Published by Insight Editions, World of Warcraft: Dragonflight Codex is an official illustrated guide that explores the legendary dragons of Azeroth. Featuring over 50 new artworks and written as an in-world field guide by Archmage Khadgar, it offers fans a deep look into dragon species, their history, and abilities.
The collaboration began with Insight Editions, where a senior artist from our team first created cover artwork for The Dragonflight Codex. The publisher was pleased with the results and brought in the full N-iX Games team to expand the scope. Since every licensed piece required Blizzard’s approval, we worked in constant alignment with their creative team. The client wanted absolute authenticity, and we could not afford any deviations from the canon.
The delivery process was built around research, iteration, and feedback. We started by collecting references directly from the game: characters, locations, small details like armor pieces, etc. These became the base for our sketches, which we shared for review and then refined until they matched the requirements from both the publisher and Blizzard. One of the most exciting parts of the process was the client’s focus on detail, making sure nothing was overlooked — from small accessories to the exact number of spikes on a dragon’s back or wings.
Some tasks required more than direct reference. Several characters only existed in older, low-polygon models, which meant we had to reinterpret them into updated, high-quality illustrations. This process involved breaking down shapes, adding missing details, and adapting the designs while still keeping them instantly recognizable.
Many of our artists had grown up exploring Blizzard’s worlds, and their personal connection to the World of Warcraft universe shaped the artworks. They could rely on their own knowledge as well as references, which helped them capture the right feeling, making the illustrations more natural and alive.
By the end of the project, N-iX Games delivered a full set of illustrations that passed Blizzard’s review process and became part of The Dragonflight Codex. Today, we continue to contribute to new projects within the World of Warcraft universe.
Let’s start with an in-depth analysis of your idea, a high-level quote, and project plan. Once we smoothen all the rough edges we can proceed to the complete design, development, and production of your game, followed by release and post-release support.