This Week in Aeternum: Explore a Vast World

August 30, 2024
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General

Greetings, Adventurers!

Now that Grace O’Malley introduced you to the Eternal Isle, you’re ready to discover Aeternum’s many wonders. Journey through the scorched wastes of Brimstone Sands while avoiding the ancient desert’s colossal sandwurm, plunge into the bioluminescent jungle of the Elysian Wilds amongst enraged primordial beast lords, and navigate the ominous presence looming around Shattered Mountain. You’ll traverse 15 zones to uncover the truth behind the island’s supernatural happenings.

Check out these episodes of Discovering Aeternum, plus insight into the Development Team’s creative process, for a deeper look at the island’s diverse regions, but beware. No opportunity comes without risk. Grace will just say that’s part of the adventure.

Zones

Right, well now that you’re all rested and comfy like, I suppose it’s time for your old pal Grace to tell you a bit more about your lovely new home, Aeternum. Now, this island is vast, and there’s not a soul on it who can truthfully claim to know it inside and out — but I’ve seen my fair share of the place now — and lucky for you — I’ll lay some wisdom on you now before you start your adventuring.

Points of Interest

Ya see I told ya there are plenty of settlements around the island, if ya know where to find ‘em. Folks have been coming here a long time, and they’ve managed to build some impressive things. And I’m not just talkin’ about those old ruins from the time of the Ancients…

Concept Art

Learn more about the Development Team’s zone creation process before you explore the island’s unique, lush environments.

“Concept artists use shape language, color, material variety, and lighting in these mood explorations to evoke a desired emotion,” said Senior Concept Artist Stuart Kim. “For example, how do we amplify awe in the player when they see a majestic vista? Or perhaps we could create a stronger sense of apprehension using low-lighting and atmosphere in a dark, supernatural location? At the early stage, we’re not focusing too much on specific designs, but trying to establish the overall tone of the scenery and using our tools to achieve those results.” “We’re also attempting to add in a sense of intrigue through directed compositions that may depict figures or the state of an object or place. For instance, you might see a settlement after it was destroyed or perhaps overgrown through abandonment and the passing of time. These visual cues provide clues as to why or how it became that way. It may even stir up more questions, which is a good thing. The team worked closely with Narrative and Design throughout production to develop the look of the world and contribute to the storytelling of Aeternum through concept art.”

Look forward to experiencing these zones firsthand when New World: Aeternum comes to Steam (PC), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S on October 15. Don’t forget to also check out the next episode of Aeternum Survival Guide series on X. Thanks for your support! We’ll see you in Aeternum.

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