80 Level Community80 Level CommunityPublished30 May 2025TagsArt-To-Experience Contest: A Creative Challenge by Emperia and 80 LevelJoin TodayWe’re excited to reveal the winners of the Showcase Competition! They’ll be featured on 80 Level and granted access to BlenderKit – a massive library of top-tier 3D assets.Abandoned Subway Station – Maja Banas"Art was inspired by The Last of Us. The goal was to create something with a similar style and vibe to the game!"Second Place – Finn Bogaert"The task was to concept, model, and texture a handheld mining drill used to mine resources on different planets."Third Place –  Alice & Andrieu"The idea was to explore sculpting and stylized texturing through a fun personal concept: a capybara fountain. Had a blast bringing this little guy to life!"Big congratulations to our winners, and a massive thank you to all the incredible artists who took part in the competition! Your creativity continues to inspire the community. Curious to see more amazing projects? Join us on Discord and stay tuned for the next 80 Level challenge!

Summer is upon us, and nothing is more refreshing than a chill adventure in vibrant hues. Meet BIG HOPS, a platformer with deep movement and "fresh frog-tongue gameplay."You play as Hop, a young frog kidnapped from home by a trickster spirit. To get away, you need to find airship parts in a desert, an ocean, and a mountain.Luckshot GamesEach location has a self-contained story with a variety of curious characters and interesting tasks. "You can roll, dive, crouch jump, wall run, free climb, swim, belly slide, walk tightropes, pole swing, grind rails, ride minecarts and more."Luckshot GamesFans of Mario, Sonic Adventure, Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and Hat in Time will see how Luckshot Games was inspired by these classics, adding tongue interactions for an extra twist. Collect veggies and get back to your family!Luckshot GamesBIG HOPS is still in development, but you can try the demo on Steam. Support the creators on Kickstarter and join our 80 Level Talent platform and our new Discord server, follow us on Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Telegram, TikTok, and Threads, where we share breakdowns, the latest news, awesome artworks, and more.

Believing that a joint-based approach is artistically limiting, Mattéo Martinez recreated the classic squash and stretch effect using a VEX-based solution implemented in APEX.He noted that while VEX feels more familiar and reliable, scripting directly in APEX is far more efficient for this type of deformation, offering better performance, instant feedback, and support for real-time controllers to drive deformation parameters.Mattéo has been sharing his experiments for some time now, developing tools in APEX, check out his dynamic paintbrush demo and more below:Follow him on LinkedIn for more, and don't forget to join our 80 Level Talent platform and our new Discord server, follow us on Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Telegram, TikTok, and Threads, where we share breakdowns, the latest news, awesome artworks, and more.

How did the development of Game of Thrones: Kingsroad begin? Considering the Game of Thrones series concluded almost six years ago, what was the driving force behind starting the game?The development of Game of Thrones: Kingsroad wasn't just about leveraging a popular IP. We were well aware that quite some time had passed since the Game of Thrones series ended, But what really stood out to us was the lingering curiosity, a sense that many fans were still eager to explore the world of Westeros.That's where we began. We asked ourselves: What if the player belonged to a noble house that existed within Westeros? Instead of simply following the show's familiar storylines, our goal was to give players a chance to experience the world as seen in Season 4 but through a fresh perspective. We wanted to fill in the gaps left by the original story and allow players to craft their own stories within that space.At its core, Game of Thrones: Kingsroad is a game designed to expand the world of Westeros, to let players explore places, characters, and consequences that weren't fully explored in the show. It's our way of offering a new kind of immersion for fans who still love this universe and want to be part of it in their own way.What kind of world can players expect in Kingsroad? What are the core gameplay mechanics, and how do the solo and multiplayer experiences work together?Game of Thrones: Kingsroad is a story-driven action adventure RPG set in Westeros after the events of Season 4 of the Game of Thrones series. Players take on the role of the heir to a fallen house, navigating a world of politics, war, and survival.As they journey across Westeros through familiar locations like Castle Black, Winterfell, Highgarden, and Oldtown, they'll encounter both iconic characters from the show and entirely new faces and events. At its core, the game combines action-based combat, narrative-driven quests, and open-world exploration. We've integrated a variety of activities, like puzzles, dynamic encounters, and bounty hunting, to keep the experience immersive and varied without feeling repetitive.One of the key features of Game of Thrones: Kingsroad is how organically single-player and multiplayer are connected. While progressing through the story and developing your character, you can also take on large-scale encounters, like the Altar of Memories, or field bosses, such as Drogon, alongside other players. Each mode is self-contained but still influences the other, so whether you play solo or with others, it truly feels like you're living and surviving in Westeros.From a technical perspective, what was the experience of using Unreal Engine to develop Kingsroad? What were the biggest optimization challenges for mobile, and how did you address the technical demands of delivering a cross-play experience? What's it like using Unreal Engine for mobile development?Unreal Engine 5 provided us with a powerful toolset for achieving high-quality visuals, features like Lumen allowed us to create richer, more immersive environments. However, supporting multiple platforms, especially mobile, came with its own set of technical challenges. We built a structure where core logic is handled on the server side, which made it easier to ensure cross-platform connectivity. At the same time, we put significant effort into maintaining a consistent visual and gameplay experience on mobile devices that's comparable to PC.Optimization, in particular, was a major focus for the team to support seamless cross-play. We disabled some of UE5's heavier features and used the mobile renderer while also implementing LOD adjustments, simplified materials, mobile-specific environment settings, and texture atlasing for UI assets. These efforts helped us stabilize memory usage and maintain smooth frame rates across devices. Initially, Unreal Engine felt a bit heavy for mobile use, but we came to realize that with the right tuning and its flexible feature set, it can deliver impressive quality on both PC and mobile platforms.Given that Kingsroad features an original storyline, how does it expand the Game of Thrones world, and does it align with or diverge from the events of the books and the series? Game of Thrones: Kingsroad is set in the world of Game of Thrones, but at its core, it tells a completely original story. The narrative begins after Season 4, following the end of major wars, as the great houses begin to regroup and rebuild.This setting gave us room to explore untold regions and events that weren't covered in the show, allowing us to expand the lore while staying true to the established universe. Our goal as a development team was to create a new and immersive experience from the perspective of "someone else" living within Westeros without disrupting the flow of the original storyline.For example, players step into the role of the last heir of a fallen minor house, House Tyre, and travel across regions like the North, the Reach, and the Stormlands. Along the way, they'll interact with familiar factions such as the Night's Watch, wildlings, and maesters.These touches give fans something that feels both familiar and refreshingly new. In terms of narrative structure, we conducted extensive research to ensure our story wouldn't conflict with major canonical events. Instead, we designed an independent storyline that can be influenced by but doesn't alter the core narrative of the original. In that sense, Game of Thrones: Kingsroad serves as an expanded piece of content that respects the show’s foundations while offering a "possible story" that could exist just beyond its borders.What does the future look like for Kingsroad after launch? Will there be any gap between the Early Access players and the new ones, and how will Early Access players be rewarded for their support?Our main post-launch plans include regular updates that expand the story through new chapters and regions, along with the addition of new content, such as raids.While there may be some differences in progression between Early Access players and new players, Game of Thrones: Kingsroad is primarily a single-player experience where players can follow the story at their own pace. This means that the gameplay remains fully accessible and enjoyable regardless of when a player joins. As a token of appreciation, those who participated in Early Access will receive additional rewards such as exclusive costumes and emblems.Game of Thrones: Kingsroad is now officially available on both PC and mobile, so learn more about the game and download it here.Hyun-il Jang, Executive Producer at Netmarble NeoInterview conducted by Amber Rutherford

