Glen Schofield, the creator behind Dead Space, has voiced criticism regarding Krafton's management, asserting that the publisher's decisions significantly impacted the development and eventual state of The Callisto Protocol. Krafton, the owner of PUBG, published Schofield's horror game through his studio, Striking Distance.
In an interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Schofield detailed his frustration with Krafton's actions, particularly concerning the studio's development timeline. According to Schofield, Krafton initially promised Striking Distance an additional three months for development, a promise that was later rescinded. This decision, Schofield stated, forced the studio to ship the game prematurely. "I was forced to ship the game," Schofield remarked, expressing his own disappointment with the situation. He highlighted the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that the decision to cut development time felt particularly egregious given the global health crisis and its impact on his team.
Schofield elaborated on the difficulties of developing a game during the pandemic, explaining the complex logistics of managing a remote team and the constant concern for employee well-being. "Every single month, four to six people in my company were getting sick," he recalled. "The main thing you're concerned about... is the health of your team. Making a game just became secondary because this is about life. This is about humanity."
He also pointed out Krafton's apparent lack of experience in publishing single-player AAA games. Schofield suggested that Krafton's mandate to release The Callisto Protocol on both PlayStation 4 and PS5 added significant costs and logistical hurdles, especially during a global chip shortage that complicated the distribution of development kits. This, he argued, did not benefit the game's prospects.
Despite these challenges, Schofield mentioned that Striking Distance worked extensively on post-launch support, releasing 86 patches to improve the game. He revealed that Krafton considered The Callisto Protocol a failure, a sentiment Schofield disputes given the extensive patching and DLC work undertaken to improve the experience.
The Callisto Protocol received a mixed reception upon release. While its production values were often praised, the game faced criticism for technical issues, performance problems, and core gameplay elements that were seen as lacking depth compared to its inspirations, such as Dead Space. Eurogamer's review noted the game's visual fidelity but ultimately found it fell short in tension and depth.