"Through the looking glass": as Arkane fight for their future, Dishonored veteran Harvey Smith reveals new studio dedicated to immersive sims
Days after Deus Ex director Warren Spector announced that he was quitting the business , another former Ion Storm developer, Harvey Smith, has revealed Black Pony Immersive - a new studio dedicated to the creation of "imaginative first-person action RPGs set within well-realized worlds, where players create their own memorable experiences with expressive, emergent game systems." The announcement…
Following the closure of Arkane Austin in May 2024, 96 developers lost their jobs, including studio head Harvey Smith. After a two-year break, Smith is unveiling his next project: Black Pony Immersive, co-founded with former Arkane colleague Ben Horne. Smith explained to GamesIndustry.biz, "We chose the worst time in history to start a game studio."
Horne concurred, noting that they faced a harsh fundraising environment and had turned down unsuitable offers. Despite the challenges, Smith sees this as an opportunity to create something better. He highlighted the advantages of a nimble, top-down free structure, alongside providing health-care benefits, crucial for a small U.S.-based startup.
Black Pony, now comprising 26 employees, aims to reconnect some Arkane veterans, like Smith's creative partner Ricardo Bare and Monte Martinez, a former teammate from Ion Storm. Smith remains tight-lipped about the game's specifics but confirmed it will be a narrative-rich, exploration-based experience, fitting within the immersive sim genre.
Written by urgent.news from GamesIndustry's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
