GUXS 25 | The Long Dark: A UX Permaculture for Genre-Defining Survival Games | Jess Butler

Описание: The Long Dark: A UX Permaculture for Genre-Defining Survival Games -

In this talk, Jess Butler, Presentation Director at Hinterland Studio, shares how The Long Dark has built a long-lasting UX strategy to support a genre-defining survival experience and how that approach is evolving toward BLACKFROST: The Long Dark 2.

Through the concept of UX permaculture, this session explores whole-system thinking, diegetic UX, and the balance between sandbox survival and story-driven modes. Drawing on concrete case studies, from HUD, maps and onboarding to environmental storytelling and sensory feedback, Jess shows how UX systems can grow, adapt and remain coherent over time.

This talk is especially relevant for UX designers, game designers and production teams working on systemic games, long-running projects, or immersive player experiences where UX must serve both gameplay and narrative.

Jess Butler is Presentation Director at Hinterland Studio, responsible for quality and innovation around UI, UX, and VFX. She has been a professional artist and interaction designer for over twenty years.