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"We chose the worst time in history"

Five outlets report that the creators of Dishonored and Deus Ex are launching a new studio, but they chose the worst time in history.

By · Published August 19, 2026  16:26 UTC · Updated August 23, 2026  22:27 UTC

8sources
8articles
6velocity
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45d agofirst detected
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Who is launching the new studio?

Harvey Smith and Ben Horne, veterans of Arkane, are launching ImSim Studio.

What games are Smith and Horne known for?

Smith and Horne are known for their work on the Dishonored series and Deus Ex.

What is the focus of ImSim Studio?

ImSim Studio will focus on developing immersive simulations.

Where it stands

⚡ Executive Intelligence Takeaways Corroborated across 8 independent newsrooms
  • Velocity & Diffusion: Coverage exploded across 8 distinct news outlets with 8 published articles, achieving a live velocity of 6.
  • Primary Driver: Five outlets report that the creators of Dishonored and Deus Ex are launching a new studio, but they chose the worst time in history.
  • Predictive Outlook: Archynetys algorithmic models forecast this story will fade from trending status over the next 24 hours.
  • Source Integrity: Verified strictly against primary headline reporting under zero-hallucination protocols.

Five gaming news outlets report that the creators of Dishonored and Deus Ex are launching a new studio. The timing is questionable. The new studio, ImSim Studio, is founded by Arkane veterans Harvey Smith and Ben Horne. The Game Business quotes Smith as saying, “We chose the worst time in history.” The new studio is a reunion of sorts for Smith and Horne, who previously worked together at Arkane.

The pair has a history of creating critically acclaimed games, including the Dishonored series and Deus Ex. The new studio's focus on immersive simulations suggests a continuation of their previous work. Polygon, IGN, Kotaku and GamesIndustry.biz all report on the new studio's launch. The new studio's launch comes at a time when the gaming industry is facing significant challenges.

The exact nature of these challenges is not specified in coverage. However, Smith's statement suggests that the industry is in a state of flux. The new studio's focus on immersive simulations may be a response to these challenges. The open question is whether ImSim Studio will be able to navigate these challenges and create successful games.

Synthesized by Archynetys from the headlines below under a strict no-invention contract. ✓ fact-checked: unsupported claims removed (92% supported) Updated 45d ago.

Coverage (8)

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Topics

ImSim Studio Dishonored Deus Ex Harvey Smith Ben Horne Gaming Industry

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