Former Arkane vets' new studio isn't going to try 'trend chasing', and in hindsight, thank God
Lessons learned.
The former Arkane Austin developers, who were renowned for their immersive sim games, have launched a new studio called Black Pony Immersive. In an interview with The Game Business, co-creators Harvey Smith and Ben Horne revealed that they are not interested in chasing trends or producing live service games. Instead, they aim to create games that they themselves would enjoy playing.
Smith emphasized that immersive sims have produced some iconic titles like BioShock, Deus Ex, and Dishonored, which continue to hold significant cultural value. He added that some of these games have even achieved substantial financial success. Horne shared Black Pony Immersive's mission statement, which is to focus on a creative vision that excites both the developers and the target audience, rather than following industry trends dictated by executives.
Both Smith and Horne expressed skepticism towards the numerous predictions made by high-ranking executives about the future of the gaming industry. They cited examples such as the claim that first-person games don't sell, RPGs being a niche market, and the future of games involving live motion video sections with Hollywood actors. Despite the varying opinions, Smith remains optimistic about the power of a strong vision and a developer's passion for creating games they love.
Written by urgent.news from PC Gamer's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
