Abdelrahman
Viktor Antonov, renowned for his role as the art director of Half-Life 2 and a key designer behind Dishonored, has tragically passed away at the age of 52.
The sad news was shared by former Valve writer Marc Laidlaw on social media. Laidlaw mentioned that while he lacked details surrounding Antonov’s passing, he could confirm that this “visionary art lead” had indeed died.
Viktor Antonov, le directeur artistique sur Half-Life 2 et la franchise Dishonored, est décédé.
L’information a été confirmée par Marc Laidlaw, ex-ead writer chez Valve sur Half-Life.— FdeSousse (@taleboules.bsky.social) February 16, 2025 at 8:24 AM
“I held off on sharing too much until I felt certain, but today I learned that Viktor Antonov, our brilliant art leader on HL2, has passed away,” Laidlaw expressed. “I don’t have the specifics. Just profound sadness. He was exceptionally talented and enhanced everything.”
Originally from Bulgaria, Antonov relocated to Paris at the age of 17. He went on to contribute to several iconic games such as Half-Life 2, Counter-Strike: Source, Half-Life 2: Lost Coast, and the Dishonored series, as well as titles like Wolfenstein: The New Order, Fallout 4, Dishonored 2, Doom, and Prey.
After his time at Valve, Antonov joined Arkane Studios. He once shared with our Bertie, “Valve is a great place, but my interest lies in projects over companies. I joined Valve specifically for Half-Life 2 and collaborated with Arkane on The Crossing and Dishonored, prioritizing the project above all else.”
