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Dishonored and Deus Ex Veteran Harvey Smith Is Back after Arkane Austin's Closure with a New Immersive Sim Studio
Harvey Smith, notable for his work on Dishonored and Deus Ex, has launched Black Pony Immersive to focus on creating immersive sim games. This development follows the recent closure of Arkane Austin, a studio under his management that was hit hard by recent market struggles. Smith highlights the studio's mission to innovate and re-engage players with creative gameplay experiences. Despite challenges in securing funding, Black Pony has found backing and aims to cultivate a passionate team committed to the genre's revival.
ExperimentConfidence: HighShort term horizon
Published 19 Aug 2026, 18:20 UTC5 min read
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Summary
TL;DR
- Harvey Smith unveils his new studio, Black Pony Immersive.
- Focus on narrative-rich immersive sims.
- Launch follows the closure of Arkane Austin.
- Studio aims to attract players with creative gameplay.
- Team consists of veteran developers from various renowned studios.
Interesting facts
- Black Pony Immersive aims to defy industry trends and create innovative experiences.
- The studio has secured a publishing partner but has not disclosed its name.
What changed
Harvey Smith established a new game studio focused on immersive simulations after Arkane's closure.