Go behind the scenes with NC on Nix, the massive frozen zone coming in The Frozen Divide: Nix. More than just a new area to explore, Nix is a land shaped by ancient wars, sealed by sacrifice, and hiding secrets beneath layers of ice. From its deep lore to brand-new traversal systems, here’s how the development team brought this world to life.
A: Nix was originally a place with a beautiful natural environment, but it became a battlefield due to the war between the primordial dragons and the giants.
The giants drove the dragons out of Nix, but peace didn’t last. The Second War broke out between the giants and the elves. The elves formed an alliance with other races - humans and orcs - to face the giants, and Tumgir, the last giant, met a glorious death by a meteor dropped by the wizards.
When Tumgir fell, the shockwave ruptured the dimensional rift connecting Nix to Diabolica. Demons began crossing over to the surface along with demonic energy.
Shemir, the elven archwizard, sacrificed himself to freeze the rift to Diabolica in eternal ice, sealing the demons away. But the cost was catastrophic - everything in Nix froze in an instant. It remains a cold, barren tundra to this day.
In the past Codex, Clay and Iska headed to Nix after receiving an urgent summons from Mother Janice. Now, time has passed, and war clouds are gathering once again over this land that neither the Resistance nor the Arkeum Legion could seize due to its barren environment.
A: Nix is the first snowfield zone in TL. That means new, more powerful monsters will appear. Some have evolved to withstand the cold, while others were mutated by past events, transformed into vengeful spirits, or roam the frozen wilds wrapped in thick coats.
The standout bosses are Archboss Ramux and the Colossus Vegamor - we’ll cover those in detail in our companion article on the bosses of Nix. But here, we’d like to introduce White-Shoulder Thuban, the new Field Boss of Nix.
Thuban has the appearance of a massive gorilla with tremendous strength. It periodically attacks the Frontier Hold - Nix’s neutral zone - bringing powerful close-range pressure and terrain-based attacks. It completely controls the battlefield, using wide-area patterns to shake up your formation, break it apart, or cluster everyone together. To take down White-Shoulder Thuban, a boss that has survived the freezing cold of Nix, you’ll need sharp strategies and courageous teamwork. We look forward to seeing how you rise to the challenge.
A: If there’s one thing that sets Nix apart, it’s the way you move between zones.
In previous dominions, you could travel to each area using Waypoints. In Nix, you’ll descend from the Aetherion, a base floating in the sky, using the High-Speed Descent Device: Aethersuit.
And there’s the Auroral Path, which lets you travel freely through the fields of Nix. The Auroral Path is an artificial milky way made of magical energy particles . Whether you’re traveling between areas or reaching unusual terrain, you’ll be able to use it freely.
A: We showcased various new systems in this update, but the biggest challenge was definitely the snowfield background.
Filling a full 3D open world with white snow wasn’t simply a task of coloring. With the entire screen covered in white, we had to solve the “whiteout” phenomenon - where the sense of depth and distance is lost. On top of that, we needed to implement the mysterious light reflection unique to snow while minimizing eye fatigue for players.
After countless rounds of research and rendering improvements, we’re now able to showcase a dazzlingly beautiful yet vivid snowfield world to the adventurers.
Lead Content Designer:
For those returning after a long time, we want Nix to feel like a welcome change - unfamiliar enough to be exciting. And for those stepping in for the first time, we want it to be an exhilarating first impression. We hope you experience the thrill of seeing all the growth you’ve achieved throughout the previous dominions finally reach its culmination in Nix.
Our development team designed the new dominion of Nix with the goal of elevating that gameplay experience to its fullest potential. We hope that new and returning adventurers enjoy the many stories and content prepared in Nix.
World Content Design Team:
We believe TL’s strength lies in its fields, where countless adventurers come together. Players encountering each other throughout the fields, naturally forming groups and going their separate ways as they interact - that is the fundamental enjoyment that only an MMORPG can offer.
Nix’s content also focuses on this kind of lively interaction. In particular, we designed it so that even small party-based groups can enjoy a wide variety of content whenever they choose.
Lead Content Designer:
While the previous dominions chronicled your journey as adventurers bearing the Star of Sylaveth, growing and earning recognition as members of the Resistance, once Nix arrives, you’ll take on a pivotal role as a proud member of the Resistance, resolving the challenges it faces and the events unfolding in Nix. Now that you’re no longer merely one member of the Resistance among many, but have grown into one of its key forces, befitting the title “Star-Born” - aren’t you excited to see what adventures await? We look forward to many adventurers experiencing Nix and sharing stories together.
World Content Design Team:
Building on the experiences of previous dominions, we’ve incorporated new discoveries and challenges. We’re finishing thorough preparations so that your adventures in Nix, the dominion of snow, become memories filled with excitement. We hope you once again experience the fundamental enjoyment that only an MMORPG can offer.
Thanks for your support! We can’t wait for players to set foot in Nix when The Frozen Divide: Nix arrives on June 25. For a deep dive on the bosses waiting in the frozen wilds - including Archboss Ramux, new Co-op Dungeon encounters, and the all-new Colossus Vegamor - check out our companion article on the bosses of Nix.