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 n

Harvey Smith, co-creator of *Dishonored*, announced his new studio, Black Pony Immersive, alongside Arkane alumnus Ben Horne. The name was chosen to explicitly communicate the studio’s creative direction, avoiding ambiguity about the types of games they will develop. Smith explained that the studio’s identity is rooted in immersive simulation games, a genre he and his team have long championed. The decision reflects a deliberate stance against accepting projects that fall outside their wheelhouse, even when financial incentives are offered.

Smith recounted past experiences at Arkane, where external pressure to work on third-person shooters or other genres nearly led the studio astray. He described instances where Arkane resisted lucrative offers to maintain its creative integrity, such as declining work on *BioShock 2* levels despite financial strain. These choices ultimately reinforced Arkane’s reputation as a leader in immersive sims, though later missteps, like *Redfall*, contributed to setbacks for the studio.

The launch of *Redfall*, a multiplayer shooter, marked a departure from Arkane’s core strengths and proved detrimental to the studio’s stability. Smith criticized the game-as-a-service model, attributing *Redfall*’s failure to this approach. The project’s collapse led to the closure of Arkane Austin and left Arkane Lyon in a precarious position, constrained by French labor laws. Smith emphasized the risks of straying from a studio’s established expertise, framing Black Pony Immersive as a return to disciplined creative focus.

Smith framed Black Pony Immersive’s specialization as a strategic choice, arguing that passion and consistency are more sustainable than chasing external opportunities. He acknowledged the challenges of maintaining independence but expressed confidence in the studio’s ability to avoid past pitfalls. The announcement underscores a broader industry trend of studios prioritizing creative vision over commercial pressures, with Smith positioning his new venture as a testament to this philosophy.