“It’s tough out there” is Glen Schofield’s opener in an increasingly-depressingLinkedIn post.
Dead Spaceis one of theall-time greatsof video game horror, and that quality comes from passion. In the post, Schofield discusses how much he loves making games, and making art. He talks about his daughter Nicole, and how much she loves creating games too. He says he may never create a game again.
Why stop? Big pressure? Big expectations? Health, time, or quality-of-life concerns? No, it’s just the state of the games industry right now. It’s a bit crushing.
The post is framed around the idea Schofield’s had for a new game - something pitched by his daughter, something he called “a new sub-genre of horror.”
The two of them did attempt to put something together for it. Kept trying to find a publisher to approve their big idea.
“We pulled the budget down to $17 million,” the post reads, “built a prototype with a small, talented crew, and started taking meetings. Early feedback was ‘get it to $10M.’ Lately, that number’s dropped to $2–5M.”
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Saber Interactive’s CEO isn’t a fan of development studios situated in Californi, and would prefer employing developers outside the US.
With the budget tightening that dramatically, Schofeild came to the realization that the project was just not viable. Not with that kind of restriction. “With the industry on pause, AAA feels like it’s a long ways away.”
Some ideas are better left untouched than done cheap.
“I miss it all,” Schofield continues. “The team, the chaos, the joy of building something for fans. I’m still around, making art, writing stories and ideas and still cheering the industry on. But maybe I’ve directed my last game.”
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It’s hard to step away from something that’s such a big part of your life. It can, sometimes, be satisfying to at least end things with a swan song. To see the end coming before you’ve crossed over.
When the finish line is only visible in hindsight, it’s hard to feel anything but a sense of depression.
For now, Schofield is still focused on the present and future - trying to find careers for those who worked alongside him.
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“We had a team of six here in the States and a full crew in the UK. Now, everyone’s looking for work. They’re all talented folks—if you’re hiring, let me know.”
This, of course, extends to his daughter. “And Nicole—well, she got laid off from Striking Distance Studios, a studio I founded and a CEO I put in place. She’s one of the strongest artists I know.”
Somebody’s gonna be lucky to have her.
And as for himself, Glen Schofield extends thanks to the players who helped his games become successful. If he really has released his final product, “thank you [for] playing my games.”
