Francis Courchinoux
HELIX platform, Unreal Engine 5 environment render

Portfolio — 1996–Present

Francis
Courchinoux

Lead / Senior Environment Artist — Level Art

Twenty-nine years building game worlds — from Ubisoft's Flashback, to open-world sci-fi shooter Hawken, a 16km² survival adventure called Uayeb made entirely solo, and leading the environment art team on the HELIX platform (GTA RP like) with Unreal Engine 5.

29
Years in games
33
Shipped titles
20
Years as env. artist
16km²
Solo open world

Summary

01
ART
20 years making 3D game environments and level art
Quality Assurance
9 years of Quality Assurance

Released Games Summary

  • 2 Ubisoft games shipped as Lead/Senior Environment Artist - Level Artist
  • 2 Ubisoft games shipped as Environment Artist / Level Artist
  • 22 AAA games shipped as QA Lead and QA Tester
  • 7 Indies and medium-sized games shipped as Lead/Senior Environment Artist - Level Artist

Released Games as Lead/Senior Environment Artist - Level Artist

  • Hawken Reborn (Sci-Fi Open world / 505 Games)
  • UAYEB - Purgatory - Episode 2 (prototype, 5 hours of the game)
  • UAYEB - The Dry Land - Episode 1 (35 hours of gameplay / 16km² open world created alone)
  • Flashback (created all game levels and environments / produced by Ubisoft)
  • AMY (created half of the game levels and environments / produced by Lexis Numerique)
  • Arthur and the Minimoys (Luc Besson / Europacorp)
  • Cine Studio Party (Ubisoft)
  • Horzez 2 (Ubisoft)
  • Horzez (Ubisoft)

AA/AAA Video Games Productions Worked On

  • UAYEB - The Mayan Adventure
  • Helix Game
  • Transhumance
  • Hawken Reborn
  • BGE2
  • UAYEB - Purgatory
  • UAYEB - The Dry Land
  • Flashback
  • Amy
  • Arthur and the Minimoys
  • Cine Studios
  • Horzes 2
  • Horzes 1
  • Scarface
  • Swat 4 Expansion
  • Crash Bandicoot TTR
  • Swat 4
  • Leisure Suit Larry
  • Ground Control 2
  • The Xfiles
  • Homeworld 2
  • Battle Star Galactica
  • Hunter the Reckoning
  • Mace Griffin Bounty Hunter
  • BloodRayne
  • Casino Empire
  • The Scorpion King
  • Warcraft III
  • Alien vs Predator II
  • Throne of Darkness
  • Diablo II Exp
  • Half-Life
  • Gunman Chronicles (Half Life)
  • Half Life (Blue Shift)
  • Zeus
  • C4

Studies

First 3D art studies in 1996 with 3D Studio;
3DS Max Certificate at Art House School, Dublin 2000;
Project management and leadership formations at Vivendi Universal Games, Dublin 2001;
Modeling and art for games formation at FuturePoly, Seattle 2014;
Also a lifelong musician — guitarist, drummer, singer and composer.

Core knowledge

  • EnginesUE5 · UE4 · UE3 · CryEngine · Unity · Phyre · Jade · Voyager
  • Environment & Level ArtComposition · props · vegetation · terrain
  • ModelingHigh/low poly · sculpting · UVs · baking · LODs
  • Lighting & FXDynamic lighting · particles · post-process
  • Software3DS Max · ZBrush · Substance Painter · Photoshop
  • SoundWwise · Ableton Live · music composition

Experience

02
2026 — Present

Creative Director / Main Level Artist

ICA Games — Uayeb: The Mayan Adventure

Creating a coop/PvP survival adventure game around the Maya civilization in Unreal Engine 5.

Dec 2024 — Sept 2026

Lead / Senior Environment Artist — Level Art

Hypersonic Labs - Solara Bay and Pacifica maps

Making open-world maps for the HELIX game platform in Unreal Engine 5, leading the Environment team and building level art on two big cities (LA and Miami) on a RP GTA like game.

Mar — Jun 2024

Senior Environment Artist

UKIYO — Transhumance prototype

Sole environment owner for 3 months: terrain with Errant Landscape, UE5 landscape sculpting, multi-layer materials, props, Speedtree, Megascans, full 3ds Max / Substance Painter / Photoshop pipeline.

2020 — 2023

Lead / Senior Environment Artist

DR-Studios / 505 Games — Hawken Reborn

Environments across 4 zones (caves, farms, crashed ships, coastline, factories) for a sci-fi open-world shooter in UE4. Reviewed team output, led recruitment, worked directly with the Art Director and Level Designers.

