the UK-based gaming charity, SpecialEffect. Since getting off the ground in 2007, the organization has utilized technology to allow and enhance access to video games for disabled players. As SpecialEffect explains on its website, “Whatever we do, we’re committed to making life better for the people that need us, for as long as possible.”
SpecialEffect CEO and founder Dr. Mick Donegan MBE accepted the award on the organization’s behalf. He shared a few thoughts about the recognition in a pre-ceremony interview.
“We are utterly delighted,” he said. “We’re delighted because, well, it’s great that the charity is recognized, but what we’ve achieved has been in partnership with the people who’ve helped us, who have funded us, the people we’ve worked with who’ve helped, and the industry that has collaborated with us to make their games more accessible. It’s just a lovely endorsement for accessibility all together and the effort that everybody’s made.”
BAFTA Special Award winners span across games, film, and television. Past recipients include Amy Hennig, Epic Games, Nolan North, Brenda Romero, Idris Elba, Spike Lee, The Jim Henson Company, Ridley Scott, and many more.
You can take a look at every winner and nominee from the 2024 Bafta Games Awards below. As awards season winds down, don’t forget to check out IGN’s list of the best games of 2023.
ANIMATION
ALAN WAKE 2 Development Team – Remedy Entertainment Plc./Epic Games
HI-FI RUSH Development Team – Tango Gameworks/Bethesda Softworks – WINNER
HOGWARTS LEGACY Development Team – Avalanche Software/Warner Bros. Games
MARVEL’S SPIDER-MAN 2 Development Team – Insomniac Games/Sony Interactive Entertainment
STAR WARS JEDI: SURVIVOR Nathan Dunlap, David Nam, Thomas Cannell – Respawn Entertainment/Electronic Arts
SUPER MARIO BROS. WONDER Development Team – Nintendo EPD/Nintendo
ARTISTIC ACHIEVEMENT
ALAN WAKE 2 Development Team – Remedy Entertainment Plc./Epic Games – WINNER
BALDUR’S GATE 3 Development Team – Larian Studio/Larian Studio
COCOON Development Team – Geometric Interactive/Annapurna Interactive
DIABLO IV Development Team – Blizzard Entertainment/Blizzard Entertainment
FINAL FANTASY XVI Hiroshi Minagawa, Kazuya Takahashi, Naoki Kurihara – SQUARE ENIX – Creative Business Unit III/SQUARE ENIX
HI-FI RUSH Development Team – Tango Gameworks/Bethesda Softworks
AUDIO ACHIEVEMENT
ALAN WAKE 2 Development Team – Remedy Entertainment Plc./Epic Games – WINNER
CALL OF DUTY: MODERN WARFARE III Matt Grimm, Eric Wedemeyer, Robbie Elias – Sledgehammer
Games/Activision
HI-FI RUSH Development Team – Tango Gameworks/Bethesda Softworks
THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: TEARS OF THE KINGDOM Development Team – Nintendo EPD/Nintendo
MARVEL’S SPIDER-MAN 2 Development Team – Insomniac Games/Sony Interactive Entertainment
STAR WARS JEDI: SURVIVOR Development Team – Respawn Entertainment/Electronic Arts
BEST GAME
ALAN WAKE 2 Development Team – Remedy Entertainment Plc./Epic Games
BALDUR’S GATE 3 Development Team – Larian Studio/Larian Studio – WINNER
DAVE THE DIVER Development Team – MINTROCKET/MINTROCKET
THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: TEARS OF THE KINGDOM Development Team – Nintendo EPD/Nintendo
MARVEL’S SPIDER-MAN 2 Development Team – Insomniac Games/Sony Interactive Entertainment
SUPER MARIO BROS. WONDER Development Team – Nintendo EPD/Nintendo
BRITISH GAME
CASSETTE BEASTS Development Team – Bytten Studio/Raw Fury
DEAD ISLAND 2 Development Team – Dambuster Studios/PLAION
DISNEY ILLUSION ISLAND Development Team – Dlala Studios/Disney
FOOTBALL MANAGER 2024 Development Team – Sports Interactive/SEGA Europe
VIEWFINDER Development Team – Sad Owl Studios/Thunderful Publishing – WINNER
WARHAMMER AGE OF SIGMAR: REALMS OF RUIN Development Team – Frontier Developments/Frontier Developments
DEBUT GAME
COCOON Development Team – Geometric Interactive/Annapurna Interactive
DAVE THE DIVER Development Team – MINTROCKET/MINTROCKET
DREDGE Development Team – Black Salt Games/Team17 Digital
STRAY GODS: THE ROLEPLAYING MUSICAL Development Team – Summerfall Studios/Humble Games
VENBA Abhijeeth Swaminathan, Sam Elkana, Shahrin Khan – Visai Games/Visai Games – WINNER
VIEWFINDER Development Team – Sad Owl Studios/Thunderful Publishing
EVOLVING GAME
