Revealed: Sledgehammer Games Holiday Card

As video game developers, we welcome the opportunity to be creative and transform our artistic visions into realities. And it’s not just limited to video games. This year, for our Sledgehammer Games studio holiday card, we held a studio-wide contest for the winning concept and gave away a PS4 Pro as the grand prize.

We must say, the competition was strong. Our four finalists each submitted awesome original designs. But it was one of our associate concept artists Joanne’s cozy winter scene and cute rodents that won over our Hammers.

Joanne’s design was inspired by the soft, warm ambiance produced by a lit fireplace, and the good feeling one gets when exchanging gifts with loved ones. The chipmunks and mouse added a cute, holiday feel to the card. She says, “I wanted to do something different instead of the usual Santa Claus and try to make something that everyone can sort of identify with even if they don’t celebrate Christmas.”

While it was challenging to render the furry creatures in a realistic, yet stylized manner, Joanne enjoyed the process of getting the colors and warmth of the lighting just right and painting the scene little by little until the final product was achieved. “It’s always fun to just come up with an idea and [...] somehow your idea comes to life!”

Whether you’re home this year for the holidays or away, we hope you’ll find some time to curl up with a warm beverage and enjoy the winter season. Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year from Sledgehammer Games!