Björn Ottosson - making Island Architect
@bottosson.bsky.social
Making Island Architect, a cosy town building game. Also game programming teacher and consultant. Previously 10 years at Frostbite and EA DICE. Creator of Oklab.
Whishlist now!
https://store.steampowered.com/app/3079100/Island_Architect
Whishlist now!
https://store.steampowered.com/app/3079100/Island_Architect
Pinned
It's finally time to announce my game: Island Architect!
Sculpt seaside towns in Island Architect, a relaxing builder inspired by coastal Europe. Build winding streets, whimsical towers, or calm fishing villages in this cozy experience.
Wishlist now on steam: store.steampowered.com/app/3079100/...
Sculpt seaside towns in Island Architect, a relaxing builder inspired by coastal Europe. Build winding streets, whimsical towers, or calm fishing villages in this cozy experience.
Wishlist now on steam: store.steampowered.com/app/3079100/...
Exciting to see Battlefield 6 launching and doing well 🚀. Looking forward to trying it out!
I’ve been involved in every Battlefield between BF3 and 2042 one way or another, so it’s a new experience to see a Battlefied game launch completely from the outside!
I’ve been involved in every Battlefield between BF3 and 2042 one way or another, so it’s a new experience to see a Battlefied game launch completely from the outside!
October 11, 2025 at 8:14 AM
Exciting to see Battlefield 6 launching and doing well 🚀. Looking forward to trying it out!
I’ve been involved in every Battlefield between BF3 and 2042 one way or another, so it’s a new experience to see a Battlefied game launch completely from the outside!
I’ve been involved in every Battlefield between BF3 and 2042 one way or another, so it’s a new experience to see a Battlefied game launch completely from the outside!
Been fixing lots of little edge cases in the roof generation for my cozy town building game Island Architect.
Really pleased with all the variety that is possible with some simple interactions!
#indiegames #gamedev #cozygames
Really pleased with all the variety that is possible with some simple interactions!
#indiegames #gamedev #cozygames
September 30, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Been fixing lots of little edge cases in the roof generation for my cozy town building game Island Architect.
Really pleased with all the variety that is possible with some simple interactions!
#indiegames #gamedev #cozygames
Really pleased with all the variety that is possible with some simple interactions!
#indiegames #gamedev #cozygames
I reworked the camera to work better with all the verticality the game’s building tools creates.
Really fun flying through rock arches and up cliffs now!
#indiegames #gamedev
Really fun flying through rock arches and up cliffs now!
#indiegames #gamedev
September 26, 2025 at 2:26 PM
I reworked the camera to work better with all the verticality the game’s building tools creates.
Really fun flying through rock arches and up cliffs now!
#indiegames #gamedev
Really fun flying through rock arches and up cliffs now!
#indiegames #gamedev
Finally getting back to posting about my cozy building game Island Architect.
I've made it so that you now select if you want buildings to have roof tiles or flat roofs. Makes walls with roof files and small pyramid shaped buildings possible, and feels better overall!
I've made it so that you now select if you want buildings to have roof tiles or flat roofs. Makes walls with roof files and small pyramid shaped buildings possible, and feels better overall!
September 26, 2025 at 11:33 AM
Finally getting back to posting about my cozy building game Island Architect.
I've made it so that you now select if you want buildings to have roof tiles or flat roofs. Makes walls with roof files and small pyramid shaped buildings possible, and feels better overall!
I've made it so that you now select if you want buildings to have roof tiles or flat roofs. Makes walls with roof files and small pyramid shaped buildings possible, and feels better overall!
Spelskaparna is a Swedish podcast, with interviews from all around the Swedish game industry.
In the latest episode I joined them to talk about teaching game development and a few other things.
If you understand Swedish, check it out here:
spelskaparna.com/episode/170/
In the latest episode I joined them to talk about teaching game development and a few other things.
If you understand Swedish, check it out here:
spelskaparna.com/episode/170/
Spelskaparna
Lär ut spelutveckling med egenbyggd motor
spelskaparna.com
September 24, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Spelskaparna is a Swedish podcast, with interviews from all around the Swedish game industry.
