Harvey Smith launches Black Pony Immersive, betting on nimble immersive sims
Veteran designer Harvey Smith (Deus Ex, Dishonored) has launched Black Pony Immersive with Ben Horne after Arkane Austin’s 2024 closure, aiming to build immersive-sim games with minimal top-down interference in a tough funding climate. The 26-person US-based studio, with remote contractors, seeks to reunite Arkane collaborators and indie talent to create narrative-rich, single-player experiences while prioritizing staff benefits and independence over fast, external funding.