Arknights Official Artworks
Arknights Official Artworks is, as the title suggests, the official artbooks of Arknights by Hypergryph.
Volume 1[edit]
- Shanghai Scientific and Technological Literature Press
- Zhejiang People's Fine Arts Publishing House (Reset ed.)
- May 2021
- August 2022 (Reset ed.)
- 978-7-5439-8272-7
- 978-7-5340-9650-1 (Reset ed.)
The first volume of Arknights Official Artworks was first announced during the CN's first anniversary livestream in 2020. It contains Operator artworks and concept arts from its first launch in 2019 up until and including Ancient Forge, along with some interviews regarding the creative process.
Those who pre-ordered the first volume on April 2021 will be given two special gifts: the Seedsower outfit for Amiya through a special redemption code given and a small package of chrysanthemum seeds.
A Japanese version of the first volume is announced to be in the works by Yostar during the lead-up to Il Siracusano's release.[1] The data for Seedsower has been added to Global's game files in the Lone Trail update, thus the first volume is likely to be published alongside Global's 4th anniversary in mid January 2024.
Controversy[edit]
However, the first volume was soon embroiled into a serious controversy due to its poor quality, mainly from lack of content in which it only shows the Operators' Elite 2 artworks without the concept artworks as promised, as well as printing and grammar issues among others. Furthermore, the chrysanthemum seeds given turned out to not be chrysanthemum at all, but other plants such as chili.[2]
This was one of the main factors that sparks the major controversy during Dossoles Holiday; see DH's trivia for more information.
Reset edition[edit]
In response to the aforementioned controversy, the Reset edition was announced to be in the works during CN server's 3rd anniversary livestream. It was set to be published in June 2022, but postponed to August due to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions in China at the time. The Reset edition's quality is much more improved than the original, with the inclusion of the Operators' concept arts (including their outfits) and an apology for the shortcomings of the original edition.
Those who had already pre-ordered the original edition (before April 20, 2022) will be able to obtain the Reset edition for free, while those who purchased the Reset edition but not the original could redeem the Seedsower outfit.
The Japanese version of the first volume will be of the Reset edition instead of the original edition.
Terra Conversation Vol.1[edit]
Terra Conversation Vol.1 is a 28-page booklet published as a bundle with Official Artworks Vol.1. It covers interviews regarding game design, creative process, and character concepts and trivia with Hai Mao, Rua Niu, and Wei@W as well as the following illustrators: Xiaye Hongming, Ryuuzaki Ichi, Huanxiang Heitu, A Guǐ, and NoriZC.
Volume 2[edit]
The second volume of Arknights Official Artworks was announced to be in the works during CN's 3.5th anniversary livestream. Aside from Operator character sheets from Stories of Afternoon up until Episode 08, the book feature new informations such as detailed structure of the Rhodes Island landship, enemies artworks and stage designs from Act I of the Main Theme until The Great Chief Returns, and character info regarding Reunion members.
Those who pre-ordered the second volume on September 2023 will be able to redeem the Bunch of Sunlight outfit for Lava along with several goodies, including a teru teru bōzu of Hibiscus.
Yostar translated the second volume into Japanese, English, and Korean, which will be available on Yostar Store in the future.[3]
Terra Conversation Vol.2[edit]
Terra Conversation Vol.2 is a 28-page booklet published as a bundle with Official Artworks Vol.2. It covers interviews regarding UI designs and game-planning from the developers 过失帝国, Ametora, and Da Huang, as well as character designs and trivia from the following artists: Alchemaniac, 将, KuroBlood, Liduke, LM7, m9nokuro, and Skade.