Redfall
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"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.
"Through the looking glass": as Arkane fight for their future, Dishonored veteran Harvey Smith reveals new studio dedicated to immersive sims
Harvey Smith, a veteran developer from Arkane Studios, has announced the formation of Black Pony Immersive, a new studio focused on creating imaginative first-person action RPGs and immersive sims. The studio, which includes other former Arkane developers, aims to build single-player games that reward player creativity and exploration. This announcement comes during a period of industry volatility, with Microsoft having recently closed Arkane Austin and currently negotiating the future of Arkane Lyon.
Thief designer says that the immersive sim audience is too small for AAA games: 'There's quite a few of us who…
Designer Randy Smith Evergreen, known for his work on Thief and System Shock 2, argues that the immersive sim genre is too small for AAA development. He believes that the increasing budgets and scope required for AAA games are misaligned with the niche audience for immersive sims, leading to commercial disappointments like Arkane's Dishonored 2 and Prey. Evergreen suggests that a more viable path for immersive sims is through smaller, AA or indie budgets, citing the original Thief's modest budget as a successful model.
Battlefield 6 Season 4 adds new boats, guns & custom lobbies
Battlefield 6 Season 4, launching next week, introduces new content including the Tsuru Reef map with new sea vehicles like the RGIB and CB90. The season also adds new firearms such as the EF88 assault rifle and the VSSM DMR, with Phase 2 on August 18 bringing the Wake Island map and the Desert Tech HTI sniper rifle. A collaboration with Top Gun will add new vehicles, characters, and modes like Carrier Strike and Fighter Sweep, alongside quality-of-life improvements including spectator mode and custom lobbies.
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.
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.
The $69 Billion Hangover: Every Xbox Layoff Since The Activision Blizzard Merger
Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion has been followed by significant layoffs and studio closures within its Xbox division. These cuts, described by Xbox CEO Asha Sharma as a "reset" due to an unhealthy business, have impacted thousands of employees and led to the cancellation of several game projects across various studios since January 2024.
Arkane founder asks Xbox CEO "how much" Microsoft wants for the studio: "I'm asking for a…
Original Arkane Studios founder Raphael Colantonio inquired about the potential sale price of the studio amidst Xbox's cost-cutting measures and planned divestments. Microsoft is reportedly exploring strategic options for Arkane, which could lead to its separation from Xbox, similar to other studios like Ninja Theory and Double Fine. Colantonio, who left Arkane in 2017 to form WolfeEye Studios, has previously been critical of Xbox's strategy and decisions, including the closure of Arkane Austin.
Weekend PC Download Deals for July 3: Steam Summer Sale continues
The Steam Summer Sale and other PC gaming storefronts are offering numerous deals on a wide variety of titles. This includes discounts on major releases, indie games, and bundles across platforms like Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG, and Humble Bundle. Several retailers are participating, with prices and availability varying.
Xbox could cancel Marvel's Blade and close Arkane in July bloodbath, report says, or the studio may be sold off
Xbox is reportedly considering closing or selling Arkane Studios and canceling its game Marvel's Blade due to budget and release date issues. This is part of a larger wave of layoffs expected in July as Microsoft aims to cut costs. Other studios like Arkane Austin and Compulsion Games have also faced closures or struggles.
PlayStation – and The Gaming Industry – Just Doesn’t Learn With Live-Service
Despite numerous high-profile failures and significant layoffs within studios like Bungie and Quantic Dream, Sony Interactive Entertainment, led by Hideaki Nishino, remains committed to pursuing live-service games. This strategy is questioned due to past setbacks and the company's historical strength in single-player titles, with concerns that chasing trends is leading to wasted investment and development resources.
Xbox’s Biggest Problems May Still Be Ahead
Xbox is facing significant internal challenges despite a recent showcase of upcoming games like Gears of War: E-Day. CEO Asha Sharma admitted to substantial financial losses and poor investment returns over the past five years, citing issues with funding franchises and inadequate infrastructure. Reports suggest impending layoffs and potential restructuring, including spinning off Xbox as a subsidiary or forming joint ventures, as Microsoft seeks to make its gaming division a sustainable business.
Rumours suggest multiple Xbox studios are to close
Rumors suggest Microsoft is planning to close multiple Xbox studios, including Compulsion Games and Arkane Studios, with potential spin-offs for Double Fine. The head of Xbox Game Studios, Craig Duncan, has also stepped down amid these reports. These potential closures follow underperforming titles like South of Midnight and Redfall, and broader industry discussions about the sustainability of day-one Game Pass releases.
Dishonored dev Arkane Studios nearly made Thief 4 and a Blade Runner game
Former Arkane Studios co-directors Raphael Colantonio and Harvey Smith revealed that the studio was nearly tasked with developing Thief 4 or a Blade Runner game before creating Dishonored. Bethesda had approached Arkane with the propositions, and the developers expressed strong interest in both franchises. Ultimately, Bethesda allowed Arkane to proceed with their original project, which became Dishonored.
Arkane's Dishonored always felt like a secret Thief sequel, and that's because it started life as one
Dishonored originally began development as Thief 4 before publisher Bethesda offered Arkane the choice between that franchise or Blade Runner. Directors Raphaël Colantonio and Harvey Smith discuss the project's evolution into Dishonored and their experiences co-directing the game.
We Loved Oblivion Remastered, But One Year Later, It Still Has Big Problems
One year after its release, The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered, despite initial praise for its overhauled visuals and gameplay fixes, continues to suffer from significant bugs and performance issues. Post-launch support from Virtuos was minimal, with only two updates addressing crashes before the studio seemingly abandoned the game, leaving players dissatisfied and questioning Microsoft and Bethesda's commitment to supporting their remasters.
Revisiting Redfall after its final update reveals the ghost of the game it wanted to be
This article revisits Redfall following its final update, version 1.4, which introduced a 'Community Standing' system and addressed numerous bugs and AI issues. While the update improves the game's engagement with its world and offers some new abilities, it ultimately highlights the potential of what Redfall could have been, rather than salvaging its core issues as a shooter. The author suggests that with continued support for Arkane Austin, the game might have achieved a level of quality that could have spared the studio from closure.
Phil Spencer Was Good for Xbox, but His Legacy Is Complicated - IGN
Phil Spencer is retiring after 38 years with Microsoft, concluding a 12-year tenure as Head of Xbox. His legacy is viewed as complicated, with shareholders seeing massive stock growth while some hardcore gamers point to increased subscription prices, fewer exclusives, and studio closures. Despite these criticisms, the article argues Spencer was a net positive, crediting him with saving Xbox during the Xbox One era, championing features like backwards compatibility and cross-play, and building a strong portfolio of studios and games.
A Year-By-Year Breakdown Of Phil Spencer's Mixed Legacy As Xbox Boss
This analysis breaks down Phil Spencer's tenure as Xbox boss from 2014 to 2026, highlighting both successes like backward compatibility and the launch of Xbox Game Pass, and failures such as studio closures, game cancellations, and price hikes. The article details major events year-by-year, concluding with Spencer's retirement and the challenges facing Xbox under new leadership.
Battlefield 6 is getting a free trial next week with... a questionable selection of maps, but at least the modes are good
EA announced that Battlefield 6 will receive its first free trial starting November 25 and lasting one week on all platforms. The trial will include three maps and five modes, excluding the free-to-play Redfall's battle royale and Gauntlet modes. This trial coincides with a significant patch that has improved XP progression, weapon dispersion, and fixed various bugs, making the game feel closer to its 1.0 state.