CYBERPUNK 2077 Development Team – CD PROJEKT RED/CD PROJEKT RED – WINNER
FINAL FANTASY XIV ONLINE Development Team – Creative Business Unit III/Square Enix
FORTNITE Development Team – Epic Games/Epic Games
FORZA HORIZON 5 Development Team – Playground Games/Xbox Game Studios
GENSHIN IMPACT Development Team – HoYoverse/HoYoverse
NO MAN’S SKY Development Team – Hello Games/Hello Games
FAMILY
COCOON Development Team – Geometric Interactive/Annapurna Interactive
DAVE THE DIVER Development Team – MINTROCKET/MINTROCKET
DISNEY ILLUSION ISLAND Development Team – Dlala Studios/Disney
HI-FI RUSH Development Team – Tango Gameworks/Bethesda Softworks
HOGWARTS LEGACY Development Team – Avalanche Software/Warner Bros. Games
SUPER MARIO BROS. WONDER Development Team – Nintendo EPD/Nintendo – WINNER
GAME BEYOND ENTERTAINMENT
CHANTS OF SENNAAR Julien Moya, Thomas Panuel – Rundisc/Focus Entertainment
GOODBYE VOLCANO HIGH Development Team – KO_OP/KO_OP
THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: TEARS OF THE KINGDOM Development Team – Nintendo EPD/Nintendo
MARVEL’S SPIDER-MAN 2 John Paesano, Scott Hanau, Keith Leary – Insomniac Games/Sony Interactive Entertainment
STAR WARS JEDI: SURVIVOR Gordy Haab, Stephen Barton – Respawn Entertainment/Electronic Arts
NARRATIVE
ALAN WAKE 2 Development Team – Remedy Entertainment Plc./Epic Games
BALDUR’S GATE 3 Development Team – Larian Studio/Larian Studio – WINNER
DREDGE Joel Mason, Alex Ritchie, Nadia Thorne – Black Salt Games/Team17 Digital
FINAL FANTASY XVI Kazutoyo Maehiro, Michael-Christopher Koji Fox – SQUARE ENIX – Creative Business Unit III/SQUARE ENIX
THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: TEARS OF THE KINGDOM Development Team – Nintendo EPD/Nintendo
STAR WARS JEDI: SURVIVOR Stig Asmussen, Aaron Contreras, Dori Arazi – Respawn Entertainment/Electronic Arts
NEW INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
CHANTS OF SENNAAR Julien Moya, Thomas Panuel – Rundisc/Focus Entertainment
DAVE THE DIVER Development Team – MINTROCKET/MINTROCKET
DREDGE Development Team – Black Salt Games/Team17 Digital
HI-FI RUSH Development Team – Tango Gameworks/Bethesda Softworks
JUSANT Development Team – DON’T NOD/DON’T NOD
VIEWFINDER Development Team – Sad Owl Studios/Thunderful Publishing – WINNER
PERFORMER IN A LEADING ROLE
AMELIA TYLER as Narrator in Baldur’s Gate 3
CAMERON MONAGHAN as Cal Kestis in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
NADJI JETER as Miles Morales in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 – WINNER
NEIL NEWBON as Astarion in Baldur’s Gate 3
SAMANTHA BÉART as Karlach in Baldur’s Gate 3
YURI LOWENTHAL as Peter Parker in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
PERFORMER IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
ANDREW WINCOTT as Raphael in Baldur’s Gate 3 – WINNER
DEBRA WILSON as Cere Junda in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
RALPH INESON as Cidolfus “Cid” Telamon in Final Fantasy XVI
SAM LAKE as Alex Casey in Alan Wake 2
TONY TODD as Venom in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
TRACY WILES as Jaheira in Baldur’s Gate 3
TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT
ALAN WAKE 2 Development Team – Remedy Entertainment Plc./Epic Games
FINAL FANTASY XVI Ryota Suzuki, Yasuhiro Yanamoto, Kei Honda – SQUARE ENIX – Creative Business Unit III/SQUARE ENIX
HORIZON CALL OF THE MOUNTAIN Development Team – Guerrilla and Firesprite/Sony Interactive Entertainment
THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: TEARS OF THE KINGDOM Development Team – Nintendo EPD/Nintendo – WINNER
MARVEL’S SPIDER-MAN 2 Development Team – Insomniac Games/Sony Interactive Entertainment
STARFIELD Development Team – Bethesda Game Studios/Bethesda Softworks
EE PLAYERS’ CHOICE
BALDUR’S GATE 3 Larian Studio/Larian Studio – WINNER
CYBERPUNK 2077 CD PROJEKT RED/CD PROJEKT RED
FORTNITE Epic Games/Epic Games
THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: TEARS OF THE KINGDOM Nintendo EPD/Nintendo
LETHAL COMPANY Zeekerss/Zeekerss
MARVEL’S SPIDER-MAN 2 Insomniac Games/Sony Interactive Entertainment
Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He started writing in the industry in 2017 and is best known for his work at outlets such as The Pitch, The Escapist, OnlySP, and Gameranx.