In the latest episode I joined them to talk about teaching game development and a few other things.
If you understand Swedish, check it out here:
spelskaparna.com/episode/170/
In the latest episode I joined them to talk about teaching game development and a few other things.
If you understand Swedish, check it out here:
spelskaparna.com/episode/170/
I've figured out a new trick for using AI to solve complex problems. I call it frustration coding.
Here's how it works:
When stuck procrastinating , I ask an AI for help.
When it inevitable fails I get annoyed and motivated to solve it myself instead. Works every time!
Here's how it works:
When stuck procrastinating , I ask an AI for help.
When it inevitable fails I get annoyed and motivated to solve it myself instead. Works every time!
June 17, 2025 at 4:58 PM
I've figured out a new trick for using AI to solve complex problems. I call it frustration coding.
Here's how it works:
When stuck procrastinating , I ask an AI for help.
When it inevitable fails I get annoyed and motivated to solve it myself instead. Works every time!
Here's how it works:
When stuck procrastinating , I ask an AI for help.
When it inevitable fails I get annoyed and motivated to solve it myself instead. Works every time!
I did an interview with @80Level about Island Architect check it out! 80.lv/articles/isl...
June 16, 2025 at 12:55 PM
I did an interview with @80Level about Island Architect check it out! 80.lv/articles/isl...
Dormers, chimneys and little spires with weather vanes get added automatically when building roofs. E.g., spires are added when all roofs meet in one point, dormers when you build a wall extending partially up a roof.
Looking forward to adding lots of little details like this!
Looking forward to adding lots of little details like this!
May 28, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Dormers, chimneys and little spires with weather vanes get added automatically when building roofs. E.g., spires are added when all roofs meet in one point, dormers when you build a wall extending partially up a roof.
Looking forward to adding lots of little details like this!
Looking forward to adding lots of little details like this!
Creating some cliffs and building some house in the relaxing building game I am making.
#screenshotsaturday
#screenshotsaturday
May 24, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Creating some cliffs and building some house in the relaxing building game I am making.
#screenshotsaturday
#screenshotsaturday
Automatic generation of arches is a little detail I added before launching the steam page for my cozy town building game, Island Architect.
When making an opening in a wall, you automatically get arch.
Looking forward to add lots of more details like this!
When making an opening in a wall, you automatically get arch.
Looking forward to add lots of more details like this!
May 23, 2025 at 8:48 AM
Automatic generation of arches is a little detail I added before launching the steam page for my cozy town building game, Island Architect.
When making an opening in a wall, you automatically get arch.
Looking forward to add lots of more details like this!
When making an opening in a wall, you automatically get arch.
Looking forward to add lots of more details like this!
It's finally time to announce my game: Island Architect!
Sculpt seaside towns in Island Architect, a relaxing builder inspired by coastal Europe. Build winding streets, whimsical towers, or calm fishing villages in this cozy experience.
Wishlist now on steam: store.steampowered.com/app/3079100/...
Sculpt seaside towns in Island Architect, a relaxing builder inspired by coastal Europe. Build winding streets, whimsical towers, or calm fishing villages in this cozy experience.
Wishlist now on steam: store.steampowered.com/app/3079100/...
May 20, 2025 at 3:15 PM
It's finally time to announce my game: Island Architect!
Sculpt seaside towns in Island Architect, a relaxing builder inspired by coastal Europe. Build winding streets, whimsical towers, or calm fishing villages in this cozy experience.
Wishlist now on steam: store.steampowered.com/app/3079100/...
Sculpt seaside towns in Island Architect, a relaxing builder inspired by coastal Europe. Build winding streets, whimsical towers, or calm fishing villages in this cozy experience.
Wishlist now on steam: store.steampowered.com/app/3079100/...
When not working on my indie game, I teach at The Game Assembly, one of Sweden’s top game dev schools.
Next week at Nordic Game, I’ll present a game engine we’ve built for the school. Here are some examples of students’ WIP game projects!
Reach out if you want to meet up at Nordic Game!
