Veteran Game Developer Harvey Smith Rises from Arkane Austin’s Ashes with New Studio, Black Pony Immersive
AUSTIN, TX – [Date of Publication] – In a surprising turn of events following the tumultuous closure of Arkane Austin in May 2024, industry veteran Harvey Smith, renowned for his work on iconic titles like Deus Ex, Dishonored, and Prey, has unveiled his latest venture: Black Pony Immersive. This new game development studio, co-founded with former Arkane colleague Ben Horne, represents a defiant return to independent creation for Smith, who, alongside 95 other developers, was displaced by Microsoft’s decision to shutter the beloved studio.
Smith candidly acknowledged the challenging landscape for new studios, telling GamesIndustry.biz, "Ben and I chose the worst time in history [to start a game studio]." This sentiment was echoed by Horne, who served as production director on Redfall, Arkane Austin’s final release. Horne elaborated on the arduous fundraising journey, stating, "Harvey and I spent a lot of time, in a really horrible environment for fundraising, talking to many different groups about how to raise money. We turned down some deals that just didn’t feel right. You know, ‘hey, if you guys are willing to maybe think about this NFT blockchain situation…’ As much [as we wanted] to get this off the ground, let’s try to do it the right way."
For Smith, this marks a significant milestone – his first time establishing his own company, a long-held ambition finally realized amidst unexpected circumstances. When questioned about the timing, given the current difficulties in the gaming business, Smith offered a profound perspective: "When things are going pretty well, your impetus to do something crazy is very low. It’s only when things explode that [you become willing to take the leap]. Like, you know what? We could do it better than that."
The closure of Arkane Austin, while a hardship, has paradoxically served as a catalyst for Black Pony Immersive. Smith views it as a crucible from which invaluable lessons have been forged. "There’s so many lessons we’ve learned. We’ve endured these enormous hardships together," he reflected.
So, what does "doing it better" entail for Black Pony Immersive? Smith highlighted several key differentiators. First and foremost is minimizing top-down interference, allowing for greater creative freedom and agility. "We don’t have to seek much approval from anyone else, and that makes us very nimble," he explained. He also stressed the critical importance of robust health-care benefits, a non-negotiable for the US-based team in a country where such provisions are not guaranteed. While operating remotely, all full-time employees are within the United States, supported by a global network of contractors and external developers.
Perhaps the most potent driving force behind Black Pony Immersive is Smith’s unwavering commitment to fostering and retaining talent. "I don’t think the people closing the studios understand yet what they’ve lost," he asserted, underscoring the deep value he places on cohesive, experienced teams.
A Reunion of Talent: Building Black Pony’s Dark Horses
Black Pony Immersive, which quietly commenced operations last August and now boasts a team of 26, has provided a crucial opportunity to reunite former Arkane colleagues. This includes individuals who had already found new roles, like Horne, who briefly joined Meta-owned Twisted Pixel after Arkane’s closure before that studio too faced its demise.
While not exclusively an Arkane veteran roster, a significant portion of Black Pony’s staff brings a shared history and understanding of immersive gameplay. "There are some are completely new faces, people that I’ve respected and loved from the indie scene for many years – like our art director, who we’ll talk about eventually," Smith noted. "But many of these people, if you go on my Instagram, you’ll find pictures of us hanging out, after those last days at Arkane."
Among the distinguished long-time collaborators at Black Pony are Ricardo Bare, Smith’s creative partner since their early days on Deus Ex, and Monte Martinez, a veteran of Ion Storm, 2K Marin, and WolfEye, whom Smith affectionately dubs "the secret weapon of the immersive-sim world." Smith revealed that the recruitment process involved "pulling people out of major companies, because they were unhappy where they were, or just because they were excited about the idea."
The Immersive Future: A Return to Roots
While specific game details remain under wraps, the studio’s very name, "Black Pony Immersive," offers a clear indication of their creative direction. Smith confirmed that "we had the pitch before we had the company," and there’s no ambiguity about the genre they’re pursuing.
Smith eloquently articulated the hallmarks of the games he is most passionate about creating: "You’re slightly underpowered, but you have some creative tools. You have an exploration-based landscape, player-driven pace. Single-player, narrative-rich… Whether you call that an action RPG or FPS-RPG hybrid or an immersive sim, whatever."
Reflecting on past projects that deviated from this core philosophy, Smith concluded that success often hinges on adhering to this "magic formula." "When we’ve stayed in that lane, the results have been much better, and we get much closer to something that we truly love."
As the gaming industry continues to navigate a period of significant upheaval, Black Pony Immersive stands as a testament to the resilience and enduring passion of veteran developers like Harvey Smith. Their commitment to fostering a healthy creative environment and returning to the principles of deep, player-driven experiences offers a glimmer of hope and excitement for the future of immersive gaming.