Game Asset Developer BUKKBEEK has released a large, low-poly stylized VFX pack designed to meet a variety of needs. This Godot-native collection for version 4 and above requires no plug-ins and features organized folders along with ready-to-use scenes.Here's what it includes:Fire & Smoke:Fire x3 (small, big, magic)Smoke x3 (small, big, poison)FireballsFlamethrowerCombat:Muzzle Flash x3 (texture, smoke, sparks)Bullets x2 (single, burst)Explosion x3 (small, big, electric)Impact x8 (dust, sci-fi, sword)Energy & Electricity:Energy Beams x3 (laser, plasma, electric)Electric Sparks x2Lightning/Lightning BallMagic & Stylized:SparklesFireworksSci-fi PortalStylized ShaderHologram ShaderNature & Ambience:Vegetation Shader & Grass (with day-night cycle)Falling LeavesRainDustFirefliesGodraysBirdsWater:Water Shader & Effects x2 (ripples, long ripples)Ground Effects x10:Pickup, Loot, Heal, Arrows, Power Up, etc.Decals:Blood Splash x2Bullet Holes x3Slime x2Cracks x3Footprints x2 (blood, mud)Handprints x2 (blood, dust)Tire SkidClaw MarkYou can use this pack in commercial and non-commercial projects. However, resale or redistribution, whether original or modified, is strictly prohibited.In addition, BUKKBEEK has included a free icon expansion pack designed to complement impact and loot drop effects or serve as UI icons. You can also submit your own icon ideas for the developer to consider adding to the pack.Purchase Godot Visual Effects Pack here and join our 80 Level Talent platform and our new Discord server, follow us on Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Telegram, TikTok, and Threads, where we share breakdowns, the latest news, awesome artworks, and more.

