{
  "id": 1942046,
  "title": "\"We chose the worst time in history\" – Harvey Smith on starting his own studio after Arkane",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/19/we-chose-the-worst-time-in-history-harvey-smith-on-starting-his-own",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-08-19T13:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "GamesIndustry",
    "slug": "gamesindustry",
    "url": "https://www.gamesindustry.biz/we-chose-the-worst-time-in-history-harvey-smith-on-starting-his-own-studio-after-arkane"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "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.",
  "summary": "Microsoft's closure of Arkane Austin in May 2024 left 96 developers out of work – among them studio head Harvey Smith, whose storied career spans Deus Ex, Dishonored, and Prey. Now, after a two-year quiet period, Smith is ready to reveal his next venture: Black Pony Immersive, a new studio co-founded with former Arkane colleague Ben Horne. Read more",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Rock Paper Shotgun",
        "title": "\"Through the looking glass\": as Arkane fight for their future, Dishonored veteran Harvey Smith reveals new studio dedicated to immersive sims",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/19/through-the-looking-glass-as-arkane-fight-for-their-future-dishonored",
        "published": "2026-08-19T13:00:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}