The DigiPen professor David Puertas was part of the team behind the latest Diablo IV expansion, Vessel of Hatred. Now, he is bringing this invaluable industry experience into the classroom, providing the students with a practical, up-to-date view of the field.
Working on Diablo IV for a company like Blizzard, in tandem with Electric Square, has been one of the most rewarding experiences of his career. For over a year and a half, he led 3D character modeling, with a particular focus on creating the game’s monsters.
Diablo IV is the fourth installment in Blizzard Entertainment’s iconic action role-playing series, released in Summer 2023. Set in the dark, immersive world of Sanctuary, players take on the roles of heroes battling demons and monsters.
Alongside David, DigiPen Europe-Bilbao graduates from the Digital Art and Animation (BFA) program, Xabier Urrutia and Xabier Sevillano, also contributed to Diablo IV, working in one of the game’s other art departments.
Diablo IV stands out for its fast-paced, real-time combat, cementing its place as one of the most influential franchises in the action RPG genre. Its gothic aesthetic and expansive open world have also inspired countless other games.
Creating characters for an AAA game is a complex, multi-stage process requiring specialized skills. David Puertas begins by interpreting concept art—2D sketches that define each character’s look. From these illustrations, he’s responsible for transforming them into detailed, three-dimensional models, primarily using the sculpting tool ZBrush.
A key step in this process is retopology, which involves optimizing models to work efficiently within the game engine. This ensures that the characters retain a high visual quality without affecting performance. To achieve this, the polygon count of the original model is reduced, maintaining all essential details.
Once optimized, textures and materials are applied to bring the characters to life, all in keeping with the dark, gothic aesthetic of Diablo IV. Every detail is meticulously adjusted to match the game’s atmosphere.
Seeing my creations come to life in such a major game and watching players interact with them — especially when they defeat my monsters — is incredibly rewarding.”
Working on projects of such a big size demands not only technical expertise but also a great deal of patience. Constant collaboration with different departments—such as animation, lighting, and texturing—requires meticulous coordination. Additionally, it’s a job that calls for consistency, as it’s common in the video game industry to spend months on a project without seeing the result until release.
This experience allows David to provide his students at DigiPen Europe-Bilbao with practical, up-to-date knowledge. Students learn not only to use industry-standard tools but also to stay aware of current trends, all within an environment that mirrors the professional world.
For David, patience and adaptability are essential. “Working in a high-pressure environment like Blizzard has taught me the importance of collaboration and effective time management, and that’s what I strive to instill in my students,” he explains.
In his view, DigiPen Europe-Bilbao’s educational approach closely mirrors the fast-paced workflow of the industry. Students work on complex projects that simulate real production processes, from initial concept creation to final technical execution. According to David, this hands-on methodology prepares students for a successful transition into the professional world.
About David Puertas
David Puertas is a digital artist and educator who combines his engineering background with a passion for 3D modeling and sculpting. Known for his realistic digital models, especially his popular Naruto and Dragon Ball figures, David has collaborated with major brands and established a name for himself in the collectibles industry. He currently teaches at DigiPen Europe-Bilbao, where he draws on his experience from projects like Diablo IV to impart real-world digital art skills and inspire his students in their creative journeys.