It's one thing to have the skills and motivation to break into the industry, but how do you move from learning and personal projects to building a real career? To help you kickstart or expand your search, here are some global internships for artists and developers that are currently accepting applications. Take a look, there might be something for you.Teamfight TacticsRiot GamesWould you like to get an inside look at Riot Games? They offer an annual Remote US Summer Internship program, which lasts 10-12 weeks. During this internship, you'll collaborate on Riot projects with teams across the company. The program also includes a week at their global headquarters in Los Angeles.The internship applications open in September, and opportunities will be posted from September to November, organized by discipline. However, some of their global offices provide internships year-round, with varying durations depending on the role. These positions are posted on their jobs board on a rolling basis and may be available in locations like Barcelona, Dublin, Istanbul, Mexico City, Paris, Reading, and São Paulo, so keep an eye out.At the moment, Riot Singapore is looking for a Motion Graphics Artist Trainee on the Teamfight Tactics team.In this role, you'll create motion graphics that enhance the overall game experience and increase player engagement with Teamfight Tactics cosmetic content. You'll then bring your creative ideas to life within the game engine, ensuring a balance of aesthetics, functionality, and performance to deliver outstanding results.Requirements:1-2 years of professional experience as a Motion Graphics Artist/Designer in the UI space for games or apps.Portfolio demonstrating proficiency in motion graphics fundamentals, including easing, pacing, timing, composition, and legibility.Portfolio showcasing experience creating motion graphics for real-time UI, such as celebrations/ceremonies, design systems, notifications, HUDs, interactive states, and screen transitions.Experience using the Adobe Creative Suite, including After Effects, along with industry-standard plugins (e.g., VFX particle plug-ins, Trapcode Suite, X-Particles).Understanding of mobile development limitations, best practices, and how to adapt executions across different form factors.Clair Obscur: Expedition 33Epic GamesEpic Games is currently offering a Physics Programmer Intern position, an exciting opportunity to join the core physics team behind Unreal Engine. In this role, you'll build tests and debug the physics interface, investigate and resolve engine-related bugs, and collaborate with team members to maintain and improve existing systems.Requirements:Degree work in CS or related fields.Strong C++ skills.Excellent math and/or physics skills preferred.An analytical mind with strong problem-solving skills.Demonstrated interest in games.Experience with multiple core system tasks, such as graphics, tools, audio/video, networking, memory handling, script compilers, I/O, etc.Examples of projects in gaming or game engine technology are a plus.GameloftGameloft Brisbane, part of the global Gameloft family, is looking for a Game Artist Intern to help create and improve visual assets, environments, and character designs. You'll work closely with the design directors and senior artists to bring the game's art to life while gaining practical experience in concept art, asset creation, and polishing in-game visuals.This is a full-time internship that will last for six months.Requirements:A strong portfolio showcasing your artistic skills, creativity, and understanding of game art styles.Completed or currently pursuing a degree in Game Art, Illustration, 3D Art, or a related field.A strong passion for game art, with a keen eye for detail and composition.Familiarity with industry-standard art tools such as Photoshop, Blender, Maya, or Substance 3D Painter.Basic knowledge of game engines (preferably Unreal Engine or Unity).Strong creative and problem-solving abilities.Ability to work well within a team and effectively communicate artistic ideas.Carmen SandiegoGarenaGarena, a game developer and publisher based in Singapore, is looking for a Game Developer Intern. You'll help build and implement game features, fix bugs, and ensure smooth gameplay. The role also involves testing, gathering feedback, and suggesting improvements based on your findings.Requirements:Proficiency in game development tools and platforms such as Unity, Unreal Engine, or other relevant engines.Programming skills in relevant languages such as C#, C++, Python, etc.Basic understanding of game design principles, mechanics, and user experience.Strong communication skills to collaborate effectively with team members and staff.Time management and organizational skills to meet weekly deliverables and deadlines.Experience in game development (academic projects, personal projects, or professional experience) is a plus.VirtuosVirtuos Kuala Lumpur, the Malaysian branch of Virtuos video game development company, is offering two internship opportunities: one for a Game Designer Intern and another for a Game Programmer Intern.As a Game Designer Intern, you'll quickly learn the current project's design and workflow, complete assigned tasks to a professional standard, and help document key design decisions. You'll collaborate across departments, respond to feedback, and focus on creating fun, player-focused content while continuously learning and growing in game development.Requirements:Open to Game or Level Design students who are preferably in their final semester of university with a requirement to undergo industrial training.Good communication skills in English and ability to work in an English-speaking working environment.Good problem-solving resilience.An innovative force in the profession.Passionate about games and game development.This position is open to Malaysians only. As a Game Programmer Intern, you'll design, implement, test, and debug code and write technical documentation. You'll also help develop tools and features, research and analyze project needs, optimize performance, and explore new algorithms and techniques.Requirements:Basic knowledge of C++ language.Any experience in Unreal Engine 4 or Unreal Engine 5.Good communication skills in English and ability to work in an English-speaking working environment.Good problem-solving resilience.An innovative force in the profession.Passionate about games and game development.This position is open to Malaysians only. OddsparksHandyGamesHandyGames, a German video game developer and publisher, is seeking a Game Artist Intern to support their ongoing in-house project, a story-driven, science fiction game