Former Arkane vets’ new studio isn’t going to try ’trend chasing’, and in hindsight, thank God
Arkane Austin’s closure has prompted veteran developers to launch Black Pony Immersive, a new independent studio that explicitly rejects trend-chasing game design. The studio’s shutdown, attributed to Microsoft’s short-term quarterly focus, ended a developer renowned for immersive simulation games like Dishonored. In recent years, Arkane was forced to pivot toward live service development, culminating in Redfall—a poorly received live service shooter that deviated significantly from the studio’s core competencies.
Former Arkane creative leads Harvey Smith (Dishonored co-creator) and Ben Horne are now positioning Black Pony Immersive as a return to authentic game design. In an interview with The Game Business, the pair emphasized that the new studio will prioritize creative vision over chasing industry trends. This represents a direct rebuke of the strategic decisions that led to Arkane’s downfall, signaling an intent to explore immersive sim design and other projects aligned with the team’s expertise rather than pursuing whatever genre or monetization model appears profitable in the current market.