Dead Space creator Glen Schofield says his directing days might be over. After the commercial failure of The Callisto Protocol, he’s been unable to secure funding for a new project and he’s not sure he’ll try again.
Dead Space creator says AAA funding has dried up
Schofield revealed on LinkedIn that despite early interest, his new horror concept couldn’t gain traction. He’d assembled a six-person team including his daughter Nicole to build a prototype over eight months. But even with his track record, investors weren’t biting. The AAA horror pitch, once budgeted at $17 million, was slashed to $10 million, then $5 million, before the group walked away. He summed it up bluntly: “It’s tough out there.”
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Why Dead Space creator may be done directing
Schofield hinted he might shift to art and writing rather than fight for another lead director role. After pouring everything into The Callisto Protocol and coming up short, the grind of pitching and compromise has left him disillusioned. “Maybe I’ve directed my last game,” he wrote, adding that AAA ambitions now feel “a long ways away.”
The candid tone struck a chord with devs and fans alike. One former colleague said, “If Glen can’t get funding, what chance does anyone else have?”
The Callisto Protocol’s failure looms large
Launched in December 2022, The Callisto Protocol was meant to be a spiritual successor to Dead Space. Instead, it drew mixed reviews, and publisher Krafton reported that sales fell far below projections. The fallout was sharp: layoffs hit developer Striking Distance Studios less than a year later, and Schofield left the company in late 2023.
That misfire didn’t just end a project it may have closed doors across the industry for Schofield’s future ideas.
Schofield’s team disbands, project shelved
Following the breakdown in talks, the entire team behind the new pitch has been let go. Schofield says he’s helping them find new roles, but the project is shelved indefinitely. He praised the group’s dedication and called it one of the best experiences of his career despite the outcome.
Dead Space creator’s future now looks uncertain
Even with decades of experience, the Dead Space creator couldn’t sell a mid-sized horror game in today’s AAA economy. That says more about the state of the industry than his résumé. For players hoping for one last scare from the mind behind Dead Space, that door may have just shut for good.
