The Great Wave 2D Art
The first expansion for Victoria 3 in 2026 is The Great Wave which focuses on the navy and the region of Japan. Some of the things I have directly worked on include the Japanese themed UI reskin, new icons for reworked or new features, user interface revamps to support the reworked Navy feature. I have also led the 2D art team on the new illustrations and other ui reworks and icon works. While the expansion launched with issues, the art was highly praised by fans.
Lacquered wood and earthy tones formed the foundation for the new UI skin.
I wanted to incorporate the Ranma panels that are very prominent in Japanese interiors. I decided to go with an almost black, dark brown color with gold trimmings to add both a touch of elegance and contrast, especially along the edges of the frames.
As a major expansion, this has plenty of system reworks that usually mean lots of new icons to design.
The Navy and ship management reworks which combine art and usability.
Led art direction for The Great Wave illustrations, with art by Mariia Sush and Simon Gunnarsson. The images highlight the rapid industrialisation of Japan as well as parts of society that try to retain their traditional ways.
With an overhaul of the Naval Battle System, we wanted the battles to be clearer and more understandable. I wanted to explore a highlight reel showing two ships in battle akin to Advance Wars.