Dishonored and Deus Ex veteran Harvey Smith launches immersive sim studio Black Pony Immersive
Harvey Smith, co-creator of Dishonored and lead designer of Deus Ex, has founded a new studio staffed by former Arkane Austin developers.
Harvey Smith, one of the architects of the immersive sim genre, has launched a new independent studio called Black Pony Immersive, bringing along a number of colleagues from his previous employer, Arkane Austin. The studio will focus on immersive sims — games defined by player agency, systemic worlds, and layered problem-solving — the genre Smith helped shape over decades of landmark projects. Smith served as lead game designer on the original Deus Ex, co-creative director on the first Dishonored, and creative director on Dishonored 2, making him one of the most recognizable figures associated with the genre. Arkane Austin, the studio where he most recently worked, was shut down by Xbox in 2024 following the commercial failure of Redfall, the studio's co-op vampire shooter that departed sharply from its immersive sim roots. Smith acknowledged the difficult timing of the launch, describing it as "the worst time in history" to start a studio — a reference to the gaming industry's ongoing wave of layoffs and studio closures that has affected thousands of developers since 2023. Black Pony Immersive represents his and his colleagues' bid to return to making the kind of games they are best known for.
Why it matters
The founding of Black Pony Immersive is notable for fans of the immersive sim genre, which has had few major new entries in recent years despite a dedicated audience. It also represents a direct outcome of Xbox's 2024 studio closures, which displaced dozens of experienced developers.
What's next
No specific project or release timeline has been announced by Black Pony Immersive.
Key facts
- The new studio is named Black Pony Immersive and will focus exclusively on immersive sim games.
- Harvey Smith was lead game designer on the original Deus Ex and creative director on Dishonored 2.
- Arkane Austin was shut down by Xbox in 2024 after Redfall's commercial failure.
- Multiple former Arkane Austin developers have joined Smith at the new studio.
- Smith described the current moment as 'the worst time in history' to start a studio.
Bias & framing notes
Both sources agree on the core facts. IGN provided more biographical detail about Smith's career credits, while GamesIndustry.biz led with Smith's own candid quote about the difficult timing, giving their coverage a more reflective, industry-insider tone. Neither source offered critical perspectives or details about the studio's funding or project pipeline.
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