Dear Players,
Continuing from our previous entries on Zhao Yun and Zhuge Liang, we're turning the spotlight once again to the character design of Kingdom Heroes: Arena.
This time, we're sharing the model development log for Xia-Hou Yuan, one of Wei State's greatest generals.
【Swift, Fierce, and Unstoppable】
In the stories of the Three Kingdoms, Xia-Hou Yuan was known for his swift marches and decisive strikes on the battlefield. We wanted to bring that same strength and agility to the fighting arena. To recreate this imposing presence, we explored heavier armor silhouettes while continuing to refine the decorative details and body proportions.
【Outfit Design: Establishing Equipment and Textures】
Starting from the visual design phase, we defined the materials and color palette for each part of Xia-Hou Yuan's appearance. His armor is built around dark metal tones, paired with deep red cloth and metallic patterns, projecting the image of a calm and powerful warrior. Using a three-view reference sheet, we carefully reviewed the layering of his shoulder guards, chest plate, waist armor, and bracers to ensure the equipment looks natural with flame-shaped helmet decorations added to reinforce his character identity.
【Combat Stance Concept: Reviewing Action Performance】
Since Xia-Hou Yuan is known for his speed and decisive action, we wanted his movements to carry both weight and agility. Once the base design was finalized, we created a combat stance concept illustration — a 2D simulation of Xia-Hou Yuan in a weapon-ready pose. This allowed us to evaluate his center of gravity, the silhouette of his heavy armor, and whether the movement of his helmet tassels and lower cloth panels conveys the right sense of speed while fitting the camera perspective of a fighting game.
【3D High-Poly Model: Setting Model Details】
With the 2D design confirmed, development moved into the 3D high-poly sculpting phase, translating the design into a highly detailed three-dimensional model. This includes the metallic patterns on the chest plate, the layered structure of the waist armor, and the depth of the back plating and draped cloth — all fully built out as 3D data at this stage, setting the foundation for in-engine development and making the character feel more alive in the arena.
We'll continue sharing more character development updates going forward. We hope these behind-the-scenes looks keep you excited for what's coming!
Kingdoms Heroes: Arena Development Team