New World Talks About Its Boss Design Process In Its Latest Forged In Aeternum Video

Amazon Game Studios has rolled out a new Forged in Aeternum video that talks about the process of designing and creating a boss in New World. In the new video, Lead AI Designer, AI Designer Patrick Smedley, and Player Experience Lead Dave Hall talk about the entire design process, from their lore inspiration and initial concept to internal testing.

“Giant enemies, unique mechanics, and visual spectacles make every aspect of boss fights more exciting,” said Amazon. “Whether players unconsciously curl their fingers into a fist at the thought of The Caretaker or smile about a mistake that sent their entire group into Death’s Door, these tense battles often feature some of the community’s favorite moments.”

“Each fight originates as a discussion about relevant story details and intended player experience,” added the studio. “The Design Team then prototypes boss interactions. Playtests, feedback, and further iterations follow until the boss strikes a balance between fair, fresh, and fun.”

The whole design process should be familiar to anyone who’s watched behind-the-scenes footage from other games, but it does offer insight into how Amazon comes up with all the unique baddies for the open-world MMORPG. The developers also reveal their personal opinions about some of the game’s legacy bosses, including Chardis, which they said they wish they could redesign because he’s a bit too simplistic. They were very happy, however, with Neishatun which they feel game together really well from a design perspective.

You can check out the full video below to learn more about what goes into the making of a boss in New World.