"Dead Space Creator May Retire After Callisto Protocol's Poor Performance"

Glen Schofield, the acclaimed game developer behind Dead Space, co-founder of Sledgehammer Games, and director of The Callisto Protocol, has shared a heartfelt reflection on the current state of the gaming industry, revealing that he may have directed his final game.

In a candid LinkedIn post, Schofield opened up about his recent efforts to launch a new horror game project—this time alongside his daughter, Nicole, a talented artist who brought him the initial concept. Over the past eight months, the duo developed what Schofield described as a potentially groundbreaking idea, possibly even birthing a new sub-genre of horror. Though he didn’t disclose specific details, the passion behind the vision was evident.

Teaming up with a small but skilled group of six developers in the U.S. and a full development crew in the UK, Schofield began pitching the project to potential backers. The response was encouraging—many praised the concept and its creative direction. However, financial realities quickly set in. Initially estimating a $17 million budget, Schofield was advised to scale down to $10 million, and later pressured to further reduce costs to a mere $2–5 million.

Faced with the challenge of preserving creative integrity, Schofield made the difficult decision to step away from the project.

"Some ideas are better left untouched than done cheap," he wrote. "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."

Reflecting on his career, Schofield expressed deep affection for AAA game development. Having led teams ranging from just two people to over 300, he’s spent the last 15 to 20 years crafting large-scale, narrative-driven experiences with passionate teams.

"But with the industry on pause, AAA feels like it’s a long ways away," he noted, acknowledging the growing challenges in securing support for ambitious projects.

While he’s returned to personal creative pursuits—art, storytelling, and ideation—Schofield admitted he misses the collaborative energy of game development.

"I miss it all; 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. Who knows? If so, thank you for playing my games."

Schofield founded Striking Distance Studios over six years ago under Krafton, the parent company of PUBG. Originally envisioned to create a narrative-rich title within the PUBG universe, the studio ultimately pivoted and launched The Callisto Protocol in December 2022—a third-person survival horror game inspired by his legacy in the genre.

Despite high expectations, The Callisto Protocol received mixed reviews. While praised for its visceral combat and visual style, the game suffered from technical performance issues, reports of studio crunch, and controversies around crediting contributors. Sales fell short of Krafton’s projections, and roughly a year after launch, Schofield departed the company in September 2023.

Our review of The Callisto Protocol awarded it a 7/10, describing it as "a satisfyingly gory spiritual successor to the Dead Space series, but it’s ultimately more of a striking modern mimic than a scary new mutation."