Next week at Nordic Game, I’ll present a game engine we’ve built for the school. Here are some examples of students’ WIP game projects!
Reach out if you want to meet up at Nordic Game!
May 17, 2025 at 10:42 AM
When not working on my indie game, I teach at The Game Assembly, one of Sweden’s top game dev schools.
Next week at Nordic Game, I’ll present a game engine we’ve built for the school. Here are some examples of students’ WIP game projects!
Reach out if you want to meet up at Nordic Game!
Next week at Nordic Game, I’ll present a game engine we’ve built for the school. Here are some examples of students’ WIP game projects!
Reach out if you want to meet up at Nordic Game!
Got a bit frustrated with not quite being able to build houses how I wanted in my cozy town building game, so I reworked the grid and tools.
You can now much directly manipulate the grid and it feels a lot better now!
Also updated the roof tile look a bit.
You can now much directly manipulate the grid and it feels a lot better now!
Also updated the roof tile look a bit.
May 7, 2025 at 11:34 AM
Got a bit frustrated with not quite being able to build houses how I wanted in my cozy town building game, so I reworked the grid and tools.
You can now much directly manipulate the grid and it feels a lot better now!
Also updated the roof tile look a bit.
You can now much directly manipulate the grid and it feels a lot better now!
Also updated the roof tile look a bit.
Continuing to work on the roof tiles for my cozy town building game.
Lots and lots of little details to get right, but starting to look the way I want. Still a few bugs left and need to do a pass over the shaders to create some more variation.
Lots and lots of little details to get right, but starting to look the way I want. Still a few bugs left and need to do a pass over the shaders to create some more variation.
April 25, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Continuing to work on the roof tiles for my cozy town building game.
Lots and lots of little details to get right, but starting to look the way I want. Still a few bugs left and need to do a pass over the shaders to create some more variation.
Lots and lots of little details to get right, but starting to look the way I want. Still a few bugs left and need to do a pass over the shaders to create some more variation.
Working on roof tiles for my cozy town building game. Really happy about how the tiles adapt to roof shape and the detail it adds.
Next I’ll look at creating some color variation and fix some remaining issues and details.
#screenshotsaturday
Next I’ll look at creating some color variation and fix some remaining issues and details.
#screenshotsaturday
April 19, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Working on roof tiles for my cozy town building game. Really happy about how the tiles adapt to roof shape and the detail it adds.
Next I’ll look at creating some color variation and fix some remaining issues and details.
#screenshotsaturday
Next I’ll look at creating some color variation and fix some remaining issues and details.
#screenshotsaturday
Just got a first version of roof tiles generation working for my cozy town building game! There were a lot of details to solve to make it work with all the irregular roof shapes possible in the game!
Next step is to make the tiles a bit more detailed. Right now they are simply drawn as cylinders.
Next step is to make the tiles a bit more detailed. Right now they are simply drawn as cylinders.
April 14, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Just got a first version of roof tiles generation working for my cozy town building game! There were a lot of details to solve to make it work with all the irregular roof shapes possible in the game!
Next step is to make the tiles a bit more detailed. Right now they are simply drawn as cylinders.
Next step is to make the tiles a bit more detailed. Right now they are simply drawn as cylinders.
Time to tackle the look of roofs in my cozy town building game!
I'm working towards placing roof tiles. The look I'm going for is mostly regular, but following the shape of the roofs.
Left to do is handling the edges and corners of roofs, and of course drawing the tiles themselves!
I'm working towards placing roof tiles. The look I'm going for is mostly regular, but following the shape of the roofs.
Left to do is handling the edges and corners of roofs, and of course drawing the tiles themselves!
April 4, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Time to tackle the look of roofs in my cozy town building game!
I'm working towards placing roof tiles. The look I'm going for is mostly regular, but following the shape of the roofs.
Left to do is handling the edges and corners of roofs, and of course drawing the tiles themselves!
I'm working towards placing roof tiles. The look I'm going for is mostly regular, but following the shape of the roofs.
Left to do is handling the edges and corners of roofs, and of course drawing the tiles themselves!
Made some more progress on my cozy little game and implemented a first version of temporal anti-aliasing.