2019 — 2020

Tools Support Specialist

Ubisoft Montpelier — Beyond Good And Evil 2

Testing the development tools for Art in Ubisoft Voyager Engine.

2018 — 2019

Creative Director / Senior Environment Artist

ICA Games — UAYEB: Purgatory, Episode 2

5–6 hour prototype built alone in CryEngine: modeling, texturing, level art, lighting, FX, game & level design, code, UI, music and sound.

2014 — 2018

Creative Director / Senior Environment Artist

ICA Games — UAYEB: The Dry Land, Episode 1

16km² open-world survival/puzzle/FPS built alone in CryEngine, released on Steam January 2018. Story, art, code, UI, music, sound and marketing — end to end.

2012 — 2013

Lead Environment Artist

VectorCell — Flashback (Ubisoft)

Led the environment team on Ubisoft's Flashback reboot for PS3/Xbox360 in Unreal Engine 3. Modeling, texturing, level composition, lighting, materials, FX.

2010 — 2011

Senior Environment Artist

VectorCell — A.M.Y.

Created half of the game's environments on PS3/Xbox360 in Phyre Engine.

2008 — 2009

Lead Environment Artist

Phoenix Studio — Arthur and the Minimoys, Cine Studio Party (Ubisoft)

Led environment team on DS/Wii titles in Jade Engine.

2007 — 2008

Environment Artist

Phoenix Studio — Horzez, Horzez 2 (Ubisoft)

Environments on Wii titles in Jade Engine.

2000 — 2006

QA Lead

Vivendi Universal Games - 22 AAA games

Led localization testing teams across 22 AAA productions, including Scarface, Half-Life, Diablo II, Homeworld 2 and Warcraft III.

1996 — 1998

Sound Designer / Music Composer / 3D Artist

Excess Development — C4

Two years on a sci-fi shoot-'em-up: soundtrack, SFX and early 3D art.

Games and projects

03

Environment / Level Art

UAYEB — The Mayan Adventure

ICA Games · UE5 · 2024–present
Coop/PvP survival adventure set in the Maya civilization — work in progress.

Helix Game

Hypersonic Labs · UE5 · 2024–present
Open-world maps for the HELIX platform.
— Pacifica map.
— Solarabay map.

Transhumance

UKIYO · UE5 · 2024
3-month solo environment prototype: terrain, foliage, rivers, props, lighting.

Hawken Reborn

505 Games · UE4 · 2020–2023
Sci-fi open-world shooter — 4 environment zones, from crashed ships to coastal factories.

UAYEB 2 — Purgatory

ICA Games · CryEngine · 2018–2019
5–6 hour solo-built prototype episode, full pipeline from design to sound.

UAYEB — The Dry Land

ICA Games · CryEngine · 2018
16km² open world, survival/puzzle/FPS, built solo — released on Steam.

Flashback (Ubisoft)

VectorCell · UE3 · 2012–2013
Led the environment team and set all the game level art for the console reboot.

Amy

VectorCell · Phyre Engine · 2010–2011
Environment art and set dressing on survival horror game.

Arthur and the Minimoys

Ubisoft · Jade Editor · 2009
Led the environment team and set all the game level art.

Cine Studios Party

Ubisoft · Jade Editor · 2009
Led the environment team and set all the game level art.

Horzez 2

Ubisoft · Jade Editor · 2008
Environment art and set dressing.

Horzez

Ubisoft · Jade Editor · 2007
Environment art and set dressing.

Quality Assurance

BGE2

Ubisoft · Voyager Editor · 2019
Testing development production tools.

Scarface

Vivendi Universal Games · 2001–2006
Led the QA team on all languages.

Swat 4 Expansion

Vivendi Universal Games · 2001–2006
Led the QA team on all languages.

Crash Bandicoot TTR

Vivendi Universal Games · 2001–2006
Led the QA team on all languages.

Swat 4

Vivendi Universal Games · 2001–2006
Led the QA team on all languages.

Leisure Suit Larry

Vivendi Universal Games · 2001–2006
Led the QA team on all languages.

Ground Control 2

Vivendi Universal Games · 2001–2006
Led the QA team on all languages.

The Xfiles

Vivendi Universal Games · 2001–2006
Led the QA team on all languages.

Homeworld 2

Vivendi Universal Games · 2001–2006
Led the QA team on all languages.

Battle Star Galactica

Vivendi Universal Games · 2001–2006
Led the QA team on all languages.

Hunter the Reckoning

Vivendi Universal Games · 2001–2006
Led the QA team on all languages.

Mace Griffin Bounty Hunter

Vivendi Universal Games · 2001–2006
Led the QA team on all languages.

