Once hailed as a legend in the survival horror genre, Glen Schofield, best known as the creative mind behind Dead Space, now faces significant challenges in today’s volatile gaming industry. Despite his past success under Electronic Arts, Schofield’s more recent effort, The Callisto Protocol, developed under Krafton and Striking Distance Studios, fell short of expectations both critically and commercially. Following his departure from the studio, Schofield is struggling to move forward with his next project.
In a candid update shared via his official LinkedIn profile, Schofield opened up about his recent attempts to create a new game. After leaving Striking Distance, he began developing a new horror concept in collaboration with his daughter, who is also a former Striking Distance employee. According to the creator, it was her original idea that sparked their creative pursuit, an idea he believed could define an entirely new sub-genre within horror games.
However, despite scaling back the project’s scope and lowering budget projections in an attempt to make the development more appealing to potential investors, Schofield revealed that he was ultimately unable to secure the funding required to bring the game to life. While he refrained from offering specific details about the project’s mechanics or narrative, the setback is indicative of broader difficulties facing independent developers, even those with impressive resumes.
What’s Next for Glen Schofield?
Given the current state of the industry, the experienced developer admitted feeling pessimistic about his chances of ever producing another AAA game, the tier that defined much of his career. In fact, he expressed concern that The Callisto Protocol may be the final title he ever develops.
Currently, Schofield oversees a small team of around six highly talented individuals. While he remains committed to quality, he made it clear that he would rather abandon the project than compromise its vision for the sake of reduced costs. Instead, he hopes the talent on his team will be picked up by other studios in need of fresh creative energy.
Schofield’s story serves as a sobering reminder of how even industry veterans are not immune to the harsh economic realities facing game development today, particularly as publishers grow increasingly cautious in an era defined by rising costs and shifting player expectations.
