Key Takeaways
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- The 1.4 update for Redfall, released after Arkane Austins closure, represented substantial improvements closer to the teams original vision and could have potentially prevented the studios shutdown.
- Harvey Smith, director of Redfall, expressed concern over the increasing frequency and impact of layoffs in the gaming industry, affecting both new developers and those at profitable companies.
- Smith reflected on his 30-year career in gaming and warned about the rarity of long careers in the industry, particularly expressing worry for the new developers at Arkane Austin on the night before the studios closure.
- Smith did not mention Arkane Austins final project before its closure, but he acknowledged lessons learned from Redfalls troubled launch regarding player expectations, timing, and team morale.
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Redfall Director Believes Early Release of Version 1.4 Could Have Saved Arkane Austin’s Closure and Blade Runner Project
Harvey Smith, director of Redfall, believes the game could have been successful if its 1.4 version had been the initial release. Speaking on the My Perfect Console podcast, Smith suggested that the substantial improvements in the 1.4 update, released after Arkane Austin’s closure, were closer to the team’s original vision and could have prevented the studio’s shutdown. He speculated that Arkane Austin might have continued working on its Blade Runner game if version 1.4 had launched in 2023. Smith was also surprised by Microsoft’s decision to close Arkane Austin in 2024, despite the studio’s history of producing creative work and its ongoing projects. The studio head, known for titles like Deus Ex and Dishonored, did not mention Arkane Austin’s final project before its closure.
Reflecting on 30 Years in Gaming, Redfall Director Warns of Industry Layoffs and Lessons Learned
During the two-hour podcast, Smith reflected on his 30-year career in gaming. He also discussed the increasing frequency and impact of layoffs in the industry. Smith noted that while job loss was once less impactful, recent layoffs are affecting both new developers and those at profitable companies. Smith also acknowledged the lessons learned from Redfall’s troubled launch regarding player expectations, timing, and team morale. Smith worried about the new developers at Arkane Austin on the night before the shutdown, observing that long careers in the gaming industry are becoming increasingly rare.
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