with a strong emphasis on combat. As an intern, you'll collaborate closely with their team of artists, designers, and software engineers to help bring the game's vision to life.Requirements:You have strong illustration skills in the areas of game art, digital art, and concept art.You have a particularly good feel for architecture, colors, light, and form.You can adapt to different illustration styles with ease and show great talent, especially in the stylized area.The design of visual concepts through to the final 2D and 3D game assets is no obstacle for you.Ideally, you are already familiar with 3D modeling software such as Maya, 3D Studio Max, or Blender and the Physically Based Rendering (PBR) workflow.Perhaps you already have hands-on experience creating effects and animations with the Unity game engine.Knowledge in other graphic and technical areas is a plus.Your self-motivation is convincing, and you have a strong sense of responsibility and a clean and team-oriented way of working.You're passionate about video gamesYou have an excellent command of written and spoken English.FuncomAt Funcom, a video game developer and publisher specializing in online games, several internships are available across various locations: Animator Intern, VFX Artist Intern, Environment Artist Intern, Lighting Artist Intern, and Technical Animator Intern.Animator Intern Requirements (Lisbon, Portugal):Familiar with MotionBuilder or Maya.Demonstrates fundamentals of animation.Team-driven, able to share and receive feedback.Has a desire to learn from the team.Ability to communicate easily outside of the team with designers or programmers.Ability to adapt to new technologies and technical challenges.VFX Artist Intern Requirements (Bucharest, Romania):A strong willingness to learn and a desire to improve your skills in VFX Art.Basic understanding of 3D art fundamentals, including effects, particles, textures, lighting, materials, and technical limitations in game development.Knowledge of Houdini and/or EmberGen, Photoshop, 3ds Max, After Effects, or other 3D software, with an eagerness to expand your expertise.Strong communication and collaboration skills.Ability to work efficiently within deadlines.Creativity and artistic vision.Bachelor's degree in a related field or currently pursuing a Master's degree.Environment Artist Intern Requirements (Bucharest, Romania):A strong willingness to learn and a desire to continuously improve your skills in Environment Art.Basic understanding of 3D art fundamentals, including modeling, materials, textures, lighting, modularity, technical constraints, and game limitations.Familiarity with 3D software such as Blender, 3ds Max, Autodesk Maya, Substance 3D suite, Terrain Generation tools, or similar, with a keen eagerness to expand your expertise.Strong communication and collaboration skills.Ability to work efficiently within deadlines.Creativity and artistic vision.Bachelor's degree in a related field or currently pursuing a Master's degree.Lighting Artist Intern Requirements (Lisbon, Portugal):A strong eye for light, color, and composition.Basic experience with a game engine (Unreal Engine preferred).Portfolio demonstrating lighting in 3D scenes (real-time or offline renders).Eagerness to learn, take feedback, and grow in a collaborative team environment.Current student or a recent graduate in game art, VFX, CG, or a related field.Technical Animator Intern Requirements (Lisbon, Portugal):Familiar with Maya, MotionBuilder, or equivalent animation software.Experience with skinning and rigging, either characters or assets.Team-driven, able to share and take work.Has a willingness to learn information from peers and receive feedback.To be able to talk with animators, programmers, and designers.Able to adapt to new technologies and technical challenges.Metal: HellsingerVelan StudiosVelan Studios, an independent game developer, is looking for a Technical Artist Intern. They have one serious requirement for the applicants: You must be deeply curious about something and have some evidence of that curiosity.A perfect candidate should demonstrate a pattern of persistent and self-motivated exploration, specifically in shaders, cinematics (pipeline, workflow), lighting and rendering tech (lens flares, light baking, etc.), Environment Tech Art, VFX adjacent things (smoke/fluid simulation, animated shaders, etc.).Outfit7Outfit7, a Slovenian video game developer best known for creating the Talking Tom & Friends app and media franchise, is currently seeking an Animator Intern and a VFX Artist Intern.Animator Intern Requirements:Reel displaying examples of 3D (or 2D) animations.Experience working with game engines (Unity, Unreal, etc.) is a plus.Passion for gaming and experience working within a team is a plus.Experience working on game projects (personal, demos, game jams) is a plus.Experience in other art fields, such as 3D modeling and rigging, 2D is a plus.Valid student status.VFX Artist Intern Requirements:Portfolio or reel with examples of real-time VFX.Experience working on game projects (personal, demos, game jams) is a plus.Experience in 2D or 3D animation is a plus.Valid student status.CGMABonusIf you're looking to further develop your skills with expert guidance, consider exploring these courses that can support your progress and help you build a strong portfolio.CG Master Academy offers free portfolio reviews to help you enroll in courses that match your current skill level while also challenging you in areas that need improvement, supporting you in reaching your goals. Below are some of their courses that may be of interest to you:At CG Spectrum, you'll find many industry-focused courses in animation, VFX, digital art, game development, 3D visualization, and virtual filmmaking. Choose from beginner-friendly programs with hands-on projects and mentorship or advanced courses designed to help you master a specific area and build a portfolio that showcases your expertise and prepares you for the job market.CalArts offers continuing education arts courses designed to meet the needs of both emerging artists and lifelong learners. We've gathered a few options for you here:Think Tank Training Centre also has several programs for artists with prior experience, helping them build strong portfolios and prepare for careers in the creative industry:We're here to support artists by frequently sharing job opportunities, so keep an eye on our site and join our 80 Level Talent platform and our new Discord server, follow us on Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Telegram, TikTok, and Threads, where we share breakdowns, the latest news, awesome artworks, and more.

