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Former Arkane Leads Open Studio, Blame Live‑service Push and Pandemic for Redfall

Harvey Smith (Redfall director) and Ben Horne (Redfall producer) left Arkane and founded Black Pony Immersive to make imaginative first‑person action‑RPGs. They say Redfall struggled because the team tried to graft games‑as‑a‑service features like day/night mechanics and character classes onto Arkane’s design during the live‑service boom. COVID‑19, the Great Resignation and remote work disrupted development and contributed to a poorly received launch. Microsoft closed Arkane Austin and laid off the team, but a small group was allowed back to release a 1.4 update that the leads say substantially improved the game.

• Harvey Smith and Ben Horne have formed Black Pony Immersive to develop imaginative first‑person action‑RPGs.
• Redfall’s design shifted toward games‑as‑a‑service features—day/night mechanics and character classes—which Smith says was outside Arkane’s specialization.
• Development was disrupted by the COVID‑19 pandemic and the Great Resignation, prompting staff changes and remote work that impacted the project.
• Microsoft closed Arkane Austin and laid off the team, then permitted six or seven former staff to return briefly to release a 1.4 update that Smith says made the game much better.