October Blog: Black Forest Horse & Wardrobe Update
The Enchanting Arrival of the Black Forest Horse
By Nomi (Senior 3D Artist & Animator)
The name says it all - Black Forest Horse.
Just hearing it feels like stepping into a misty pine forest where the air smells of moss and rain, and sunlight filters through the branches.
For me, it immediately brought back memories of riding through deep forests, brushing past pine needles that sometimes ended up tangled in my horse’s mane. I used to decorate his mane with little pine twigs just to capture those magical “forest fairy” photos, and the Black Forest Horse feels like it was made for that kind of vibe.
Photos of my Irish Cob Runestone — he might not be a Black Forest Horse, but he’s definitely a little forest spirit.
*Real life photos of the Irish Cob Runestone - he might not be a Black Forest horse, but he is a little forest spirit for sure.
🎨 Behind the Scenes — My Role
My role in this production was as the 3D Artist for the model, mane styles, and textures — but I also had the honor of being the Equestrian Advisor for this breed. That meant being responsible for the overall feel and authenticity of the horse, creating the style guide and direction, and serving as the go-to person for questions about how the horse should move, look, and feel.
For the Black Forest Horse, we wanted to highlight two signature traits:
The iconic flaxen chestnut coat
The long, flowy manes
At first glance, Black Forest Horses can look quite similar, but when you look closer, there’s so much variation in tone, shine, and texture. Those subtle details are what bring personality and life to each individual horse in the game.
“A little box of praline chocolate”
🐎 Animation & Special Trick
For this horse, we wanted to capture that feeling of harmony — when you stop in the forest, take a deep breath, and feel the wind in your hair. That sense of presence is reflected in the idle animations, which were designed to feel calm and free.
We also added a special trick where the player hugs their horse — a simple but emotional gesture that reflects the bond between horse and rider. Horses have a magic effect on us to become more present in the moment.
*Gif of the special trick*
✏️ Early Development
Early blockout of the mane in zbrush:
Exploring the flow and volume to match the breed’s signature softness.
Early concepts on the silhouettes of the manestyles:
Experimenting with length, weight, and personality — from practical to picture-perfect fairytale looks.
Thank you for following along with this behind-the-scenes look!
I can’t wait to see everyone’s photos and outfits with the Black Forest Horse once it arrives in Jorvik. 🌿💛
Wardrobe Update
By Anna Kotris (UX/UI Designer) & the UX/UI Team
UX/UI team here! We are excited to share that a big update is on the way for the Wardrobe!
You guys know we have been working on the wardrobe in different ways; first adding more slots, and then making sure icons work the right way on mobile. Well, now we have more news! We have been working on the next step for both look and function.
This recent project is all about making the experience smoother, faster, and more enjoyable. Managing and equipping gear should feel seamless. Within the team, we discussed how important it is for our players to customize and personalize their own wardrobes, which has led to even more exciting outcomes. We’re introducing multi-select functionality and improved filtering to make it easier to find exactly what you need.
Another spoiler:
👖👕💾
When it comes to look and feel in the UI - We’re trying to recreate the experience of still being in the world of Jorvik, not breaking the immersion. The interface blends with the stable and other environments by using frosted glass-style panels that match your surroundings, creating an immersive experience when customizing your equestrian duo.
Navigation is designed with visual hierarchy in mind: active categories feature vibrant colors and subtle glow effects that draw your eyes exactly where they need to go. Meanwhile, unselected options fade into soft, muted tones that stay accessible but never compete for attention.
This is the kind of project where we release when it's good enough, so even though we do not yet have any time for release of this yet, we look forward to being able to show you guys more as soon as we can!
Design sketch of Wardrobe
More defined design of Wardrobe