Horizon Zero Dawn

Creative Direction, Motion Design, 3D

Sample project image

Created launch videos for the release of Horizon Zero Dawn, showing off some of the machines you encounter within the game. This was the first in-depth glimpse anyone had of the machines before the game was released. From the initial pitch idea to the final delivery, I was in charge of the Art Direction and Motion Graphics for this project.


I worked closely with the Gorilla Games team in Amsterdam to make sure the asset was produced at the highest level possible. The collaboration was vital in the process as the assets were going back and forth between us. Camera animations were done in a combination of Maya and Cinema 4D while the final rendered machine passes were done on the in-house Render engine at Gorilla Games. The UI HUD motion graphics were a combination of After effects, Cinema 4D and Houdini.

Sample project image
Sample project image
Sample project image
Sample project image
Sample project image

The Process

Further development of this project will explore how to create an immersive visual experience in VR with this data combining spatial audio and interactive elements to the viewer's experience.

© Mathew Spendlove 2024

© Mathew Spendlove 2024

© Mathew Spendlove 2024