Dishonored
News, coverage and analysis tracking Dishonored across the outlets.
Latest coverage
Former Arkane Studios leads Harvey Smith & Ben Horne launch Black Pony Immersive game studio
Former Arkane Studios leads Harvey Smith and Ben Horne have launched a new game studio called Black Pony Immersive, which will focus on developing immersive simulation games. The studio aims to push the genre's limits, drawing on their experience with titles like Dishonored and Prey. Despite acknowledging challenging market conditions, the team is committed to creating ambitious games.
Dishonored co-creator Harvey Smith launches a new studio and it literally has the word 'Immersive' in the name
Dishonored co-creator Harvey Smith and executive producer Ben Horne have launched a new studio named Black Pony Immersive. The studio, comprised of developers from Arkane, Insomniac, and other major companies, aims to create singleplayer first-person action RPGs with emergent gameplay systems, drawing inspiration from classic immersive sim titles.
Dishonored, Deus Ex Designer Stars New Studio to Continue Focusing on Immersive Sims
Veteran game developer Harvey Smith, formerly of Arkane Austin, has founded a new studio called Black Pony Immersive. The studio will focus on the immersive sim genre, continuing Smith's work on titles like Dishonored and Deus Ex. The team includes several former Arkane Austin developers.
Dishonored Director Announces New Studio, And Fans Should Be Very Excited
Veteran game developers Harvey Smith and Ben Horne have announced the formation of Black Pony Immersive, a new studio focused on creating first-person action-RPGs in well-realized worlds. Smith, a co-creator of the Dishonored series, aims to continue the legacy of immersive sims, a genre that has seen fewer releases in recent years. The studio will be based in Austin, Texas, the same location as Arkane Studios.
"We chose the worst time in history" – Harvey Smith on starting his own studio after Arkane
Former Arkane Studios director Harvey Smith has co-founded a new studio called Black Pony Immersive with Ben Horne, aiming to create immersive sim games. Smith acknowledges the challenging timing for starting a new studio due to the current game business landscape but expresses a desire to build games their way, focusing on player-driven experiences and creative tools. The studio has already reunited several former Arkane colleagues and is working on its first project.
You can now play the secret best immersive sim in coop thanks to this mod
A new mod called Prey Coop allows up to 16 players to experience Arkane Studios' immersive sim Prey together on PC. The mod synchronizes campaign progression, story choices, and world physics, though it is still in alpha with some known issues. This unofficial addition enables cooperative play for a game traditionally designed for solo experiences.
How I’m dealing with my video game backlog of 48 titles - Reader's Feature
A reader details their strategy for tackling a personal backlog of 48 video games, categorizing titles and discussing their purchasing habits. They highlight challenges with game length, difficulty, and digital ownership, while also reflecting on completed games and those they've abandoned.
10 expansions that were better than the actual game
This article ranks ten DLC expansions that are considered superior to their original base games. Titles like Dishonored's 'The Knife of Dunwall and The Brigmore Witches,' Fallout: New Vegas's 'Old World Blues,' and Mass Effect 3's 'Citadel' are highlighted for their significant improvements and compelling content.
Maingear refreshes its "Zero" PC range, taking cable-free gaming rigs to the next level: "It had to look just as good powered off as it does turned on"
Maingear has refreshed its Zero line of gaming PCs, focusing on a cable-free design with panoramic tempered glass for component visibility. The new models, starting at $2,799, feature high-end CPU and GPU pairings from Intel and AMD, and NVIDIA. The company's CEO, Wallace Santos, emphasized the design's aesthetic appeal both when powered on and off, aiming for "zero distractions".
'The last time I liked everything about a game was probably Baldur's Gate 3': Raphael Colantonio, co-founder of Arkane Studios, talks us through the games installed on his PC
Raphaël Colantonio, co-founder of Arkane Studios and WolfEye Studios, discusses the games installed on his PC, highlighting Baldur's Gate 3 as the last game he "liked everything about." He shares his thoughts on current plays like Mewgenics and Cyberpunk 2077, his enduring love for immersive sims like Thief and Deus Ex, and his early PC gaming roots with Ultima 7.
