From Press Release:
Austin, TX, August 19, 2026 – Today, veteran game developers Harvey Smith and Ben Horne revealed Black Pony Immersive, a new game studio built to design and develop imaginative first-person action RPGs set within well-realized worlds, where players create their own memorable experiences with expressive, emergent game systems.
The studio was formed by Harvey Smith, a multi-award winning industry leader with more than 30 years experience in game design and studio leadership, who previously co-led the groundbreaking Deus Ex and Dishonored series, as Co-Creative Director on Dishonored, Creative Director on Dishonored 2 and Lead Game Designer on Deus Ex. Smith is joined by Executive Producer Ben Horne, both have collaborated for over eight years together, most recently at Arkane Austin.
“During a time of industry volatility, I’m proud to announce the next step in my video game journey with the reveal of our new studio,” said Harvey Smith, CEO and Creative Director at Black Pony Immersive. “This effort reflects everything we’ve learned, and all we hold dear. My favorite gaming memories come from seeing players approach challenges with creativity, deep-diving into our world building. We try to reward players for their curiosity and exploration. At our new studio, we’re building exactly the kind of single-player games we’re most passionate about.”
Harvey Smith and Ben Horne are backed by an elite development team, with talent from studios including Arkane, Insomniac, Epic, Avalanche, and Volition, featuring Harvey Smith’s long-time creative partner Ricardo Bare. Members of the team have created critical successes and commercial hits including Deus Ex, Dishonored, Prey, Just Cause and more. The studio is centralized in Austin, with the development team operating across the United States.
“This group has worked together for years, decades in some cases, and is purpose-built to make the ambitious games we love—immersive sims,” said Ben Horne, COO and Executive Producer at Black Pony Immersive. “We share a vision for crafting games that push the limits of player immersion. We can’t wait to reveal more soon.”
For more information about Black Pony Immersive, please visit www.blackpony.com
About Black Pony Immersive
Black Pony Immersive exists to design and develop imaginative, narrative-rich games set in well-realized worlds, where players create their own memorable experiences with expressive, emergent game systems. The studio is led by creative pioneer Harvey Smith, a multi-award winning industry leader with more than 30 years experience in game design, production and studio leadership who previously co-led the groundbreaking Deus Ex and Dishonored series. The veteran team was founded by Harvey Smith and Ben Horne in Austin, Texas with additional remote developers from around the United States.
Through the looking glass, we’re chasing a dream of mystery, meaning, and creative play.
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