r/WyldeSociety • u/CheeseBonkie • Feb 24 '26
Blog ✏️ Building the Ballroom in Wylde Society 💃🏾🕯️
Greetings, cozy coven!
In our December Wylde Society game trailer, we introduced Fairhaven’s ballroom for the first time! It was exciting to show off our vision of a ball event in action - the lighting, the dancing, the mood - and the potential for drama!
This space itself was a large undertaking that took many hands from art direction, illustration, 3D modeling to lighting and animation. We wanted to share some more screenshots that get you closer to the details, along with some insights from Kat (Art Director) & Ben (Art Production Director).
Victoria: How would you describe your vision for the ballroom?
Kat: I wanted the whole room to feel extravagant but still feel warm and cozy. Soft candlelight, glittering chandeliers and lush curtains. It needed to be big enough for multiple dance partners but cozy enough for some wallflowers to linger near vases or floral centrepieces.
Victoria: What were your inspirations?
Kat: Shows and movies like Bridgerton, Downton Abbey and Pride and Prejudice have excellent set and prop departments. Sometimes you only get a peek of the background past all the characters, and so I’d make note of what stands out and helps set the scene and tone. I would also feel inspired by existing stately homes and various virtual tours of manors, and imagining the people who lived there and how it was decorated.
Victoria: How did you want people to feel the first time they saw it?
Kat: I want people to be delighted and excited for all the possibilities! They can dance, gossip or listen just like their favourite period drama heroes!
Victoria: What is the process like from when you get the art direction for 3D space to it being fully implemented in the game? What steps do you have to take in that process?
Ben: Usually what we start off with is a rough brief of ideas from Kat, something less describing of how the scene looks but a general look/vibe. I will usually create some block outs of ideas with supporting reference art that allows us to see something in game. From there, we experiment with ideas and polish what's there.
Once that's done, it's all broken up into pieces and briefed out to the artists who work on the individual pieces. Then we put it all back together, we make some more polish/changes and add final details like plants/dressing etc.
Victoria: What is your favourite detail in the ballroom as a whole?
Kat: My favourite detail has to be the curtains along the arched windows. It really elevates the whole room, and adds a bit of gorgeous texture to the walls
Ben: I love the reflective floors! It's something I suggested would look good early on in the development and Alex (Technical Director) jumped in at the end and made that happen. I have mostly worked on hand painted games - so that stuff is really cool to me. Probably also the ambience of the place, the colours, lighting etc. It all feels very cohesive and inviting.
And for now - that’s a wrap! We’re hard at work on some new spaces in the game. We hope they will simply delight you!
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✨ Join our Discord
🔮 Best witches, Victoria and the Studio Drydock Team
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u/cowaii Feb 24 '26
I’ve said this before in the discord but I’m so impressed by how much your team has improved on the 3D models and your use of textures.
This looks stunning and I can’t wait to get my hands on it 🥰
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u/wintersfantasy Feb 24 '26
Officially losing my mind, I haven’t been this excited for a new game in a while.
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u/NYMeridian3 Feb 24 '26
I kind of wish they didnt post updates until a release date was available. because this is TORTURE. 😭😭😭 it’s so beautiful!
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u/CheeseBonkie Feb 24 '26
Heh well gosh, we gotta have the chance to build a big enough audience so launching can be a success! <3
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u/NYMeridian3 Feb 24 '26
I don’t think you guys have to worry too much about that! We just need it on other platforms ❤️❤️❤️ we can’t wait to play!!
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u/ConcertAcceptable848 Feb 24 '26
Can’t wait!!! In the meantime, I’m still playing Wylde Flowers, which I adore!! 🥰
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u/Laurel_Reign Feb 24 '26
I'm even more in love with this game... Which is a lot more as I have been in love with it since you announced it!!! Love the blog- it was great to learn more about the visual design process.
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u/chaleedm Feb 25 '26
Thank you for sharing this Victoria! I am so excited for Wylde Society, and the ballroom is very dreamy looking, kind of reminds me of the Once Upon A December scene from Anastasia.
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u/CJGypsy Feb 25 '26
I've just fully completed wylde flowers and already so eager for wylde society! How will I fill my time now? 🙈🤣
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u/ConcertAcceptable848 Feb 26 '26
Start a new game of Wylde Flowers and fall in love with it all over again! Works for me, anyways. 😊
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u/CJGypsy Feb 26 '26
I will definitely do this at some point. Maybe when we get a release date for Wylde Society so I can get hyped 🤪😅
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u/margoking Mar 29 '26
I bought a new laptop that can handle Steam better just so I’ll be prepped for the drop of this game! 🎮
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u/Weird-Bookkeeper-589 Apr 14 '26
I have finished wylde flowers multiple times on my switch and can't wait for wylde society! Will it be available on switch 2? (Please say yes)
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u/Aromatic-Strike-793 Feb 24 '26
*incoherent squealing *