BloodRayne

Vivendi Universal Games · 2001–2006
Led the QA team on all languages.

Casino Empire

Vivendi Universal Games · 2001–2006
Led the QA team on all languages.

The Scorpion King

Vivendi Universal Games · 2001–2006
Led the QA team on all languages.

Warcraft III

Vivendi Universal Games · 2001–2006
Led the QA team on all languages.

Alien vs Predator II

Vivendi Universal Games · 2001–2006
Led the QA team on all languages.

Throne of Darkness

Vivendi Universal Games · 2001–2006
Led the QA team on all languages.

Diablo II Exp

Vivendi Universal Games · 2001–2006
Led the QA team on all languages.

Half-Life

Vivendi Universal Games · 2000
QA testing.

Gunman Chronicles (Half Life)

Vivendi Universal Games · 2000
QA testing.

Half Life (Blue Shift)

Vivendi Universal Games · 2000
QA testing.

Zeus

Vivendi Universal Games · 2000
QA testing.

C4

Excess Development · 1996–1998
Sound design, music and 3D Art.

Lighting

04

Level Art

05

Modeling

06

High & low poly modeling, sculpting, UV unwrapping, texture baking, materials, optimization, LODs and collisions — 3DS Max, Substance Painter, Photoshop, ZBrush.

Hawken Reborn props

Prop modeling and breakdown for Hawken Reborn.

Big power core rack

Small power core rack

Jetty pieces

Cables & pipes

Big Lighthouse tower

Crashed ship pieces

Modular pieces

Vegetation

Misc props

Generator

UAYEB 1 & 2

Concrete door frame

Vent

Concrete platform

Vegetation

Buildings

Props

Vehicle

Transhumance prototype

Props modeling / reuse of Megascan assets changed with project materials, and integration for the Artistic Direction prototype.

Events

07

Music & Sound

08

I'm playing guitar since 1979 and composing music since 1986. I wrote and recorded two personal music albums available on Spotify and other music apps, as well as original soundtracks and made the sound design for my UAYEB game series.

Cakewalk ProExpert · since 1990
Score writing and editing.
Ableton LiveExpert · since 2012
Music and sound editing, mixing, FX.
WwiseFluent · since 2015
Sound events, sound banks, 3D sound distance.

Releases

  • UAYEB — Purgatory, Episode 2
    Prototype on Steam · Game soundtracks & sound design
  • UAYEB — The Dry Land, Episode 1
    2018 · Steam / Humble Bundle · 3 original soundtracks, guitars, recording, mixing, and sound design
  • ICA: United Planet Of Earth
    2013 · CD Digipack + streaming · 9 original tracks, guitars, vocals
  • Francis Courchinoux: The Five Seasons
    2006 · CD + streaming · 9 original tracks, guitars, vocals
  • No Respect
    2001 · Album demo · 8 original tracks
  • C4
    1997 · Video game soundtrack & sound design
  • Desdemona: Moonlight Slaughter
    1993 · Cassette tape · Composition of 3 original tracks, playing guitars, singing.
  • Desdemona Advanced tape
    1992 · Cassette tape · Composition of 4 original tracks, playing guitars, singing.

Images

Videos

Video Video Video Video Video Video

Sounds

Personality Tests

09

Tests done with Alva Labs.

HELIX Pacifica sunset

What People Say

10

Working with Francis has been a pleasure from day one, the moment I joined the team I felt welcomed and supported. Always had clear priorities and created solid plans of action. Always keen to help, give feedback, direction, anything needed. And always putting out fantastic work, taking the most difficult tasks and making it look easy. Couldn't have asked for a better environment lead on the project, and really hope we work together again in the future!

Robert PalmerEnvironment Artist / Hypersonic Labs

I worked with Francis during our time at Hypersonic Laboratories. It has been incredible working with him. His dedication to the project and it's vision is 2nd to none. Francis has worked tirelessly, through extreme project turbulence to deliver, time and time again. I have no doubts he'd make a fantastic asset to any team.

Ross HankinsonTech Artist, Hypersonic Labs

Francis is the kind of team player every art manager wants on his/her team. He's dedicated, thorough in his practices, a great mentor to the juniors on the team and does a first class job with everything thrown at him.

Mitch PhillipsArt Manager / Art Director, DR-Studios

Francis was an absolute pleasure to work with, very patient and could never do enough to help you. I learned so much from him and my skills transformed as a 3D Environment Artist.

Stuart Wilson3D Environment Artist, DR-Studios

Francis is the kind of colleague everyone likes having—friendly, professional, engaging, and open to communication—but he is also a highly skilled artist and a passionate gamer with a critical eye and sound advice.

