Former Arkane directors Harvey Smith and Ben Horne, who helmed the development of the Xbox exclusive Redfall, have opened up about the myriad challenges that plagued the project and the unexpected efforts to salvage it. The pair has since formed a new studio, Black Pony Immersive, focused on creating first-person action-RPGs.
According to Horne, Redfall's development was initiated during a period of intense interest in live-service games, prompting the team to grapple with the intricacies of the model. Smith acknowledged that Arkane, known for its specialized design, found itself adapting to broader industry trends and the pressure to reach a wider audience. "We got swept up in the games-as-a-service thing," Smith stated, expressing a misplaced confidence that Arkane could seamlessly integrate live-service elements with its core design philosophy. He recalled initial ambitions to mix beloved Arkane mechanics with live-service features, day-and-night cycles, and character classes.
The development cycle was further complicated by external events, including the COVID-19 pandemic and "the great resignation," which led to remote work and increased job mobility. Smith described the development as "difficult" and "very poorly received" at launch. The team subsequently dedicated the following year to patching the game and addressing player feedback.
In a remarkable turn of events, even after Microsoft closed Arkane Austin and laid off the staff, Smith pitched the company on allowing a small group to return and release a planned 1.4 update. "We went to Microsoft and said, ‘I know we don’t work here anymore, but can we please release this?’" Smith recounted. Microsoft approved the request, enabling six or seven former employees to return and implement the update. "After being fired, we released 1.4, which I think if we had that on day one, it wouldn’t have set the world on fire, but it was a much, much better game," he added.
Horne described the experience of releasing an update for a game after being fired and the studio shut down as an "achievement unlocked." Smith also reflected on his personal involvement, admitting he was "clearly out of my lane" with Redfall's live-service direction and not focusing on his core strengths.
Smith also touched upon the tumultuous external factors that coincided with development, referencing political events, the spread of murder hornets toward Texas, and a severe ice storm that caused widespread power and water outages. "That development cycle, I’ll never forget it," he said, noting the team's resilience in coming together to release the patch despite the circumstances and their job losses. He also indicated that some former colleagues expressed interest in working with him again.
Black Pony Immersive, Smith and Horne's new venture, is currently focused on developing games that aim to "push the limits of player immersion," though no specific titles have been announced.