VFX Breakdown: Creating the Latest Retrieval Trailer

As we continue to push the boundaries of what's possible in game trailers, we wanted to give you a behind-the-scenes look at some of the key moments from our latest Retrieval trailer. Our Creative Director Christian Sokol shares insights into how our team brought these intense sequences to life.

Creative Direction: Humanizing Horror

In crafting our latest trailer, we faced a crucial creative challenge: how to show the brutal reality our main character Hana faces while dealing with horrors she's never experienced before. Unlike characters like Kratos who are portrayed as indestructible forces of nature, we deliberately took the approach of making Hana feel like a normal person—someone with emotions, struggles, and a past.

Character Development: Hana's Design Evolution

"We wanted to push the limits of Hana's 'Human Condition' while maintaining the horror elements that make Retrieval unique," explains Sokol. "By showing her vulnerability, we're inviting players to see themselves in her situation, making the horror more personal and impactful."

Destroying the Subway: Technical Innovation

One of our biggest challenges was the subway crash sequence. With no real-world reference for a crash of this scale, we had to think outside the box. Our solution? We created an efficient 5-second space that we could reuse with multiple camera angles, creating the illusion of the tram traveling through nearly half a mile of tunnel.

We developed the tram destruction sequence entirely in Houdini, creating a single simulation that encompassed derailing, sliding, and the final impact. The simulation data was then exported as VDBs directly into Unreal Engine for real-time rendering, allowing us to maintain both the intensity of the crash and our artistic vision.

Hana's Arm: Breaking New Ground

Our VFX and Technical Artist Pau Moreno took on one of the most challenging sequences in the trailer: the destruction of Hana's arm. This complex effect required us to push our technical capabilities to new limits, combining intricate physics simulations with advanced material work.

The sequence involved:

• Geometric flesh simulation with realistic deformation
• Complex blood and fluid dynamics responding to torn flesh
• Detailed bone and vein systems with authentic behavior
• Advanced skin deformation using multiple visual markers
• Intricate wrinkle and fold mapping for maximum realism

Mia's Explosive Entrance

For Mia's dramatic scene, we wanted to create an explosion that would emphasize both the danger and necessity of her actions. Unlike the Houdini-based subway crash, we developed this sequence entirely in EmberGen, using VDB exports for optimal real-time results in Unreal Engine.

Real-Time Commitment

One of our core principles throughout development has been ensuring that everything seen in our trailers can be experienced in real-time during gameplay. We've maintained this standard across all our effects work, from the subway crash to Mia's explosion sequence, guaranteeing that players will experience these moments with the same visual fidelity in-game.

Learn More

Want to see more of our work on Retrieval? Visit our games page for an in-depth look at the project. You can also watch our latest trailer on our YouTube channel and check out our complete 2024 VFX Breakdown reel to see more behind-the-scenes content.