Harvey Smith Launches Black Pony Immersive After Arkane Austin Closure

Harvey Smith, the veteran designer behind Dishonored and the original Deus Ex, has announced the formation of Black Pony Immersive, a new studio dedicated to the immersive sim genre. This move follows the closure of Arkane Austin by Xbox in 2024, a decision made after the commercial disappointment of Redfall. Smith's new venture brings together a number of former Arkane Austin colleagues, including Ben Horne and Ricardo Bare, with the aim of building narrative-driven, single-player experiences that reward player creativity and exploration.

Studio Vision and Team

Black Pony Immersive is positioning itself as a specialist in immersive sims, a genre Smith helped define through his work on Deus Ex and the Dishonored series. The studio's founding team includes developers with credits on Dishonored, Prey, and Just Cause, suggesting a strong pedigree in both systems-driven design and world-building. Smith has stated that the studio's focus will remain on single-player, first-person games that encourage experimentation and curiosity, echoing the design philosophy that has characterised his previous projects.

While the studio's first project has not yet been revealed, Smith has indicated that more details will be shared soon. The team's collective experience with complex, choice-driven gameplay is likely to shape the direction of their upcoming work, though no platforms or release windows have been confirmed at this stage.

Industry Context and Legacy

The announcement comes at a time of significant upheaval in the games industry, with multiple studio closures and layoffs affecting development hubs such as Austin. Smith's decision to found Black Pony Immersive follows the retirement of Warren Spector, a key figure in the immersive sim genre and Smith's former mentor. Smith has acknowledged the challenges facing the industry, but expressed optimism about building a new creative environment with trusted collaborators.

Arkane Austin, where Smith spent 16 years, was responsible for titles including Dishonored, Prey, and Deathloop, as well as the ill-fated Redfall. The closure of the studio marked the end of an era for immersive sims at Arkane's Texas branch, but Black Pony Immersive aims to continue that tradition with a renewed focus on narrative and player agency. For context, the enduring appeal of challenging, systems-driven games is evident in titles like The Witness, whose platinum trophy remains a rare achievement even a decade after release, as discussed in our feature on The Witness's lasting impact.

Development Approach and Future Plans

Smith has emphasised that Black Pony Immersive will prioritise rewarding player curiosity and exploration, building on the studio's collective experience with branching narratives and emergent gameplay. The team's background suggests a commitment to deep world-building and flexible problem-solving, hallmarks of the immersive sim genre. Smith has also highlighted the importance of maintaining a creative, supportive studio culture, drawing on lessons learned from his time at Arkane.

Although the studio's debut project remains under wraps, Smith has expressed enthusiasm for the current wave of immersive sims in development across the industry, mentioning titles such as Judas and Marvel's Blade as examples of the genre's ongoing evolution. Black Pony Immersive's first game is expected to be single-player and narrative-driven, but further details-including platforms, release timing, and gameplay specifics-are yet to be disclosed.

What Remains Uncertain

At present, Black Pony Immersive has not announced its first game, nor has it confirmed which platforms it will target or when players can expect a reveal. The studio's formation signals a continued commitment to immersive sims, but the scale, scope, and technical ambitions of its debut project remain unknown. As the team builds out its roster and refines its vision, players interested in the genre will be watching closely for concrete details in the coming months.

Immersive sims are a genre defined by player choice, systemic interaction, and emergent gameplay, often allowing multiple solutions to in-game challenges. These games typically prioritise world-building and narrative depth, encouraging players to experiment with mechanics rather than follow a single prescribed path. The genre's complexity can make development resource-intensive, but it also fosters a dedicated player base seeking meaningful agency and replayability. Understanding the design philosophy behind immersive sims helps explain why studios like Black Pony Immersive place such emphasis on creativity and exploration in their projects.