15 years before Dishonored, Thief devs considered letting Garrett shrink himself rat-sized so he could scurry through…
Lead designer Tim Stellmach revealed that Looking Glass Studios considered giving Thief's protagonist Garrett the ability to shrink himself to navigate small spaces, similar to Dishonored's possession mechanic. This idea was ultimately dropped due to the significant development effort required and potential design implications for the pure stealth experience. A remaster of Thief: The Dark Project is currently in development by Nightdive Studios.
The toughest choices in PC games
This article explores some of the most challenging moral and narrative choices presented to players in PC games, spanning titles from Ultima 4 to Frostpunk. It highlights how games like Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, The Walking Dead, and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt force players into difficult decisions with significant consequences.
Going from skull-cracker to safecracker in Dishonored 2
The author recounts their experience attempting a no-kill, no-detection playthrough of Dishonored 2 after a chaotic first attempt in the original game. Despite challenges, including a difficult puzzle in the Clockwork Mansion, they ultimately succeeded after 40 hours, reflecting on the satisfaction of overcoming obstacles peacefully.
The Descent - how game devs learned to love ladders
This article explores the complex history and design considerations of ladders in video games, from early problematic implementations to modern, nuanced approaches. Developers like Arkane Austin and Hideo Kojima have experimented with ladders as both gameplay mechanics and narrative tools, highlighting how even simple elements can significantly impact player experience and game design.
Microsoft comms lead says Xbox layoffs "were not made to replace employees with foreign workers" in response…
Microsoft communications lead Frank Shaw clarified that recent Xbox layoffs, affecting 1,600 employees initially and planned to reach 3,200, were not made to replace workers with foreign H-1B visa holders. Shaw stated the workforce changes were necessary to restructure the Xbox business, which he described as unhealthy, and emphasized that the H-1B visa figures mentioned are company-wide and not specific to Xbox. He also highlighted that Xbox is the largest employer of American workers in the gaming industry.
Summary: what's happening at Xbox?
Xbox announced a major restructuring involving 3,200 job cuts, with 1,600 immediate layoffs, primarily affecting ZeniMax studios like Bethesda and id Software. Several studios, including Compulsion Games, Double Fine, Ninja Theory, and Undead Labs, are being sold off or spun out as independent entities. This move aims to refocus on high-earning franchises and improve profit margins, impacting the development of upcoming titles like The Elder Scrolls 6 and potentially State of Decay 3.
I finally found an 8,000Hz gaming mouse that caters to my bizarre pinky groove and MMO preferences, and it makes me question why more mouse brands aren't willing to take risks
The author discusses the current market for gaming mice, which is heavily influenced by Esports preferences for lightweight, high-polling rate designs. They express a desire for more versatile mice that cater to different grip styles and offer features like MMO buttons, finding few options outside of specific models like the Corsair Scimitar RGB Elite and the upcoming Meetion Mega V1. The article highlights how smaller brands like Meetion are innovating by offering modular designs and catering to niche preferences, potentially challenging the dominance of Esports-focused peripherals.
'Regarding Arkane… how much?' — Xbox is falling apart and as thousands more are hit with layoffs, I think it's time for someone to save the Dishonored and Marvel's Blade developer before it's too late
Amidst widespread layoffs and studio closures at Xbox, there are concerns about the future of Arkane Studios. The article argues for Arkane's acquisition by another company to preserve its legacy of acclaimed titles like Dishonored and Prey, and to ensure the completion of its current project, Marvel's Blade.
While several Xbox studios regained independence or found new owners yesterday, Arkane's staff must negotiate their own future
Xbox has announced significant restructuring, spinning off five studios and implementing widespread layoffs. While some studios regain independence or find new owners, the fate of Arkane Studios, specifically Arkane Lyon in France, remains undecided as negotiations involving Microsoft, studio management, and employee representatives are ongoing. This situation highlights differing labor law protections between France and the US, with Arkane Lyon's future potentially involving sale, management buyout, or closure.
Arkane Founder Asks Xbox How Much the Studio Would Cost “For a Friend”
Arkane Studios founder Raphael Colantonio humorously inquired about the acquisition cost of the studio from Xbox CEO Asha Sharma. This comes amid Xbox's recent layoffs and studio restructuring, which has put Arkane under review. Colantonio has previously criticized Xbox's Game Pass model as unsustainable.