Be sure to give him a follow on Twitter @MikeCripe.
Hey Xbox Insiders! We have a new Xbox Update Preview releasing to the Beta ring today.
It’s important we note that some updates made to these preview OS builds include background improvements that ensure a quality and stable build for Xbox consoles. We will continue to post these release notes, even when the noticeable changes to the UI are minimal or behind the scenes, so you’re aware when updates are coming to your device.
Details can be found below!
System Update Details
OS Version: XB_FLT_2405ZN25398.4409.240408-2200
Available: 2 p.m. PT – April 11, 2024
Mandatory: 3 a.m. PT – April 12, 2024
Fixes Included
Thanks to all the great feedback Xbox Insiders provide and the hard work of Xbox engineers, we are happy to announce the following fixes have been implemented with this build:
System
Various updates to properly reflect local languages across the console.
While known issues may have been listed in previous Xbox Insider Release Notes, they are not being ignored! However, it may take Xbox engineers more time to find a solution. If you experience any of these issues, we ask that you please follow any guidance provided and file feedback with Report a Problem.
Audio
Some users have reported experiencing intermittent audio issues across the dashboard, games, and apps.
Troubleshooting: If you do experience issues, please confirm your TV and all other equipment have the latest firmware installed. If you are unsure, you may need to contact the manufacturer for assistance. You can also find additional troubleshooting tips here: Troubleshoot audio on your Xbox console.
Feedback: If you continue to experience issues after applying the latest firmware and troubleshooting further, please submit feedback via Report a Problem when you are experiencing the issue. Use the “Reproduce with advanced diagnostics” option, then select the category “Console experiences” and “Console Audio Output Issues”.
Note: Be sure to include as much information as possible about the issue, when it started, your setup, troubleshooting you have completed, and any additional information that will help us reproduce the issue.
Networking
We are investigating reports of an issue where the console may not connect to the network immediately on boot. If you experience this, be sure to report the issue via Report a Problem as soon as you’re able.
Workaround: Wait a minute or two for the connection to establish. If your console still hasn’t connected, restart your Xbox from the Power Center or the guide then file feedback with Report a Problem. Learn more about restarting here: How to restart or power cycle your Xbox console.
Parties & Chats
We are aware some users are experiencing issues with party chat and hearing one another, and we are working on a fix.
Workaround: Press the Xbox button to open the guide, then navigate to Parties & chats > open the party > Options > then toggle Switch to game chat on and off a couple times.
If you are still having trouble, leave the party, and try starting the party from Home before launching a game.
If the issue persists, restart your console from the Power Center or the guide then try again.
As always, be sure to use Report a problem to keep us informed of any issues you encounter. We may not be able to respond to everyone, but the data we’ll gather is crucial to finding a resolution.
If you’re an Xbox Insider looking for support, please visit the community subreddit. Official Xbox staff, moderators, and fellow Xbox Insiders are there to help with your concerns.
When posting to the subreddit, please look through the most recent posts to see if your issue has already been posted or addressed. We always recommend adding to existing threads with the same issue before posting a new one. This helps us support you the best we can! Also, don’t forget to use “Report a Problem” before posting – the information shared in both places helps us understand your issue better.
Thank you to every Xbox Insider in the subreddit today and welcome to the community if you’re just joining us! We love that it has become such a friendly and community-driven hub of conversation and support.
For more information regarding the Xbox Insider Program follow us on Twitter. Keep an eye on future Xbox Insider Release Notes for more information regarding your Xbox Update Preview ring!
Double header with Free Play Days! PGA Tour 2K23 and Classified France ’44 are available this weekend for Xbox Game Pass Core and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members to play from Thursday April 11 at 12:01 a.m. PDT until Sunday, April 14 at 11:59 p.m. PDT.
