Immersive Sim
Ongoing coverage on Immersive Sim.
Latest coverage
Dishonored's Harvey Smith named his new studio Black Pony Immersive so people would stop asking him to work on other genres: 'Specialising on what you love is not a bad path'
Dishonored director Harvey Smith has launched a new studio, Black Pony Immersive, with fellow Arkane alumnus Ben Horne. The studio's name explicitly signals its focus on immersive sims, a genre Smith believes in specializing in to avoid the pitfalls of projects like Redfall, which he feels Arkane should not have worked on. Smith aims to leverage his reputation in the genre to build a successful independent studio.
Former Redfall devs discuss lessons and failings from the multiplayer game’s creation
Former Arkane Austin developers, including creative director Harvey Smith and Ben Horne, reflect on the failings of the multiplayer shooter Redfall. They acknowledge that the game was outside their expertise, citing issues like its $70 price tag and lack of performance modes, and express regret over developing a games-as-a-service title. Both are now part of a new studio, Black Pony Immersive, focusing on immersive sims.
Dishonored director Harvey Smith thinks there's still room for big-budget immersive sims: 'When it really comes together and it has the budget behind it and the team, you end up with Deus Ex or Dishonored'
Dishonored director Harvey Smith believes there is still a place for big-budget immersive sims, contrasting with Randy Smith Evergreen's view that such games should have smaller budgets. Harvey Smith argues that when executed with sufficient resources and talent, immersive sims can result in acclaimed titles like Deus Ex and Dishonored, though he acknowledges the need to right-size budgets and avoid overly conservative design.
Redfall co-director Harvey Smith thinks Arkane 'never should have been working on a games-as-a-service game'
Former Arkane Austin creative director Harvey Smith believes the studio should never have worked on Redfall, a games-as-a-service title. He reflects on the game's failure, the closure of Arkane Austin, and the team's efforts to salvage the game. Smith and other former Arkane developers are now focusing on creating immersive sims with their new company, Black Pony.
Thief designer Randy Smith Evergreen refused to work for Xbox because it would be like 'walking past some stakes with human skulls on them' and pretending 'it's probably fine in this direction'
Thief designer Randy Smith Evergreen explains his decision to refuse an opportunity to work for an Xbox-funded studio due to Microsoft's history of studio closures, likening it to ignoring obvious danger. He discusses the challenges of AAA development for immersive sims and his preference for smaller, more focused indie projects.
Thief designer thinks the graphics arms race should have ended with 2010's Alan Wake: 'The fidelity curve has…
Thief designer Randy Smith Evergreen believes the graphics arms race in video games should have concluded with 2010's Alan Wake, arguing that current fidelity levels are excessive and serve little practical purpose. He suggests that games like Alan Wake achieved sufficient photorealism, and further advancements are costly without significantly enhancing the player experience, particularly for immersive sims.
1666: Amsterdam early access review - Assassin's Creed creator's latest is buggy and sometimes bewildering, but there's real ambition too
1666: Amsterdam, the latest game from Assassin's Creed creator Patrice Désilets and Panache Digital Games, is ambitious but buggy in its early access state. The game blends open-world investigation and combat across three time periods, featuring witchery and a unique approach to exploration that draws parallels to immersive sims, though its combat and technical issues detract from the experience.
Blending Deus Ex with Escape from Butcher Bay, Deficit is one of the best-feeling indie immersive sims I've played—even if the stealth system needs serious work
Deficit, an upcoming immersive sim from Item42, offers a highly physical and satisfying combat experience reminiscent of The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay, with impactful melee and reactive environments. While the game draws clear inspiration from Deus Ex, its stealth mechanics are currently problematic and require significant improvement. Despite these issues, the demo is playable and showcases strong potential for the full release.
No Law was one of the most exciting games I saw at Gamescom year: a cyberpunk immersive sim that solves one of Deus Ex's biggest problems
No Law is an upcoming first-person immersive sim set in a European-inspired cyberpunk world, developed by Neon Giant. The game aims to address long-standing genre issues by rewarding larger objectives rather than small tasks, allowing for diverse playstyles. Players control Grey Harkner, a retired military man drawn back into conflict, in a city that blends futuristic technology with aged architecture and persistent greenery.
A multi-month delay for Deus Ex turned into a huge payoff for one of its best characters, says designer Harvey Smith
Designer Harvey Smith shared how a multi-month delay for Deus Ex significantly improved the game by allowing for expanded character development, particularly for the NPC Gunther Hermann. Initially, Hermann had a minor role with no closure, but the extra time enabled his integration into key missions and a more impactful narrative arc, ultimately enhancing the overall player experience.
