Art Director

JOB DESCRIPTION

Art Director

REPORTS TO: Head of Studio

The Studio

Compulsion Games, part of Microsoft’s Xbox Game Studios, is based in Montreal, Canada. Since 2009, we’ve been dedicated to crafting extraordinary games that explore the depths of human experience. Our titles, including Contrast, We Happy Few, and the more recently shipped South of Midnight – are games acclaimed for their unique art, immersive music, rich worlds, and captivating stories.

At Compulsion Games, we nurture a human-first culture founded on trust, autonomy, harmony, and exceptional craft. Our team values experimentation and artistic expression, embracing diversity and inclusivity as core principles. We believe that creativity thrives in an environment where everyone feels heard and respected.

The Role

As an Art Director at Compulsion Games, you will define and guide the artistic vision for our next project. You’ll lead the art, concept, character, environment, and VFX teams, ensuring every visual element supports the game’s creative direction and deepens player immersion.

You’ll work closely with directors, designers, and technical teams to align aesthetic ambition with technical feasibility and ensure that art pipelines and workflows support the team’s success.

Responsibilities

• Define and maintain the artistic visions and quality benchmarks for the project.
• Work with concept, character, environment, and VFX teams to ensure cohesive world-building.
• Oversee art guidelines, style guides, and technical constraints.
• Ensure art assets meet both creative and technical needs.
• Collaborate with technical artists and engineers to optimize visuals for performance.
• Guide and mentor artists, providing feedback and creative direction.
• Work with narrative and design teams to ensure visuals elevate gameplay and storytelling.
• Collaborate with producers to create realistic schedules and deliverables.
• Stay current with art trends, new tools, and best practices.
• Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and artistic excellence.
• Skills & Experience;
• Extensive experience in game art, ideally with exposure to an art leadership position.
• Expertise in concept art, environment art, character design, and VFX.
• Strong grasp of artistic composition, color theory, lighting, and visual storytelling.
• Experience with Unreal Engine and art pipelines.
• Ability to balance creative vision with production constraints.
• Strong communication, leadership, and mentorship skills.
• Passion for creating visually stunning, emotionally engaging worlds.

What We Offer

This full-time role offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits, including full health care coverage for you and your family, RRSP matching, relocation support, mental health and wellness programs, MS Store discounts, 3 weeks of vacation plus two week-long studio closures, and other perks.

Our Montreal studio, near Atwater Metro station, operates with hybrid and fully remote options for employees based in or relocating to Canada.

Seniority level

Director

Employment type

Full-time

Job function

Design, Art / Creative, and Information Technology

Computer Games

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