The eyes are the windows to the soul, so they need to be especially deep and detailed in your digital avatar. Thankfully, there are talented artists from Orode'Studio who can ensure viewers get lost in your on-screen eyes.The irises of the 3D model made by Nara Yoeul are absolutely stunning and three-dimensional, which gives Kuroha from Melodaze a mysterious look. You can find her on Orode'Studio's X/Twitter page along with other beautiful creations by its artists.You might also want to look into Omochi_Otoca's jewels for VRChat and Kensyouen_Y's parallax eyes.Join our 80 Level Talent platform and our new Discord server, follow us on Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Telegram, TikTok, and Threads, where we share breakdowns, the latest news, awesome artworks, and more.

RetopoFlow is a suite of intuitive, sketch-based retopology tools for Blender developed by Orange Turbine. It allows you to draw directly onto the surface of high-poly models, automatically generating geometry that conforms to their shape.The toolset has recently been updated with the release of RetopoFlow 4, a complete rewrite that introduces powerful new features. While still in beta, RetopoFlow 4 is available at a discounted price.In RetopoFlow 4, the PolyPen tool offers precise control for building complex topology one vertex at a time, while the PolyStrips tool makes it easy to map out and refine key face loops on complex models. The Strokes tool is highly versatile, ideal for quickly sketching out quad patches or filling gaps in topology, and the Contours tool gives you a quick and easy way to retopologize cylindrical forms. For interactive adjustments, the Tweak Brush lets you reposition vertices directly on the source mesh, and the Relax Brush helps smooth out vertex positions while keeping them constrained to the mesh surface.While RetopoFlow 3 included a symmetry system that essentially relied on Blender's Mirror Modifier behind the scenes, RetopoFlow 4 will give you direct access to the Mirror Modifier itself.Please note that RetopoFlow 3 will not receive new features going forward, but it will continue to be supported for at least two years following the official release of version 4.If you previously purchased RetopoFlow 3 through Superhive (Blender Market), you can upgrade to version 4 at an additional 25% discount, on top of the current beta pricing, by using the coupon code retopoflow-og. You can also sign up to test the beta for free here.Purchase RetopoFlow 4 by clicking this link and join our 80 Level Talent platform and our new Discord server, follow us on Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Telegram, TikTok, and Threads, where we share breakdowns, the latest news, awesome artworks, and more.

Take a look at this mesmerizing fantasy-like scene unveiled by 3D Environment Artist Maxim Isakov. The setup captivates the attention with its magical color palette, gradual shade transitions, and intricate details, drawing the viewers in for a closer look.Maxim Isakov shared that initially, he drew inspiration from Team Fortress 2 and Overwatch, and the artwork was planned to be smaller and in a painterly style. Gradually, it evolved to the toon-like graphics, reminiscent of the Ghibli art. The artist explained that he achieved this 2D look by combining ambient directional lights, high-roughness materials, and subtle emissive effects.The software used for creating the artwork includes Blender, Unreal Engine, Substance 3D Painter, Substance 3D Designer, and Photoshop. Take a closer look and check out more animated renders on the creator's ArtStation:Also, take a look at this fascinating stylized open-world forest scene by 3D Environment Artist Tyler Smith and a realistic calm river village environment by  3D Environment Artist Ana Vien:Don't forget to join our 80 Level Talent platform and our new Discord server, follow us on Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Telegram, TikTok, and Threads, where we share breakdowns, the latest news, awesome artworks, and more.

Take a look at this amusing clip with a mischievous chameleon who just stole a macaroon – and disappeared. 3D Animator Vossadova created this fun short take using Blender, experimenting with a transparency effect.The creator chose a peculiar and hilarious way to show a transparent creature, just leaving its eyes, a neckerchief, and a stolen treat, and created an original and memorable image.Check out more of Vossadova's wonderful works, created with the same artistic style and featuring adorable animals:Also, take a look at this adorable 3D render of a little crab created by Character Artist Bri Nicol using ZBrush, Maya, Substance 3D Painter, and Unreal Engine:Visit Vossadova's Reddit page and don't forget to join our 80 Level Talent platform and our new Discord server, follow us on Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Telegram, TikTok, and Threads, where we share breakdowns, the latest news, awesome artworks, and more.

Earlier this week, we reported on a Fab user who uploaded over 38,000 AI-generated assets over a short period of time, drawing attention to the broader problem of AI content flooding Epic Games' new marketplace. After Ronan Mahon's original Twitter post gained traction and the user's total uploads climbed to 41,000, Epic finally addressed the matter, issuing a low-profile, easy-to-miss statement on the Unreal Engine Forums.In his statement, Epic's Senior Director of Creator & Developer Experience, Sjoerd De Jong, apologized for the "degradation of the Fab experience everyone experienced," announcing that the user in question has been removed from Fab, along with a series of new rules the company plans to implement to prevent similar situations from happening again.Going forward, Epic will require creators to indicate during the publishing process whether an asset was created using generative AI, while also adding automated tools to help detect AI-generated assets and exploring spam-prevention systems, such as daily upload limits. Additionally, the studio is updating its content reporting form to give the community a clearer way to report assets suspected of being AI-made but not properly marked as Created With AI.De Jong also noted that users who wish to hide assets marked as Created With AI can do so through the content preferences menu, accessible via "the button found in the top right corner of search results."Unfortunately, even though many Fab users – as in, real flesh-and-blood human artists and game developers – expressed their desire for AI content to be removed entirely from the marketplace, or for Epic to follow Cubebrush's approach by making AI content accessible only via direct links and otherwise hidden from the platform, the director reaffirmed that AI will remain on Fab."We want Fab to be a welcoming place for creative expression, from first-time creations to advanced projects, and from original creations to AI-generated work," De Jong said. "Fab's goal is to be a place where creators can easily find what they're looking for, of the quality and style they're seeking, and be confident in their purchases."Due to this, along with the Created With AI filter not being toggled on by default, the reaction to the announcement was mixed, with some users praising Epic for the changes, while others criticized the company for taking a half-measure instead of banning AI entirely. "It's not welcoming, it's hurtful, and it's painful, and allowing AI is a slap in the face to everyone who works hard in their trade," one user commented, responding to De Jong's words.Read the full statement here and don't forget to join our 80 Level Talent platform and our new Discord server, follow us on Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Telegram, TikTok, and Threads, where we share breakdowns, the latest news, awesome artworks, and more.

