"They thought Callisto was a complete failure": Glen Schofield blames publishers Krafton for The Callisto Protocol's crash landing

Four years after the release of The Callisto Protocol, co-creator Glen Schofield has openly accused publishers Krafton for the game's subpar release state, as both he and his team were forced to ship the game to Krafton's rushed schedule. In a recent interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Schofield claims that Striking Distance Studios faced unforeseen challenges both from COVID-imposed staff disruptions and Krafton's decision-making.

The game's release date was delayed from March 2023 to December 2022, leaving the studio with insufficient time to finish the project, leading to reported crunch conditions and the removal of less vital elements. Furthermore, Krafton demanded a cross-platform release for PS4 and PS5, and Striking Distance was left to manage aspects of publishing and marketing themselves.

Schofield expressed his frustration, stating, "I was forced to ship the game. I'm mad at myself, there's no doubt. I was so stunned by that decision, because we had COVID." Upon receiving less than stellar reviews, Krafton CEO CH Kim acknowledged that the release fell short of market expectations. Schofield bluntly admits that they thought Callisto was a complete failure and highlights the fact that despite numerous patches, they were never fully aware of the impact their decisions had on the game.

While the game did receive narrative DLC and new modes, it is rare to see a director openly blame a publisher like this. However, it's difficult to trust Schofield's words without any acknowledgment of his own role in the game's issues. Schofield describes himself as a "creative leader, and a business leader," but goes on to say that he doesn't want to be involved in the business aspect of the job and prefers to focus on his creative leadership.

He also mentions his newfound interest in AI, stating, "Midjourney has become a medium for me, and it's necessary to put AI to work where it makes sense."