Additionally, Fallout 76 will be free for all Xbox members starting Tuesday April 11 at 12 pm ET until Tuesday, April 18 at 12 pm ET with Free Play Days for All.
Game Pass Core will give players access to our advanced multiplayer network, a select collection of over 25 games to play with friends around the world, and exclusive member deals! Read more about Game Pass Core at Xbox Wire.
How To Start Playing
Find and install the games on each of the individual game details page on Xbox.com. Clicking through will send you to the Microsoft Store, where you must be signed in to see the option to install with your Xbox Game Pass Core or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership. To download on console, click on the Subscriptions tab in the Xbox Store and navigate down to the Free Play Days collection on your Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.
Keep The Fun Going
Purchase the game and other editions at a limited time discount and continue playing while keeping your Gamerscore and achievements earned during the event! Please note that discounts, percentages, and title availability may vary by title and region.
Free Play Days (Game Pass Core or Game Pass Ultimate Required)
PGA Tour 2K23 Challenge the greatest players on the PGA Tour and find your glory in PGA Tour 2K23. Bolstered by a diverse cast of playable pros, featuring Tiger Woods, Matt Fitzpatrick, Xander Schauffele, Nelly Korda, Lydia Ko, and many more! Take your swing to world-renowned, officially licensed courses, like Pebble Beach Golf Links, Pinehurst No.2, or Torrey Pines. Create your MyPLAYER and fill your golf bag using the biggest brands in the industry. Express your creativity in the Course Designer mode, where you can construct your dream course and share it with the world.
Classified France ‘44 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S Command an elite team of allied special operators in Nazi-occupied France wreaking havoc in the run up to D-Day in this ambitious turn-based tactics game. Take on the might of Germany’s war machine and launch daring raids in occupied territory. Can you do enough to ensure Allied victory?
Fallout 76 Play solo or join your fellow Vault Dwellers in a dynamic open-world adventure set in the Appalachian Wasteland. Fallout 76 is free to try now through April 18.
Don’t miss out on these exciting Free Play Days for Xbox Game Pass Core and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members! Learn more about Free Play Days here and stay tuned to Xbox Wire to find out about future Free Play Days and all the latest Xbox gaming news.
Mixing style, action, and fearsome monsters is a familiar formula for success in action games. However, with its first PlayStation title, Stellar Blade, developer Shift Up is adding a lot of unique flair to the equation. A large point of this distinction comes from its creature design, which quickly became a focal element of the upcoming action-adventure experience.
Stellar Blade incorporates many assets in the creation of its race of behemoths called the Naytiba. These resources include real-life animal research, 3D clay models, and the assistance of famous Korean movie monster designer, Hee-Cheol Jang, who originally came on board as consultant, but ultimately became more involved on the actual design and production of the Naytiba.
We sat down with the studio and monster designer to find out what makes the Naytiba unique, delving into many of their variations, such as the Raven, Stalker, and Gigas to understand the process behind creating a new face of horror in gaming.
The birth of the Naytiba
PlayStation Blog: Hee-Cheol Jang, how did you get involved with Shift Up and Stellar Blade? Was it your creature designs from The Host and Okja that got the conversation moving?
Jang: I remember visiting the studio one day after being contacted by Mr. Kim [Kim Hyung Tae, Stellar Blade director] and being surprised to see a workshop full of models and drawings. I think he made the offer after seeing my experience in creating clay models – scannable maquettes – for communication and 3D scanning during the design process of [movies] ‘The Host’ and ‘Okja’. At the time, the film industry was moving towards digital models using ZBrush for efficiency reasons, so I was shocked by the idea of using traditional modeling/3D scanning for creature creation for a new console game project.
How did Shift Up decide on what kind of enemy types Eve would face?
Director, Hyung Tae Kim: What Eve encounters is an unknown entity powerful enough to destroy humanity. We deliberately tried to design them to be eerie and unnerving, with missing eyes and faces stuck in the wrong places, which ties in with the content of the game.
The Naytiba have a terrifying, cosmic horror feeling to them. Why choose that direction instead of a more grounded approach?
Kim: Since these creatures never existed, they didn’t need to be realistic. We actually wanted them to look like different species or race. However, if you look closely, there are a number of designs that seem to be related to existing life on Earth, and I think you’ll see why when you play the game.
Hee-Cheol Jang, was your process for creature design different for a game, vs a film? For example, in a game players have to interact with your creature in a variety of ways, so does that mean you have to consider additional complexities when designing?