Matthieu LevederEngineer, VectorCell

Francis is a key person in a production. He is a complete artist. His artistic and technical skills are excellent. I really appreciate to work with him.

Clément BasseryProps Artist, VectorCell

Francis has extensive experience in the video game industry and has done a remarkable job creating futuristic environments. It was a pleasure to work with him.

Christophe Devaux3D Director & Animator, VectorCell

A highly skilled professional with vast experience in many fields related to the videogame industry … a brilliant project lead with strong competence in project and resource management.

Francesco MussoLead QA, Vivendi Universal Games

One of the most meticulous and creative guys I've ever had the pleasure of working with. His wide-ranging knowledge of game design, digital art, sound engineering and project planning makes him an ideal asset in any team.

René LaurentQA Tester, Vivendi Universal Games

I worked with Francis on many high profile games while working in Vivendi. I found him to be very professional and an absolute pleasure to work with. He never got stressed under pressure with tight deadlines and was always willing to help other departments to locate and solve issues that arose. His artistic abilities also impressed me and I always looked forward to seeing his 3D creations. He is a very valuable person to have in any company.

Anthony FitzgeraldLead Engineer, Vivendi Universal Games

I really appreciated Francis as a colleague. Francis was always professional in everything he did. He also played a significant role in setting high standards in the QA department. Francis would be an asset to any team.

Veronika MangQA Lead, Vivendi Universal Games

I worked with Francis over a period of 4 years in Vivendi, and always found him to be an very organised, competent and approchable collegue with a wide-ranging knowledge of many applications.

Sarah BrennanQA Lead, Vivendi Universal Games

During my tenure at Vivendi Universal Games I reported directly to Francis Courchinoux. I found Francis a pleasure to work for. He had a keen eye for detail and was calm and collected under pressure. His organisational skills were an important factor for me and I was able to take some of that with me to my next job.

Anthony MackeyQA Tester, Vivendi Universal Games

Francis is a detail-oriented manager without losing sight of the strategic objective.

Lara LanciottiQA Tester, Vivendi Universal Games

I worked alongside Francis for quite some time at Vivendi Universal Games and I always found Francis to be an excellent QA lead. During my time I worked on many titles with myself as the Lead graphic artist and Francis as Lead QA. Francis was always willing to help out when I needed a little assistance on bugs. He was always well informed and fully aware of what his junior QA testers were doing so that he was really the only point of contact I needed. Working with Francis was always a pleasure, since he is a great guy as well as a hard worker.

David FlemingLead graphic artist, Vivendi Universal Games

I watched Fancis' 3d skills develop in the time he was with Vivendi Games. I couldn't believe how quickly he learnt the art of 3d! He is an amazing talent!!

Bill SweeneyLead graphic artist, Vivendi Universal Games

I worked with Francis on several games during my time at Vivendi. His high level of understanding of the game localisation processes and his QA skills made him an outstanding QA lead. He is fun to work with and he has a great personality. I would not hesitate recommending him to anyone.

Attila EdelenyiLead Engineer, Vivendi Universal Games

Francis was very organised and dedicated team lead. He had strong leadership qualities and excelled at building high performance teams. I found Francis to be a good communicator and motivator during my time in his team.

Báirbre BentQA Tester, Vivendi Universal Games

Francis was my lead for a large project during my time in Vivendi as a localisation games tester. His main qualities as a lead remain on his management and social skills as well as a highly methodical coordination of tasks; always under a close eye.

Borja GuillanQA Tester, Vivendi Universal Games

Francis was an outstanding QA lead in Vivendi Universal Games. He was focused on games, professional in his work, and he was always calm and resourceful, even when under pressure. His artistic and organizational abilities make him a great asset to the games industry.

Pearse FineganProject Manager, Vivendi Universal Games

I worked with Francis for 3 years in a Game project development group. I really appreciated him as well in terms of human relationship as in terms of his professionalism. Francis was in charge of Music & SFX and performed several great original pieces, mixing Electric Guitar and Keyboards at a time where it was not usual. As a Sound Effect Designer He often amazed me, and managed to give a specific sound atmosphere to the game. I'll be pleased to work with him again, as he is tireless when he starts a project or simply a task.

Nadir BoussoukaiaProject Manager/Lead Engineer, Excess Development

Francis has always demonstrated an undestructable motivation in his work and group working relationships. He is undoubtly a very talented musician but has also been constantly interested in video games and graphics. He has certainly progressed in that area as well and shows a professional attitude to his work and his colleagues. A great guy to know and work with.

Roger RosaLead Artist, Excess Development