Former Arkane Austin leads Harvey Smith, Ben Horne, and Ricardo Bare have announced the formation of a new studio, Black Pony Immersive. The trio, who were instrumental in the development of acclaimed titles like Deus Ex and Dishonored, have expressed a clear intention to avoid the pitfalls that plagued their most recent project, Redfall. In a discussion with The Game Business, Smith and Horne detailed their commitment to returning to the core principles of immersive sim design.
Smith reflected on Redfall as a difficult project, acknowledging that Arkane, while specialized, found itself drawn into the games-as-a-service trend. "We got swept up in the games-as-a-service thing, and I had the foolish chutzpah to assume that it always works out for us," he stated. The decision to pursue a live-service model, combined with inexperience in the format, ongoing staff reductions, and the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, contributed to a troubled production. The game ultimately launched in a poor state and was followed by the closure of Arkane Austin a year later in 2024.
Despite the recent turbulence in the industry, particularly surrounding Microsoft's gaming division, Smith and Horne see the current landscape as an opportunity. They noted that public sentiment has shifted away from live-service games, potentially leveling the playing field for studios focused on more traditional, single-player experiences. The developers drew parallels to the development of Dishonored, which also faced significant financial pressures and challenges, underscoring their resilience and experience in overcoming adversity.
Black Pony Immersive's formation marks a deliberate move away from the industry trends that they believe compromised their previous work. By focusing on the core tenets of immersive gameplay and narrative, the new studio aims to recapture the spirit of games that captivated players and to deliver experiences that resonate with their established audience, eschewing the temptations of fleeting market trends.