Dawntrail, the upcoming expansion for Final Fantasy XIV, features a stunning key visual that introduces players to the new job "Viper" and an adventurous new land.
The creation of this key visual was a collaborative effort led by artists Maiko Takamiya and Mio Inaba. Their goal was to produce an image that not only appeals to players but also attracts those unfamiliar with the game. Takamiya explained:
"We believe that it is important for the key visual to catch the eyes of not only players but also people who are not familiar with the work. To create a catchy impression, we boldly considered a dynamic composition like an illustration, and to convey the sense of adventure, we chose a dawn scene"
The development process began with a rough sketch competition involving eight proposals, from which Takamiya's was selected. The game team provided feedback to refine character poses and angles, resulting in a detailed and engaging visual. Inaba then took over, focusing on rendering and retouching to enhance details and expressions. Inaba said:
"My job is to take the rendering materials and finish them with retouching and matte painting. Using the completed rough art as a reference, I tried to create a beautiful picture with attention to detail"
The final key visual features a dynamic, illustration-like style set against a dawn backdrop, capturing the excitement and vastness of the new adventure awaiting players in Dawntrail.
You can see the drafts and adjustments in the gallery below:
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