Dishonored’s Harvey Smith Launches New Studio, Black Pony Immersive, Focused on Immersive Sims

Industry veteran and Dishonored director Harvey Smith has revealed his next venture, a new studio called Black Pony Immersive. Co-founded alongside former Arkane colleague Ben Horne, the studio is built to create the types of games Smith and his colleagues are best known for, specifically immersive sims and imaginative first-person action RPGs set within well-realized, exploration-based worlds.

The creation of the studio follows Microsoft's closure of Arkane Austin in May 2024, an event that left 96 developers out of work, including Smith. Speaking on the challenges of founding a new venture during a difficult period for game industry funding, Horne noted that the team navigated a harsh fundraising environment and turned down deals that involved blockchain or NFT situations in order to do things the right way. Smith, who has previously held director roles at Arkane and Midway, stated that this is the first time he has set up his own company, a long-term goal that materialized after enduring the hardships of studio closures together.

Black Pony Immersive opened its doors last August and currently has a headcount of 26 employees. The studio brings back several industry veterans, including longtime creative partner Ricardo Bare and Monte Martinez, alongside other developers with backgrounds at companies such as Insomniac, Epic, Avalanche, and Volition. While full-time staff are based across the United States with remote setups, Horne emphasized the importance of providing health-care benefits even for a small startup. The studio is also supported by contractors and external developers worldwide.

While Black Pony has not yet revealed details about its first game, the team has confirmed that they had the pitch ready before establishing the company. The developers intend to focus on single-player, narrative-rich titles featuring expressive, emergent game systems where players are slightly underpowered but equipped with creative tools. More details regarding their upcoming projects are expected soon.