Escape Master
Even the early sketches already showcased a rugged, handsome style. That thing that looks like a melon cap? It's actually hair! These two scrapped versions also featured a beard, making the character appear more mature. However, there are already quite a few older, “uncle-type” characters in the game, and with heterochromatic eyes, the design started to feel a bit too familiar... Squint a little and he even looks like Mr. Da Bing!
Eventually, they chose the second version to refine further — removing the beard, emphasizing the scar on his head, and adjusting proportions for a more realistic look. Thus, Escape Master transformed from a 40-something to a dashing young man in his twenties!
Knight – Red Knight
Red Knight only took two drafts before finalizing the skin. The first sketch was already very close to the final version, with only minor differences in helmet design, hair color, and detail refinement.
The early version was shared to show off the eerie crimson glint in 77’s gloomy eyes (perfect for edgy post-match quotes). In the final version, the color scheme was adjusted to better bring out his dark and mysterious aura.
Cheerleader
The scrapped versions of the Cheerleader featured various hair lengths — from tied-up styles to short and loose hair. Her pom-poms and outfit colors also varied. Even the short-haired Lily variant had her own kind of charm!
In the end, the final design was a blend of all three drafts: one inspired the outfit, another contributed the triangular button eyes, and the third inspired the way she wears her hat. The result? Fluffy twin-tails that match her lively personality perfectly!
Bartender – Nightlight Cup
We’re so glad the designers didn’t go with the first version. While it had strong traditional aesthetics, those face markings… could’ve ended up looking too wild! The second version, in contrast, is sleek and stylish — and whoever came up with the exposed waist design is a genius.
The concept includes a full 3-view sketch and tons of inspiration from ancient cultures. Her wineglass and basket designs were carefully broken down into parts. The thought put into this skin is just amazing — we hope to see more designs with this level of care!
The Breaking Wheel – Formation Breaker
Formation Breaker is the champion skin for Chengdu GG and is themed around Sichuan culture. The scrapped drafts are especially interesting! All three feature mahjong elements — in particular, the third one has the three Will brothers’ faces turned into expression-like tiles (they kind of look like power outlets?!), which is both quirky and unique.
After discussions with the team, they decided to tone down the mahjong theme and went with matching masks instead. While the final version is definitely cooler, it's a bit of a shame to lose those fun and memorable mahjong faces!
Lady Farrah
The four original concepts for Lady Farrah all exude elegance and cunning. With fur-trimmed dresses and wide-brimmed felt hats, she looked both rich and sly. The first version? Absolutely stunning. Initially, her scent-emitting mechanism was on her hand, but it got changed because it wasn’t noticeable enough.
The two later versions are very close to the final design, experimenting with different coat hemlines. The hand mechanism was replaced with a cane, giving her a more refined and noble air.
Which scrapped version was your favorite?
Thanks for reading this issue!
Wishing you endless gold light and effortless rank climbing ahead!
