Glen Schofield, Creator of Dead Space and The Callisto Protocol, Suggests He May Have Directed His Final Game Due to Lack of Financial Support for New Project

Glen Schofield Reflects on His Journey in the Video Game Industry

Glen Schofield has been a prominent figure in the horror video game landscape since the launch of the groundbreaking Dead Space in 2008. As the series’ creator, he garnered a dedicated following, but his journey led him away from horror during his tenure with Call of Duty in the 2010s. Nevertheless, his passion for the genre resurfaced with the 2022 release of The Callisto Protocol. After spending over two decades in the video game sector, Schofield now contemplates the possibility of concluding his career.

Reflections on His Career

In a recent LinkedIn post (highlighted by VGC), Schofield muses on the possibility of having directed his final game. He reflects on the past eight months and discusses his struggle to secure financial backing for a new project developed with his daughter, Nicole, also a game developer with eight years of artistic experience in the field.

A New Vision for Horror

“Over the past eight months, I’ve been quietly working with my daughter, Nicole, on a new game concept that intrigued me from the moment she presented it, ” Schofield shared.“We envisioned it as a new sub-genre of horror—something beyond the conventional.”

After lowering their budget to $17 million and creating a prototype with a skilled, small team, interest in the concept grew.“We received positive feedback, with several follow-up meetings. However, the pushback on budget was clear: ‘bring it down to $10 million.’ Recently, that figure has declined to a mere $2 to $5 million, ” he explained.

Deciding to Move On

Ultimately, Schofield and his daughter opted to abandon the project.“Some ideas are better left unpursued than executed on a tight budget. I’ve worked on projects ranging from small teams of two to large AAA endeavors with over 300 developers, ” he stated.“For years, I’ve thrived in creating expansive AAA titles with exceptional teams. The current industry climate feels stagnant, and pursuing AAA projects seems like a distant dream.”

A Return to Art

In light of these developments, Schofield expressed a desire to return to his artistic roots.“I miss the collaboration, the energy, and the joy that comes from creating something for the fans. While I continue to write stories and develop ideas, I may have directed my last game. If that’s the case, I want to thank everyone for their support throughout my career.”

Additionally, he noted that the team involved in this new horror concept is currently seeking employment, with his daughter also being part of the team impacted by layoffs at Striking Distance Studios, a company co-founded by Schofield in 2020. Unfortunately, SDS has also recently canceled a project they were working on.

The Challenges Facing the Industry

The state of the video game industry is undeniably precarious right now. Given Schofield’s extensive experience, if this is his moment to step away, it would be disheartening for him to conclude on a note like that of The Callisto Protocol.

Source & Images