After being live for a year and two months, Warzone Mobile, which was made to bring the Warzone experience to mobile, has been dropped by Activision. This might be because it's struggling to make enough money in the competitive but lucrative market, especially compared to its sister app, Call of Duty Mobile.For background, a week ago, Activision announced that they were going to stop delivering new seasonal content and gameplay updates for Warzone Mobile, disabling real money spending in the game. Last Sunday, May 18, was the last day that players could download the game from both Google Play and App Store; it was also when all the social features went "retired." In other words, players who have the game installed can still access and play it, but they will not receive new updates.ActivisionThe reason, according to the developers, is that "it unfortunately has not met our expectations with mobile-first players like it has with PC and console audiences." Digging deeper into this statement, The Game Business revealed that "its numbers pale in comparison to its more established competitors," and this can be seen from two aspects: active users and revenue generated. For active players count, App Magic data shows that Warzone had three million in April, which is far less than PUBG Mobile, which had 50 million users, and Garena's Free Fire had nearly 60 million. Blood Strike, a battle royale game from NetEase released in 2023, saw seven million players, which is more than double that of Warzone. As free-to-play games, a smaller player base may lead to comparatively low revenue. In the fourteen months since its launch, Warzone has reportedly generated $17 million (excluding the 30% cut taken by Google and Apple). This is lower than what Call of Duty Mobile generated just last month alone. That is to say, "It struggled to crack the lucrative mobile battle royale market."Although the decision to wind down support for Warzone Mobile was only announced recently, there was a sign as early as last year when Microsoft laid off 650 employees, some of whom were from the project. But this unfruitful experience, which is Activision's attempt "to establish itself in the huge battle royale mobile market," probably would not change Microsoft's "determination to grow in mobile," because the company sees great potential in mobile gaming in regions where console and PC gaming still have a large space to grow. Also let's not forget, a reason why Microsoft acquired Activision is, according to Phil Spencer, "a capability on mobile."Join our 80 Level Talent platform and our new Discord server, follow us on Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Telegram, TikTok, and Threads, where we share breakdowns, the latest news, awesome artworks, and more.

Mixed reality is full of wonders that keep impressing us. Here is another one that might interest you.Wordbound is an AR puzzle game where the world is made of words. You can stretch objects out, and they will fall apart to show the letters they are made of. Squeeze them together and get a new image from the letters you choose. It sounds magical, but doing it with your own hands is even more fun.In the showcase above, you see how you can turn a rooster into a rose by manipulating the pictures with your fingers – totally awesome! Here are some more, which you can find on X/Twitter.Wordbound will be released for Quest 3 and Apple Vision Pro in the unspecified future.This project slightly reminds me of Matthew Hallberg's Camera Crop, which can turn your Snap Spectacles into Google Lens. You might also want to explore real-world object duplication, origami making, and an RPG you can play while walking.Join our 80 Level Talent platform and our new Discord server, follow us on Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Telegram, TikTok, and Threads, where we share breakdowns, the latest news, awesome artworks, and more.

Game Developer tinybugbot, whose Houdini stuff we frequently feature on 80 Level, shared an example of how to use a mask with an SDF stored in a VDB to deform geometry. While they prefer Wrangle nodes, you can also experiment with OpenCL, which operates at a lower level than VEX and can offer better performance depending on your hardware and use case.tinybugbot has also previously shared tips on creating displacement effects and designing mechanical surface textures:Also, check out procedural cliffs, a fried egg, and more great projects on their X/Twitter:Join our 80 Level Talent platform and our new Discord server, follow us on Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Telegram, TikTok, and Threads, where we share breakdowns, the latest news, awesome artworks, and more.

At CES 2025, NVIDIA presented Zorah, a revolutionary RTX neural rendering tech demo that showcases the latest advancements in geometry, lighting, and character rendering, all built with Unreal Engine 5.From the beginning, the vision was to create an environment that felt grounded and believable yet unique enough to serve as a foundation for a fantasy world. Inspired by Baroque architecture and cinematic references, artists at Lightspeed Studios blended intricate details and historical elements into a unified, immersive setting, working hand-in-hand with technical teams."With the fidelity now achievable, our team focused on micro details that enhance realism both from afar and up close. We wanted every corner of the environment to surprise and engage viewers. As such, every asset in the project went through Adobe Substance 3D Painter, Designer, or Photoshop at some point during production."Enjoy a collection of concept art, props, materials, and more, brought to life by the incredible art team behind Zorah:See more here and join our 80 Level Talent platform and our new Discord server, follow us on Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Telegram, TikTok, and Threads, where we share breakdowns, the latest news, awesome artworks, and more.

