Industry veterans Harvey Smith, Ben Horne, and Ricardo Bare have launched a new studio, Black Pony Immersive, with the explicit goal of creating immersive simulation games. Smith, known for his work on Deus Ex and Dishonored, and Horne, a former Arkane colleague, co-founded the studio. They are joined by Bare, a designer on the original Deus Ex. The studio's formation comes at a time when many in the industry consider immersive sims to be a risky genre.
Black Pony Immersive's founders are no strangers to the genre. Smith and Bare previously worked at Ion Storm, contributing to Deus Ex, while Smith also has credits on System Shock and Thief: Deadly Shadows. Both Smith and Horne were part of Arkane Austin until its closure by Microsoft, where they worked on titles including Dishonored, Prey, and their final project, Redfall. The new studio has been operating in secret since August 2025, with a team of 26 full-time staff, many of whom are former Arkane employees, alongside new talent.
Speaking about the challenging industry climate, Smith described the current period as "the worst time in history" to start a game studio. He argued that pursuing popular trends is often more prone to failure than sticking to established genres. Smith defended the financial viability of immersive sims, citing the success of the Dishonored series and emphasizing the team's extensive expertise. "When things are going pretty well, your impetus to do something crazy is very low," Smith stated, explaining the decision to launch Black Pony Immersive during a downturn.
The studio aims to be nimble and independent, reducing reliance on the approval of larger entities. "We don’t have to seek much approval from anyone else, and that makes us very nimble," Smith told GamesIndustry. This independence allows them to pursue their passion for immersive simulations without the immense expectations often placed on developers by major publishers.
While details about Black Pony Immersive's first game remain undisclosed, it is confirmed to be an immersive sim. The studio's formation follows a wave of studio closures and independent ventures, but the pedigree of its key members offers a strong foundation for hope. The team appears to be approaching their new endeavor with a measured perspective, having learned from past experiences under Microsoft and their own successes and missteps.