Here's a video, although maybe not that visible in compressed videos.
Here's a video, although maybe not that visible in compressed videos.
March 26, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Made some more progress on my cozy little game and implemented a first version of temporal anti-aliasing.
Here's a video, although maybe not that visible in compressed videos.
Here's a video, although maybe not that visible in compressed videos.
Quick attempt at recreating @aurumek.bsky.social's beautiful painting in the little cozy building game I am making.
I didn't quite nail the proportions of the island, and definitely work left to do to make it easier to build round towers like this in the game! But fun to test!
#screenshotsaturday
I didn't quite nail the proportions of the island, and definitely work left to do to make it easier to build round towers like this in the game! But fun to test!
#screenshotsaturday
March 22, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Quick attempt at recreating @aurumek.bsky.social's beautiful painting in the little cozy building game I am making.
I didn't quite nail the proportions of the island, and definitely work left to do to make it easier to build round towers like this in the game! But fun to test!
#screenshotsaturday
I didn't quite nail the proportions of the island, and definitely work left to do to make it easier to build round towers like this in the game! But fun to test!
#screenshotsaturday
My cozy town building game now has flowers and some simple bushes. I also updated the lighting of the grass to be a bit softer.
Feels much more alive now!
Feels much more alive now!
March 21, 2025 at 1:39 PM
My cozy town building game now has flowers and some simple bushes. I also updated the lighting of the grass to be a bit softer.
Feels much more alive now!
Feels much more alive now!
I made a big visual update to the cozy town building game I am working on.
I've added back the directional light, added some more textures and a super early version of grass. Certainly makes a difference!
I've added back the directional light, added some more textures and a super early version of grass. Certainly makes a difference!
March 19, 2025 at 4:36 PM
I made a big visual update to the cozy town building game I am working on.
I've added back the directional light, added some more textures and a super early version of grass. Certainly makes a difference!
I've added back the directional light, added some more textures and a super early version of grass. Certainly makes a difference!
More progress on the lighting for my cozy town building game Lots of small tweaks and I've added back the ocean and materials.
Still more to do with the sky lighting, but first I want to get the sun light back and add contact shadows, then some more interesting textures and foliage!
Still more to do with the sky lighting, but first I want to get the sun light back and add contact shadows, then some more interesting textures and foliage!
March 14, 2025 at 7:14 PM
More progress on the lighting for my cozy town building game Lots of small tweaks and I've added back the ocean and materials.
Still more to do with the sky lighting, but first I want to get the sun light back and add contact shadows, then some more interesting textures and foliage!
Still more to do with the sky lighting, but first I want to get the sun light back and add contact shadows, then some more interesting textures and foliage!
Made some more progress on the realtime lighting for my cozy town building game.
This is a first test with screen space occlusion combined low frequency occlusion. Promising, but a whole bunch of things left to fix!
This is a first test with screen space occlusion combined low frequency occlusion. Promising, but a whole bunch of things left to fix!
March 12, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Made some more progress on the realtime lighting for my cozy town building game.
This is a first test with screen space occlusion combined low frequency occlusion. Promising, but a whole bunch of things left to fix!
This is a first test with screen space occlusion combined low frequency occlusion. Promising, but a whole bunch of things left to fix!
More progress on the real-time ambient occlusion for my cozy town building game.
Next step is to combine it with the screen space ambient occlusion.
#indiegame #gamedev
Next step is to combine it with the screen space ambient occlusion.
#indiegame #gamedev
March 10, 2025 at 3:43 PM
More progress on the real-time ambient occlusion for my cozy town building game.
Next step is to combine it with the screen space ambient occlusion.
#indiegame #gamedev
Next step is to combine it with the screen space ambient occlusion.
#indiegame #gamedev
Got a first test of real-time large scale ambient occlusion working in my cozy townbuilding game.
Still lots to do, but happy with the first results!
Still lots to do, but happy with the first results!
March 4, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Got a first test of real-time large scale ambient occlusion working in my cozy townbuilding game.
Still lots to do, but happy with the first results!
Still lots to do, but happy with the first results!