Current Events > The lead designer and concept artist of Horizon Zero Dawn, Mike Nash, has died

(+) Yeah! (+)

https://gamerant.com/horizon-zero-dawn-lead-designer-passes-away/

With the first game in the series a proven success, players are eagerly awaiting Horizon: Forbidden West. But while players focus on traps the sequel needs to avoid, tragedy has struck behind the scenes.

Michael Andrew Nash was the lead designer behind the machines of Horizon: Zero Dawn, with those designs returning in Horizon: Forbidden West. A Tweet from Gavriil Klimov, a close friend and colleague of Nash, confirmed Nash's recent death. Mike Nash was 36. The cause of death, if it is known at this time, has not yet been made public.
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In his tweets, Kilmov showered praise on Nash, praising his prowess in creating 3D designs. The death of Nash will likely be felt throughout the industry, as his work was, by many accounts, some of the best in futuristic design in video games today. Among his most famous designs were futuristic machines that interlocked and operated in glorious, intricate detail, lending a sense of realism and beauty in excessive detail. Among these designs, to no one's surprise, were the machine animals that lent Horizon: Zero Dawn a huge part of its identity, grandeur, and beauty.

While his work is by no means limited to these mechanical creatures, it can be truly said that a huge part of Horizon: Zero Dawn's success was due to Nash's designs. One of the crazy development stories behind Horizon: Zero Dawn is that no one thought a dinosaur-machine hybrid would work at first. The idea of a mechanical dino that would not only look cool but would also be fun and tricky to fight was considered beyond the reach by many on a development team stepping way outside its comfort zone. When the team saw Nash's design for what would become the Thunderjaw however, that pessimism was swiftly discarded. The rest, as they say, is history.

With Guerilla Games shifting focus from Horizon: Zero Dawn PC to Forbidden West, it's clear that the team will be working to make the best sequel it can. However, without any new creations from the original designer, it's likely some new enemies will look distinctly different. If a third game is created, players can expect a new, possibly less detailed breed of robo-dinosaur.

Of course, machines were not Nash's only area of expertise. His ArtStation depicts many futuristic designs with a focus on armor and power suits, and is well worth checking out. While the enemies in Zero Dawn originally looked more normal, players can thank Nash for the animalistic machines fought throughout the game. Nash's tutorials on working with 3D art are also worth a look for any aspiring 3D artist.tails are slim right now, but he supposedly had a falling out with Guerilla Games for not initially even being credited for designing much of the concepts of the world.

https://mobile.twitter.com/gavriilklimov/status/1352321092459716608

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this is fucking terrible

RIP

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Shit

I didn't know this guy or play his games but that is sad and scary too depending on what happened to him

Shit, RIP

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Wow that sucks. RIP

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This is from literally the other day

https://twitter.com/hazardousarts/status/1352405428618067973?s=21

https://www.twitlonger.com/show/n_1sridab

Seems too coincidental, I'm fearing the worst here
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Shit, 36!?
Way too soon, we lost a good one.

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Wait fuck there's a really long video with his parents

https://youtu.be/6C2AIRtHzvk

They straight up blame the industry but it wasn't an intentional suicide
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Damn shame

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Damn.

Hayame Zero posted...

Mike Nash was 36.

Damn!

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Bio1590 posted...

Wait fuck there's a really long video with his parents

https://youtu.be/6C2AIRtHzvk

They straight up blame the industry but it wasn't an intentional suicide

Yeah, I was about to post that. She outright said the industry contributed to it. They haven't released a cause of death, but it's suspected to be accidental overdose.

Also this tweet posted before: a colleague revealed that Guerilla Games initially wouldn't credit him - despite essentially creating much of the world - and he had to fight just to get his name in the credits.
https://www.twitlonger.com/show/n_1sridab

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They did him really dirty by not crediting him initially

This dude's work is legendary

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RIP

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:( Rest In Peace

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RIP
He designed some really awesome stuff. His work was impressive. Had no idea about any of the behind the scenes stuff. Horrible

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RIP

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Bio1590 posted...

This is from literally the other day

https://twitter.com/hazardousarts/status/1352405428618067973?s=21

https://www.twitlonger.com/show/n_1sridab

Seems too coincidental, I'm fearing the worst here

This is fucking horrible and also speculative that Guerilla Games could be held accountable for this disgusting move. Seriously how and for what reason is the literal LEAD DESIGNER not credited in a video game???

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RIP to a really talented artist. Sometimes I would just sit and watch the machines wander around because they were so detailed.

This is a really shitty situation and makes me second guess buying Horizon 2 unless it's used.

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Bump

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How tf can they not credit him if he was the lead designer? Why would they even do that? Jesus. RIP
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Rapid99 posted...

This is a really shitty situation and makes me second guess buying Horizon 2 unless it's used.

Yeah dood punish the rest of the art team as well, that'll show em

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What a tragedy, RIP

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