Harvey Smith launches Black Pony Immersive to build new immersive sims

# What happened Harvey Smith, the designer known for the original Deus Ex and Dishonored, has founded a new studio called Black Pony Immersive. He formed it with Ben Horne, his longtime collaborator, and named Ricardo Bare — who worked on Redfall, Prey and Dishonored — as design director. The studio is based in Austin, Texas, with remote staff across the U.S.

# Who's involved

# What the studio will make Black Pony Immersive says it will focus on immersive sims: single-player, first-person action RPGs that prioritize player choice, emergent systems, and rich worldbuilding. The studio's website explicitly references Looking Glass Studios through a line about "Through the looking glass," linking its aims to the design lineage behind System Shock, Thief and Ultima Underworld.

Smith's public statement emphasizes rewarding player curiosity, exploration and creative problem-solving. There's no announced project yet and no specifics about platforms, funding, or release timelines.

# Why the timing matters The announcement arrives during a rocky period for the industry, marked by layoffs and studio shakeups. Arkane Studios has faced potential closure and project cancellations under Xbox's corporate changes. Smith and Horne previously worked at Arkane Austin, which Xbox closed after acquiring it. Warren Spector, another immersive-sim pioneer who worked with Smith, announced his retirement the same week — highlighting a moment of transition for the genre.

# What to watch next Expect early focus areas to include hiring details, funding or publishing partnerships, a clearer statement of the studio's first project, and whether any former Arkane IP or team members will migrate to Black Pony. Given the studio's stated ambitions, look for design signals that emphasize systemic interactivity, stealth and combat options, level design that supports multiple approaches, and storytelling that rewards exploration.

# Bottom line Black Pony Immersive is a new independent effort by established designers who helped shape immersive sims. The team's pedigree and stated goals align with classic immersive-sim design: interconnected systems, player-driven solutions, and single-player narrative depth. Concrete details about projects and timelines are not public yet, but the studio's formation offers a clear signal that developers committed to this genre are reorganizing amid broader industry upheaval.