Dishonored director Harvey Smith thinks there's still room for big-budget immersive sims: 'When it really comes together and it has the budget behind it and the team, you end up with Deus Ex or Dishonored'

Dishonored director Harvey Smith believes there is still space for big-budget immersive sims, provided they have the right budget and team. When everything aligns, these games can achieve the level of success found in titles like Deus Ex, Dishonored, or BioShock. However, Smith acknowledges the risks associated with such high-stakes projects.

He emphasizes the importance of not being overly conservative with features, which often occurs as budgets grow. This can lead to sacrificing the innovative and creative aspects that define immersive sims. Smith uses Deus Ex as an example, where players discovered emergent gameplay through the unconventional use of magnetic mines to scale walls.

This kind of unexpected player interaction is a hallmark of immersive sims, and Smith believes that smaller projects risk missing out on this key element if they lack the necessary resources and time to develop a truly robust system. Ultimately, Smith and his friend Randy Smith Evergreen, the designer behind Thief and Dishonored, agree that there exists a "sweet spot" for immersive sims.

While going too small or too large can result in losing something crucial, finding the right balance can lead to the creation of truly exceptional immersive sim experiences.