Images: CrytekCrysis was released back in 2007, and it was beautiful, which meant it had pretty high hardware demands – something that players still joke about with the "Can it run Crysis?" meme.Crysis's director and Crytek founder Cevat Yerli explained that the team wanted to "make sure Crysis does not age, that [it] is future proofed, meaning that if I played it three years from now, it should look better than today."If you are curious what was going on at Crytek during the development, you're in luck: Michael Khaimzon, former art director at Crytek, who worked on the game, generously shared some insights that you should hear."The back-stories are almost as crazy as the visuals, so I figured I’d start sharing a few," he said on LinkedIn.The developers, based in Frankfurt, Germany, were tasked to build "the most realistic jungle ever.""What do we know about jungles? We book tickets to Tahiti. The brief is simple: study how a real jungle works and shoot enough photos for textures. ... Ironically, none of the photos we took were usable. In the end we decided to model every single vegetation texture in 3D instead. It sounds insane, but that call ends up driving one of the biggest leaps in real-time graphics. So the trip was essentially useless other than a pack of reference shots."With Crysis, the team wanted to delve into photorealism: "Not “pretty,” not “stylized” – we wanted players to squint and wonder if it was real." Before, Far Cry was lauded for its amazing jungle environments, but for this game, the "trick of hand-painting specular and bump effects straight into textures wasn’t gonna cut it.""At the time, no one used high-poly models for foliage. Leaves were painted, not sculpted. Modeling them sounded insane – until we did it. Suddenly, we had full control over layout, and flawless normal maps where every leaf caught light at its own angle."Another solution that made Crysis look so good was light scattering. The developers simulated the color shifts and shadow plays of leaves, used vertex color and bone rigs to make leaves sway realistically, and did some manual alpha tuning for mipmaps to fix long-distance opacity glitches, "but honestly, the two real breakthroughs were high-poly leaves and subsurface light scattering."Yerli wanted to create "something the world has never seen," so art director Magnus Larbrant provided a concept showing winter in the jungle."As production rolled on, our regular jungles started looking insanely good – photoreal, even by today’s standards. Next to them, the icy levels felt gimmicky, but we’d promised them, so they stayed. ... Sometimes the image that sells the game isn’t the one that defines it. Still, that frozen-jungle concept sparked the entire franchise, so here it is for the history books," Khaimzon explained.What players do remember is the Nanosuit, which, it turns out, "wasn’t even planned until a year into production." Apparently, Delta Force agents were supposed to wear tank-looking supersuits mid-game, but "that didn’t strike a nerve, and Cevat was never satisfied with mediocrity," so the developer tried to focus on "the rubbery muscle structure" from early concepts, but it was not enough, still."And then came the franchise-defining idea: strip away all the armor. Keep the muscles only. Let’s go for a ninja-like figure – black, agile, enhanced. We made our first actual nanosuit... ...but it still didn’t work."The muscles were flat, Khaimzon says, so Crytek asked an external concept artist to look at the suite "with a fresh set of eyes, to take our design and separate each major muscle group as much as possible." This resulted in "the most amazing concepting and modeling feat I’ve ever seen."Crytek's artists created a low-poly model using smoothing groups to separate muscles and then a detailed high-poly sculpt."The Nanosuit was born."In 2004, voxels were all the rage, but they didn't suit the game: "No creature with an IQ over 1 would build a spaceship out of blobs and mush." Playing with the shapes, Crytek loved the organic feel and started looking into blending organic and technological forms, "how to make something that looked alien, but also engineered.""We quickly realized that the key to making it look like advanced technology was in repeating, parallel elements – something that looks artificially crafted."Once that was done, the team focused on zero gravity, which sounds great but demands a lot from developers. Players could get nose-to-nose to textures with zero gravity, but they didn't look good that close; they were "pixely and blurry." "Add detail textures, and they barely helped – they only showed when you were right on top of the surface. Using lots of unique textures wasn’t the answer either – it ate up memory and made the surface look noisy and chaotic from afar."So Crytek invented "one of the most unconventional art pipelines" it'd ever used: designing all alien objects using only tiled textures. The entire 1000-meter alien ship and its interiors were built with a handful of unique textures."Artists had to break objects into clearly defined zones, each mapped with a repeating texture. The structure and flow of the texture became part of the design itself. The real challenge? Creating compelling, alien shapes under such a strict limitation. A huge task."I'd say the developers succeeded in their task, creating a game that will stay with gamers for years to come, thanks to its amazing environments, characters, and mechanics that Crytek worked so hard on making work.Khaimzon has shared 6 parts of this exciting journey, and if you want to know more, follow him on LinkedIn.Also, join our 80 Level Talent platform and our new Discord server, follow us on Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Telegram, TikTok, and Threads, where we share breakdowns, the latest news, awesome artworks, and more.

