Games

Half-Life 2 and Dishonored Artist Viktor Antonov Has Passed Away

BBG News

Artist Viktor Antonov, known for creating the distinctive City 17 in Half-Life 2 and the world of Dishonored by Arkane, has sadly passed away at the age of 52. At this time, no official statement from his family has been released, but there’s been a flood of tributes from colleagues mourning his loss.

In a recent Instagram post, Half-Life writer Marc Laidlaw expressed that he had been hesitant to speak until the news was confirmed, but he learned today that Viktor Antonov, our creative art director for HL2, has passed away. “I don’t have many details yet, just a sense of sadness. Genius and innovative. He made everything better.

Raf Colantonio, the Creative Director at WolfEye Studios and founder of Arkane Studios, paid his respects to Viktor Antonov on Twitter/X. The post reads: “RIP Viktor Antonov”. He shares that he wishes he could have told him how much admiration he had for him, but they both got caught up in life until a sudden moment like this strikes. Viktor Antonov was instrumental to the success of Arkane Studios and an inspiration to many of us, not just as a talented artist, but also as a friend with whom I shared numerous memorable moments.

Born in Sofia, Bulgaria in 1972, Antonov began his artistic career in 1997 as a map painter for the game Redneck Rampage. Other notable works include Kingpin: Life of Crime. After joining Valve in 2004, he played a significant role in creating City 17, a chilly Brutalist urban setting, which is one of the most iconic locations in Half-Life 2. His contributions also extend to the unsuccessful BattleCry project for Bethesda. However, Antonov’s work on Dishonored and Half-Life 2 are particularly noteworthy.

Our thought are with Antonov’s family and friends.

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2025-02-17 17:12

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