Glen Schofield Bids Farewell to Striking Distance Studios
Glen Schofield, the mastermind behind the beloved Dead Space series, has decided to part ways with Striking Distance Studios after the underwhelming performance of their debut game, The Callisto Protocol.
Farewell Announcement and Successor
Reports from Bloomberg reveal that Glen Schofield, the CEO of Striking Distance Studios, is stepping down to pursue new ventures. Krafton has confirmed that both the COO and CFO of the studio will also be leaving, with all three departures being voluntary. Schofield, while expressing mixed emotions about leaving, remains optimistic about the studio’s future. Steve Papoutsis, the development director, will be taking over as his successor.
Background and The Callisto Protocol
Schofield established Striking Distance Studios in 2019 with the backing of Korean publisher Krafton Inc., aiming to craft a story-driven game set in the PUBG: Battlegrounds universe. However, all ties with PUBG were severed upon the release of The Callisto Protocol in December.
Reception and Sales
The Callisto Protocol received a lukewarm reception from critics, and sales figures fell short of expectations. Reports indicated that Krafton had set a target of five million copies sold for the game, which had a hefty development cost of £132 million over three years. However, sales only reached two million copies by that time, indicating that the ambitious goal was unlikely to be met.
Studio Changes and Analysis
Development on The Callisto Protocol wrapped up in June, with the final DLC, “Final Transmission,” being released. Just two months later, Striking Distance Studios announced a workforce reduction, impacting 32 employees, as part of efforts to “realign the studio’s priorities.”
In a critical review of the game, it was noted: “I cannot recommend it, and despite some good moments, they are not enough to overlook its evident flaws. Linear in a negative way, lacking extra challenges (puzzles), it involves fetching one thing to open another thing with monsters along the way. There is a lack of exciting content and climactic moments. Due to time constraints or budget limitations, I know that The Callisto Protocol is burdened by the shadow of Dead Space. At times, it feels rushed to meet the holiday sales window. It is truly unfortunate.”
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