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- Arkane Studios founder Raphael Colantonio criticized Microsoft’s decision to close Arkane Austin.
- He also highlighted the difficulty of marketing immersive sims, using Prey as an example.
- Colantonio noted that Microsoft’s focus on popular genres clashes with the slower nature of immersive sims.
In a recent interview, Arkane Studios founder Raphael Colantonio expressed disapproval of Microsoft’s decision to shut down Arkane Austin. Colantonio, who left Arkane in 2017, called the closure a “stupid” decision, pointing out that the unique team at Arkane Austin would be hard to replace.
Colantonio also discussed the challenge of marketing immersive sims, using Prey as an example of how difficult it is to convey the genre’s appeal.
Why it matters: Immersive sims, known for their strong stories and player choices, have a hard time in the mainstream because they need a lot of investment but don’t attract a wide audience.
While talking to PC Gamer, Colantonio explained how hard it is to market the immersive sim genre:
Prey was marketed as an immersive sim. Because of that, a lot of marketing points were spent trying to explain what an immersive sim is.
Unlike genres like RPGs, which everyone understands, immersive sims need some explanation, which can confuse mainstream audiences.
He noted that while a small group of fans might be excited by the term, most players don’t really know what it means and often think of it as just another type of game.
As Colantonio pointed out,
If you don’t reach the market, it doesn’t matter how good your game is.
The Arkane founder suggested that this gap between niche appeal and wider understanding is a big reason why immersive sims have had trouble attracting a larger audience.
Moreover, Colantonio recognized that Microsoft often focuses on making money from popular genres, which clashes with the slower, more detailed design of immersive sims.
Anyhow, Arkane’s founder is already working on a new project that combines elements from Fallout: New Vegas, Dishonored, and Prey, aiming to carry on Arkane’s legacy in the genre.
What do you make of Arkane’s founder’s comments about Microsoft? Let us know in the comments, or join the conversation on Tech4Gamers Forum.
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