Jang: In most games, creatures are often targets for real-time combat, so it’s important to be able to match the sum of their motions and design. Other than that, there are some cosmetic differences between live-action and non-photorealistic mediums, but they seem to be converging in recent years.
Were there any designs that worked great on paper, or perhaps may have even worked in film, but for whatever reason didn’t translate to gameplay?
Jang: In a film, you can experience and understand the creatures over the course of the runtime. In games, we’re often forced to interact with a large number of creatures repeatedly in a relatively short amount of time, which is not always well thought out. For example, I personally have a habit of throwing in before/after twist gimmicks, which are often unnecessarily complicated or prolonged, making them inappropriate for resource creation or play.
Are there any personal fears that the team tapped into when bringing the Naytiba to life?
Kim: I think for me, it’s the human element. Something that’s human but different, that’s more terrifying than just an ugly lump.
Clay-made creatures
What positives come from sculpting the Naytiba designs out of clay before bringing them into the digital world?
Concept Art Lead, ChangMin Lee: Ease of communication for multi-team coordination – and gravity. In the digital world, you can’t really feel gravity, but if you are working with a physical sculpture you will be affected by it because the weight of the clay is real. This is important in determining the shapes and proportions of the creatures.
For example, if you make a head that is too big for the body it can actually cause the clay to crack or fall off. I think having these limits in place helps me design creatures that feel more realistic and grounded.
How long does it typically take to settle on a design? Can you go into detail about the review and refinement process?
Lee: Rough designs can be finalized in as little as a week or two. After that, it takes about two to three months to mold, and during those two to three months there are numerous reviews and revisions. During the discussion process with the other teams, specific body proportions, length attack methods, and necessary elements of other attack and defense are discussed and agreed upon. Also, revisions according to the direction (received from Mr. Kim) are made by seeing and touching the actual sculpt.
Despite their fictional origins, do you consider the muscle and skeleton composition, as well as skin texture of each Naytiba during this stage of its creation?
Lee: Absolutely. The muscles and skeleton in particular are based on real-life creatures. Skin textures are also heavily referenced. For example, the skin textures of reptiles, insects, crustaceans, mollusks, and so on, are mostly referenced. In the case of Gigas, the muscular and skeletal characteristics of gorillas are heavily referenced. The big shapes and concepts are fictional creatures, but without real-life references, they’re merely fiction.
Does the proposed movement of the Naytiba come into discussion and inform the clay model process, or is that fine-tuned once the mode is scanned into the game?
Lee: Things are discussed and adjustments are made in both ways mentioned. During the clay model process, all the teams, especially the animation team, get together and discuss. We talk about things like: “Do this design and these proportions make movements possible?” “How do we make the attacks look cool?”
After scanning, I usually talk a lot with the 3D model team. We discuss practical and efficiency issues, such as which details to keep, and whether there are any unnecessary designs when creating the 3D model. Throughout this process, we make detailed design adjustments and finalize the final product.
How much clay have you used in total to create Stellar Blade’s Naytiba?
Lee: Let’s see.. I didn’t keep count, but probably around 100kg? I think we used a lot. Usually, one portion of clay weighs around 900g and I think I used over one hundred of them.
Designing the bosses
Can you describe the three currently revealed bosses: Gigas, Raven, and Stalker, and any unique attributes that will stand out when Eve faces them?
Lee: Gigas and Stalker are creatures that are in some ways like brothers. They both have unique shapes of moving saw blades, and I wanted Eve to feel scared and threatened by them. Raven, as the name suggests, has large wings and bird-like characteristics. We chose black as the concept color to represent darkness and fear.
How do you find inspiration for attacks specific to the boss monsters?
Lee: In the rough concept stage, we first ask, “What part of the body/what weapon will it use to attack?” and work out the specifics as we go along. During that process, we gain inspiration and continue until the end.
Are there any stories unique to the design of these three boss monsters?
Lee: When we were working on the initial concept for Giga and Stalker, we had fun calling them the fan and dryer brothers. Some of the boss monsters we called “openers,” but you’ll have to find out for yourself which ones those are, and what we mean by that.
Are there any special details you’d like to share with players that they miss when encountering these creatures?
Lee: If you look closely at some, but not all, of the monsters, you’ll see baroque symbols and statuesque faces. You may not be able to see them at times because the combat is so fast and dynamic, but keep your eyes peeled!
You can get a closer look at Gigas, Raven, Stalker, and the rest of the Naytiba’s designs as you face them in Stellar Blade when it releases on April 26 for PlayStation 5.