This Horror Game Is Having A Dino Crisis Of A Different Sort
The indie horror game Athanasia, featuring dinosaurs and immersive sim elements, will launch in Steam Early Access for PC on October 19. Developed by Momentum Games and published by Black Lantern Collective, the game traps players in a research facility overrun by time-traveling dinosaurs, with hints of a more sinister threat.
ONTOS: This Horrifying, Tantalizing Thriller Feels Like an Immersive Sim for Puzzle Gaming
ONTOS is a forthcoming sci-fi thriller that blends immersive sim elements with puzzle gameplay, focusing on player choice and exploration. Players control Aditi, who investigates a mysterious moon resort and confronts philosophical questions through intricate, often grotesque, experiments. The game emphasizes tactile interaction and allows for multiple solutions to its challenges, promising a deeply engaging experience.
Xbox Gamescom 2026 Day Two: 19 Games and Announcements You Need to Know About | Invision Game Community
Xbox's second Gamescom 2026 showcase highlighted a diverse range of upcoming games, emphasizing discovery over blockbuster reveals. The presentation featured new titles like Rogue Fortune, PUBG: DED.NET, Cassette Beasts 2002, and Militsioner, alongside updates for established franchises such as Dune: Awakening, Planet Zoo 2, and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. Many of these titles will be available on Xbox Game Pass, showcasing the breadth of experiences coming to the Xbox ecosystem.
Run, Hide, Lie: Militsioner Is Coming To Game Pass
The surreal first-person immersive sim Militsioner is coming to Xbox Series X|S and PC in 2027, launching day one on Xbox Game Pass for console and PC. Developed by TALLBOYS and CRITICAL REFLEX, the game tasks players with escaping a city while avoiding a colossal policeman. Militsioner will feature player choice and a dynamic world that reacts to player actions.
Militsioner: The Surreal Immersive Sim Featuring a Colossal Policeman, Coming to XBOX Game Pass in 2027
The surreal immersive sim Militsioner, featuring a colossal policeman, is set to launch on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, and Xbox Game Pass in 2027. Players will navigate a mysterious town under constant surveillance, with gameplay focusing on creative escape methods and moral choices. The game will also support Xbox Play Anywhere, allowing play on both console and PC at no additional cost.
No Law is An Immersive Sim With a Small But Densely Layered City Where You Can Kill Any NPC
Neon Giant's upcoming immersive sim, No Law, will allow players to kill any NPC, with permanent consequences for their actions and the game world. The game, launching in 2027 for Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC, emphasizes player agency and offers multiple approaches to gameplay, including hacking, stealth, and combat within its densely layered city of Port Desire.
Militsioner is a Stealth-Based Immersive Sim About Escaping From a Giant Policeman
Developer Tallboys and publisher Critical Reflex announced Militsioner, a stealth-based immersive sim where players must escape a giant policeman. The game, revealed during Gamescom 2026, will feature sneaking mechanics, an in-game economy, and a dialogue system. Militsioner is slated for release in 2027 on PC and Xbox Series X/S, and will be available on Game Pass day one.
D&D, LEGO, and mounting ennui: Our biggest games from Gamescom 2026
Several outlets expressed disappointment with the Gamescom 2026 Opening Night Live showcase, finding many announcements to be uninspired or lacking substance. While games like Lego Skylines, No Law, and Afterworld garnered some interest, the overall impression was one of "mounting ennui" and a reliance on familiar tropes. The event's format was criticized for prioritizing short, flashy trailers over meaningful game reveals.
Next big D&D game fully revealed with a lengthy gameplay trailer
The next major Dungeons & Dragons game, Warlock, has been fully revealed with a gameplay trailer showcasing its immersive sim-inspired action. Developed by Invoke and published by Wizards of the Coast, the open-world RPG channels influences from games like The Darkness and Infamous. Warlock is set to release next year and will be available on PC via Steam.
Why GTA Games Are A “Stab In The Heart,” But Also Amazing, For Ex-Dishonored Dev
Former Dishonored developer Raphaël Colantonio views Grand Theft Auto games as a "stab in the heart" for immersive sim enthusiasts, praising Rockstar's surface-level simulation and sandbox execution while lamenting the lack of lasting consequences for player actions. He contrasts this with games like Skyrim, where choices have meaningful, long-term impacts, and expresses his personal preference for deeper player agency over GTA's mission-instance approach. Colantonio looks forward to Grand Theft Auto 6 to see how Rockstar pushes its instant simulation further.