In case you missed this, Kawaii Physics allows you to simulate physics in a way that fits stylized games, where realistic movements might feel out of place. It's great for all sorts of things, from bouncy hair and swaying skirts to anything else you can dream up. What's especially cool is that it was mostly built by one person, Kazuya Okada aka pafuhana1213, and it's been used in major commercial games like Tekken 8, Stellar Blade, and Persona 3 Reload. Even better, it's open-source and totally free to use.Cobra Code, specializing in various easy-to-follow Unreal Engine 5 tutorials, released a new video that gives a nice overview of how it all works. Also, Kawaii Physics now supports Unreal Engine 5.5, so it's a great time to check it out.Download Kawaii Physics here and see more of Cobra Code's YouTube videos below:Join our 80 Level Talent platform and our new Discord server, follow us on Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Telegram, TikTok, and Threads, where we share breakdowns, the latest news, awesome artworks, and more.

Hadi Karimi, a 3D Sculptor and CG Artist celebrated for his highly realistic 3D portraits of famous people and historical figures, showcased a stunning recreation of the renowned actress and Princess of Monaco, Grace Kelly.The creator showed a finalized version, crafted with ZBrush and rendered with Arnold, and a WIP, sharing a glimpse at the creation of this photorealistic model.If you wish to learn more about Hadi Karimi's workflow, check out our interview with him, in which the artist detailed his Tom Hardy likeness project and discussed the changes in the artistic industry, such as the evolution of real-time rendering:The artist unveiled many remarkable realistic portraits, including the recreation of Bruce Lee, Elton John, Liv Tyler's Arwen, Audrey Hepburn, Ludwig van Beethoven, and more:Visit the artist's ArtStation and Twitter for more amazing works. Also, don't forget to join our 80 Level Talent platform and our new Discord server, follow us on Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Telegram, TikTok, and Threads, where we share breakdowns, the latest news, awesome artworks, and more.

If there's someone I wouldn't want to be right now, it's most certainly the head of Gearbox's PR department.Imagine: you and your team are working tirelessly to build hype for Borderlands 4 while the franchise is getting bombarded with negative reviews over spyware-like EULA changes and the disaster that was the Borderlands movie still being fresh in everyone's memory, only to have your own boss, Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford, completely undermine all your efforts with just a couple of tweets.And worst of all, there is nothing you can really do about it, as even after getting slammed for all but confirming Borderlands 4 would be priced at $80 and trying to defend it with a personal anecdote and the claim that it's "not his call," Pitchford didn't lay low and wait for the outrage to die down, choosing instead to double down on his bizarre antics and ride the wave of backlash, only for it to backfire tremendously.GearboxThat's all to say the drama surrounding Gearbox's infamous CEO shows no signs of slowing down, with Randy Pitchford catching not one, but two waves of criticism this time.The first wave came after he tried to "play it cool" in response to a joke tweet from Devolver Digital, which pointed out that you could buy Mycopunk – an upcoming co-op shooter with a whimsical art style not too dissimilar from Borderlands' – for yourself and three friends for the price of a single copy of Borderlands 4.For some inexplicable reason, Pitchford replied with, "Mycopunk is cheaper than a point of meth" and "probably has fewer side effects," which many commenters perceived as cringeworthy, urging him to log off Twitter and stop making life harder for Gearbox's regular developers—who, as history has shown, will be the ones hit hardest should Borederlands 4 flop.The second wave of backlash stems from Randy trying once again to justify inflated price tags by sharing a recent video from PAX East, where he attempts to explain "the truth" about video game pricing. In the video, which had mostly gone unnoticed until now, the CEO reveals that Borderlands 4 has "more than twice" the development budget of Borderlands 3, which, based on Jason Schreier's 2020 report, would put the figure somewhere around $280-300 million.While Randy probably saw this as a winning argument in his head, the gaming community didn't agree. Many pointed out that games simply don't need to have such massive budgets in the first place, and that it's AAA studios choosing to ignore cost-efficiency – so why should players be the ones to foot the bill?Recent releases have made it clear, gamers note, that a title's quality and success aren't tied to how much money is thrown at it, and with Pitchford's claims contradicting this observable reality, it's no surprise the video he shared was met with heavy criticism.So, what do you think about Borderlands 4? Will the game's sales be affected by Randy's antics? Tell us what you think down in the comments!Don't forget to join our 80 Level Talent platform and our new Discord server, follow us on Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Telegram, TikTok, and Threads, where we share breakdowns, the latest news, awesome artworks, and more.

Gloria LevineSenior EditorGloria LevineSenior EditorPublished21 May 2025TagsNewsVideo GamesArt-To-Experience Contest: A Creative Challenge by Emperia and 80 LevelJoin TodayZibartas Cosplay has a new tribute to the game.Zibartas Cosplay, a talented craftsman who makes props from popular fandoms, recreated a jacket from Cyberpunk 2077, the one you've certainly seen in the key art.Zibartas paid a lot of attention to little details, but the LED collar is definitely the scene-stealer. Made in CLO and Fusion 360, it is a fantastic addition to the creator's collection of memorabilia jewels.Zibartas's other pieces include sick Oda's Mantis Blades, Overwatch costumes, and more. You can see them on his X/Twitter.Love these? Then check out Imryll's Saw Cleaver from Bloodborne, also made for real-life showcases.ImryllAlso, join our 80 Level Talent platform and our new Discord server, follow us on Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Telegram, TikTok, and Threads, where we share breakdowns, the latest news, awesome artworks, and more.