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Arkane Vets Launch Black Pony Immersive
19 Aug
Summary
- Former Arkane Austin head Harvey Smith co-founded Black Pony Immersive.
- The studio focuses on narrative-rich first-person action RPGs.
- Black Pony Immersive includes veterans from Arkane, Insomniac, and Epic.
A new video game studio, Black Pony Immersive, has been established by industry veterans, including former Arkane Austin head Harvey Smith and colleague Ben Horne. The studio is committed to developing narrative-rich first-person action RPGs, a genre often termed immersive sims.
Black Pony Immersive boasts a team of seasoned developers from prominent companies such as Insomniac, Epic Games, Avalanche, and Volition. Ricardo Bare, formerly of Arkane Studios, joins as design director, bringing extensive experience from titles like Dishonored and Prey.
The formation of Black Pony Immersive arrives during a period of significant upheaval in the video game industry, marked by extensive layoffs and studio closures. This context highlights the new studio's potential to offer a different path for game development.
While specific projects remain unannounced, the studio's mission clearly centers on immersive sims, original worlds, and emergent gameplay, drawing inspiration from the legacy of Looking Glass Studios. Smith expressed pride in the venture, emphasizing a focus on single-player games that reward player curiosity and exploration.
