Thalassa: Edge of the Abyss - Lighting, sunken ship

I was responsible for lighting all levels in Thalassa: Edge of the Abyss by Sarepta Studio. This is a selection of screenshots from the sunken version of the ship. In contrast to the intro, the sunken ship feels cold and inhospitable, almost dead. We focused on emphasizing the moods and stories of the different rooms, aiming for a slightly stylized, painterly look. We also used light and color to guide the player towards important objects and locations, as well as help orient the player with different looks for each section of the ship.

I also created custom materials for fake volumetric light beams, underwater caustics, and fog cards, as well as environmental particle effects. Additionally, I assisted with creating the underwater fog effect, in collaboration with Sarepta's tech artist Klas Lothe.

Huge thanks to the rest of the team for creating so many beautiful locations to light:
Josef Najjar - Head of 3D, as well as lots of guidance on improving the lighting and moods.
Kjartan Widerøe Forthun - Art director
Klas Lothe - Technical 3D Artist
Reidun Rian - Texture artist
Stian Røbergeng - Level designer