https://www.eurogamer.net/half-life-2-and-dishonored-art-lead-viktor-antonov-dies-aged-just-52 Skip to main content * 2025 Release Schedule * Infinity Nikki Codes * Avowed Tips * Genshin Impact Varesa * Supporters only * Deals * Buy eShop codes Eurogamer.net Support us Sign in / Create account * Latest * PC * PlayStation * Xbox * Nintendo * Digital Foundry * News * Reviews * Videos * Features * Guides [ ] If you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Read our editorial policy. * Home * News Half-Life 2 and Dishonored art lead Viktor Antonov dies aged just 52 "Brilliant and original. Made everything better." A portrait shot of Viktor Antonov surrounded by concept art for Half-Life 2 and Dishonored Image credit: Valve / Arkane Studios / Eurogamer Vikki Blake avatar News by Vikki Blake Contributor Published on Feb. 16, 2025 20 comments Follow Dishonored Half-Life 2 art director and Dishonored designer Viktor Antonov has died aged just 52. Former Valve writer Marc Laidlaw revealed the news on social media, saying he had no details of Antonov's death, but he had had it confirmed that the "visionary art lead" had died. Viktor Antonov, le directeur artistique sur Half-Life 2 et la franchise Dishonored, est decede. L'information a ete confirmee par Marc Laidlaw, ex-ead writer chez Valve sur Half-Life. [image or embed] -- FdeSousse (@taleboules.bsky.social) February 16, 2025 at 8:24 AM To see this content please enable targeting cookies. Manage cookie settings "I didn't want to say much till I felt it was confirmed, but I learned today that Viktor Antonov, our visionary art lead on HL2, has died," Laidlaw said. "I don't have details. Just sadness. Brilliant and original. Made everything better." Antonov moved from Bulgaria to Paris when he was just 17 and went on to work or consult on a number of notable games, including Half-Life 2, Counter-Strike: Source, Half-Life 2: Lost Coast, Dishonored. Dishonored: Dunwall City Trials, Wolfenstein: The New Order, Fallout 4, Dishonored 2, Doom, and Prey. After Valve, Antonov joined Arkane Studios, telling our Bertie: " Valve is a great place, but I'm interested in projects, not in companies. I went to Valve specifically for Half-Life 2. I went and I collaborated with Arkane to do The Crossing and Dishonored. I put the project above everything else." Read this next * Long-in-the-works Half-life 2: Episode 3 fan game Project Borealis now has a 10-minute Prologue on Steam * Skibidi Toilet, made using Half-Life 2 assets, reportedly in talks for Michael Bay movie * Hi-Fi Rush 2, potential new Dishonored game were reportedly being pitched by now-closed Xbox studios Vikki Blake avatar Vikki Blake: When her friends were falling in love with pop stars, Vikki (she/her) was falling in love with video games. She's a survival horror survivalist with a penchant for​ shooters, rich story-telling, and spooky stuff. Vikki started writing for Eurogamer in 2015​, and her kill/death ratio has become steadily worse since then. View comments (20) In this article [co5pcs] Dishonored PS3, Xbox 360, PC Follow [co5pd0] Dishonored 2 PS4, Xbox One, PC Follow See 1 more [co1nmw] Half-Life 2 PS3, Xbox 360, Xbox, PC Follow Related topics Action Adventure Arkane Studios Bethesda Softworks Electronic Arts FPS PC PS3 PS4 RPG Shooter See 9 more Stealth Story Rich Valve Valve Corporation Valve Software Vivendi Games Xbox Xbox 360 Xbox One Eurogamer is better when you sign in Join our community of gamers and get access to personalised reading recommendations and much more! 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