Striking Distance Archives

Glen Schofield, the director of The Callisto Protocol, has revealed that PUBG publisher Krafton forced Striking Distance Studios to release the game earlier than planned, resulting in substantial cut content and a less polished final product. Early Hype and Expectations Fans of the space horror genre had high hopes when Glen Schofield, creator of the acclaimed Dead Space series, announced The Callisto Protocol. Initially set in the PUBG universe, the game promised to revive the chilling, atmospheric gameplay that had thrilled players years ago. However, its launch was overshadowed by the well-received Dead Space remake, and The Callisto Protocol garnered mixed reviews. Forced Early Release by Krafton In a recent interview with Dan Allen Gaming, Schofield disclosed the challenges faced during the development of The Callisto Protocol. He explained that the relationship with Krafton started positively, but pressures mounted in the final year. Krafton, initially supportive of giving the development team ample time, later imposed a strict deadline that curtailed essential development time. Development Strain and Cut Content According to Schofield, Striking Distance was initially promised additional development time, which led to a burst of creative design work during the Christmas holiday of 2021. However, by January 2022, Krafton mandated a December 2022 release date, drastically shortening the timeline. "In October or September ‘21, I was told ‘You’re going to get the time. Put whatever you want into the game.’ So I spent that Christmas holiday just designing and coming up with ideas with some of the guys. And then January comes around and some of the folks come over and they just said ‘no no no. It’s December 2022,’" Schofield recounted. This sudden shift, compounded by the challenges of COVID-19, led to a tumultuous final development phase. The team had to cut four bosses and two enemy types from the game to meet the imposed deadline, significantly impacting the final product's quality and depth. Reflecting on the Launch When asked if he would change anything about the development process, Schofield expressed regret over not resisting the early launch. He believes that insisting on the necessary development time would have prevented many of the issues that plagued The Callisto Protocol at release. Final Thoughts The Callisto Protocol's early release, forced by Krafton, highlights the pressures and challenges within the gaming industry. While the game did not meet all fan expectations, understanding the behind-the-scenes struggles offers insight into the complexities of game development. As Schofield continues to reflect on these experiences, the hope remains that future projects will benefit from these hard-learned lessons. Stay updated with more industry insights and gaming news here at TheBadGamer. Also Read:

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Striking Distance

The Callisto Protocol Forced to Launch Early by Krafton, Says Director