THE ART OF FINAL FANTASY XIV ENDWALKER
Let the art do the talking is something you don’t hear too often in the social media age. A new illustration is often accompanied by interviews, hot takes and reactions. The art team behind Final Fantasy XIV and its latest expansion, Endwalker, are a little more old fashioned. They rarely appear for interviews, safe in the knowledge that the art they create is some of the best in the industry.
Speaking exclusively to ImagineFX, we meet some of the talented artists behind one of the longest-running video game series. With Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker releasing 7 December, the latest expansion for the successful MMORPG, the famously shy artists behind the worlds, creatures and characters reveal their approach to producing consistently beautiful art and game designs.
BACKGROUND BY DESIGN
Like many, background concept specialist Rokuma Saito knew from an early age he wanted to be an artist. At high school he’d “visually express the landscapes that I imagined in my head.” It was an obsession that led him to “try my hand as an artist in game production”.
The names of the places he’s helped create – Thavnair, Eulmore and Abalathia – play on the tongue; the dextrous titles suggest magical, extravagant worlds and they don’t disappoint. Saito-san’s landscapes feature rocky plateaus teetering on crystal points and colourful towns nestled in green mountains that recall southern European villages by way of Mumbai. The worlds he paints appear to be in motion and inspired by competing influences, but they work together to create innovative spaces for players to become lost in.
The artist says he’s inspired by “the scenery of places I’ve visited in the
