The video game world lost a legendary art director today, Viktor Antonov. He is most well-known for his work as the art director on Half-Life 2 and Dishonored. The Bulgarian made a huge impact on the art style of many games. Antonov was a consultant on many fan-favorite games like Doom, Fallout 4, and Prey. The cause of death is unknown and was first reported by members of the industry he has worked with in the past.

Viktor Antonov: Early Life & Intro To Video Games

Viktor Antonov was born in Sofia, Bulgaria, before moving to Paris, France, at age 17. The first game he worked on was Redneck Rampage, a 1997 first-person shooter from Xatrix Entertainment with a hillbilly theme set in a fictional Arkansas town. He burst onto the scene when he was tabbed to be the art director for Half-Life 2.  His masterpieces were the looks of the Combine and City 17, where he melded 19th and 20th-century architecture to create a unique world.

He followed up Half-Life 2 with Dishonored and created the world of Dunwall. Antonov took inspiration from the 19th-century looks of London and Edinburgh to create the look the studio was going for. In a recent documentary, the legendary art director talked about how he crafted the intro sequence to one of his games.

“I always had been doing since my childhood a bit of urban exploration. So I love to break through a window of an abandoned factory or building or train station. That’s one of my hobbies, or used to be. What’s on the roofs of buildings? What’s in an abandoned building’s cellar? And a factory? We did a lot of work on this.”

Tributes Pouring Out

Since the news broke, countless people who have worked with Viktor Antonov have shared messages about working with the art director. Raphael Colantonio, founder of Arkane Studios, posted on social media, “You were instrumental to the success of Arkane Studios and an inspiration to many of us, also a friend with whom I have many fond memories.” Harvey Smith, former co-creative director of Arkane Studios had a similar sentiment saying, “All this about his impact and talent is true, but I will also always remember how much he made me laugh, with his dry, devastating wit. RIP.”

Many other people who worked with Viktor Antonov are saying the same things. He was not just a great art director but a friend to those who he worked with. His ability to take a virtual world and breathe life into it was uncanny. The art style of games is often what draws people in. While the gameplay often keeps them there, the setting is imperative. Players want to feel immersed, and Antonov was able to create a world in which gamers could get lost. The world lost an extraordinary talent today, but his impact will live on in games forever.