Dishonored 2‘s developers have released a short trailer to explain how they created the city of Karnaca, including what impression they wanted to create.
The city of Karnaca was intended to be unique, but still adhere to the same industrial flavor of the first Dishonored game. The city is closer to the equator, has more vegetation, and a more blended culture of people from all over, each with their own songs, dances, and foods to create an amazing blend of diversity.
In fact, much of Karnaca was based on a photo trip to Long Beach, Los Angeles that Art Director Sebastien Mitton took. In order to build Karnaca, the developers at Arkane Studios began with its lore two centuries prior to when the events of the game began. Settlers from Morey, people from Gristol, to Dunwall, all have gathered together in this one space together to enrich the city.
The actual cityscape has a giant peak as a landmark. It also has lots of wind, which can be channeled with a wind breaker into giant mills that power the city. There are also silver quarries, and a district where life is more difficult than in other areas of the city.
The rooftops of this particular city are flat, and you can access them with blink. Or you can opt for alternate routes, like taking the stairs or climbing up light poles. The possibilities are limitless! The environment was also built with small details in mind, having designed each object so that it can be built in real life. This goes to show the amount of care and fastidiousness that went into designing Karnaca.
Players are given a chance to explore this rich city. Even though the game has been labeled as a stealth game, or an action game, there is another element to it… exploration. Discovering the city is a huge part of the Karnaca experience. Players can even join neutral factions, and wander without fear of being attacked.
Dishonored 2 is currently slated for a November 11th release.