Dishonored and Deus Ex veteran launches Black Pony Immersive

Harvey Smith is beginning a new chapter with Black Pony Immersive, an Austin-based game studio founded with longtime collaborator Ben Horne. The team is developing single-player, first-person action RPGs and immersive sims centred on exploration, player choice and systems that can create unexpected outcomes.

Smith has spent more than three decades working in games. He was lead designer on the original Deus Ex before joining Arkane Studios, where he co-directed Dishonored and later became creative director on Dishonored 2. Smith and Horne most recently worked together at Arkane Austin, the studio behind Prey and Redfall that Microsoft shut down in 2024.

A studio shaped by immersive sims

Black Pony is more than its two founders. The team includes developers who previously worked at Arkane, Insomniac, Epic, Avalanche and Volition, along with Smith’s longtime collaborator Ricardo Bare. Collectively, its members have credits on Deus Ex, Dishonored, Prey and Just Cause.

Smith described the studio as the next step in his career during a volatile period for the games industry. He said the team is focused on making the single-player experiences it cares about most.

“This group has worked together for years, decades in some cases, and is purpose-built to make the ambitious games we love — immersive sims,” Horne said.

A notable moment for the genre

Black Pony’s formation comes during a significant week for immersive sims. Warren Spector, the creator of Deus Ex, announced his retirement from game development after almost 44 years in the industry. Spector’s departure closes one chapter, while Smith’s new venture starts another for a genre built around freedom and flexible problem-solving.

That design philosophy has been central to Smith’s work. Dishonored emerged after Arkane’s unsuccessful attempts to develop new Thief and Blade Runner projects. Those ideas were eventually transformed into an original property released in 2012.

Black Pony’s first game remains unannounced

The studio has not revealed its first project. Its title, setting, platforms and release window are all still unknown, leaving the team’s broad creative direction as the only confirmed detail.

Black Pony says its games will feature narrative-rich experiences in detailed worlds, where interconnected systems allow players to experiment instead of following one prescribed route. It is an approach that puts player agency at the heart of the studio’s plans.

That interest in systems and player interaction also connects with the broader arcade world. RETROCADE’s arcade industry coverage follows developments across gaming, while its arcade machine buying guide explains the practical considerations involved in choosing a home setup.

Players wanting to build a system around experimentation can also compare arcade cabinets for home gaming and explore arcade parts for custom projects. Black Pony Immersive, however, has shared no hardware plans or product details.

For now, the studio has announced its people and ambitions, but not the game itself. Further information is expected, although no timetable for the next reveal has been provided.