Every moment you spend in the game, every emotion you feel while discovering the story, every in-game art or background you admire – It all started with a sketch and a concept idea.
Creating the fictive world of 1348 Ex Voto meant more than just recreating 14th-century Italy. It meant breathing life into a miserable world based on historical fiction. The careful balance of creativity and accuracy. The art needed to carry the weight of the world falling apart, the humanity of characters fighting impossible odds, and the brutal beauty of a land consumed by plague and violence.
Aeta: The Rebel Noble
"For her outfit we aimed to create a “travelling knight”. The red cape was there from the start, as well as the armour parts — which were then reduced to make her feel more agile. We then focused on what she would carry on her back, which to us was fundamental to convey the fact that she was on a long journey. We started with backpacks but quickly realised that they occluded the cape and felt clunky in combat. This led us to a smaller bag with accessories hanging on it."
Bianca: Strength in Contrast
"When we first meet Bianca in our story she is on her path to join a convent, so we mixed elements of commoners clothing with the classic nun dress.
For Bianca’s looks we wanted something opposite of Aeta, so we naturally gravitated towards lighter hair, eyes, and softer facial traits."
Il Brigante & The Bandits: Desperate Survivors
The World: Beauty in Decay
"Aeta’s village: a scarecrow watching over the smoldering ruins of Aeta’s village after the bandit’s raid."
See More in the Digital Artbook
This is just a small taste of what’s inside the full 1348 Ex Voto Digital Artbook, included with the Deluxe Edition. From early sketches to storyboards, environment concepts to character breakdowns across all three acts – it’s the complete visual journey of how we built this fictional world.
1348 Ex Voto launches on March 12, 2026.