New World: Forged in Aeternum – Boss Design

Challenging and elaborate boss fights are a staple of MMORPGs at this point. And if you’d like to learn a thing or two about how they’re designed and gradually grow from an initial pitch to a fully realized, and fun, encounter, you should check out the latest Forged in Aeternum episode where Amazon Game Studios’ developers discuss their approach to boss design in New World.

Here it is:

And here are some extra details:

Greetings, Adventurers!

Giant enemies, unique mechanics, and visual spectacles make every aspect of boss fights more exciting. 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. The Design Team then prototypes boss interactions. Playtests, feedback, and further iterations follow until the boss strikes a balance between fair, fresh, and fun. For example, many of the most satisfying victories happen when groups with very little health barely manage to defeat a boss.

Check out the video below to discover how each encounter grows from an initial pitch into an unforgettable foe.

What’s your favorite boss and why? Let us know on the forums. Thanks for your support! We’ll see you in Aeternum.

And when you’re done with that, you can also find the patch notes for the game’s 1.8.1 update over here.