Glen Schofield isn’t one to stay quiet about industry shifts and now he’s weighing in on the massive transformations at Electronic Arts and Activision. In a recent LinkedIn post, the Dead Space creator described the post-acquisition era of both publishers as “bittersweet,” signaling what he sees as the end of their role as true developer-shaping powerhouses.
Glen Schofield reflects on a decade of AAA experience
Schofield knows the territory. He helped shape Dead Space at EA in 2008, later co-founded Sledgehammer Games under Activision, and most recently led Striking Distance Studios, where he launched The Callisto Protocol. With two decades split between the industry’s largest publishers, he’s seen both the magic and the machinery up close.
Looking back, Schofield praised EA for its structured, feedback-driven culture. At the same time, he credited Activision with fostering chaotic but deeply creative debate. Each studio, in his view, sharpened different developer instincts, but both played a key role in building AAA talent pipelines that shaped gaming’s last two decades.
Glen Schofield warns of an era ending
What’s changed, according to Schofield, is that both companies have now entered unfamiliar territory. EA’s recent $55 billion pivot into private ownership with backing from Saudi Arabia’s PIF and private equity firms like Silver Lake mirrors Microsoft’s blockbuster acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
“In just a few years, the two publishing giants who shaped the last 20+ years of our industry have both entered new eras,” Schofield wrote.
His comments arrive as the industry reels from waves of layoffs, surging development costs, and a growing dependence on AI. For veterans like Schofield, it’s not just business as usual, it’s a generational shift.
Glen Schofield’s take isn’t just nostalgia
While some might chalk it up to sentiment, Schofield’s critique carries weight. He argues that without structured feedback loops or internal creative tension, big studios risk becoming content mills instead of developer incubators.
More than just corporate changes, he’s worried about what’s lost in the shuffle namely, the space for younger developers to grow, fail, and get better.
Glen Schofield points to lost developer culture
His post highlights something many insiders have echoed: the publisher-as-mentor model is fading. Investment firms and mega-acquisitions now set the tone. Creative risk gets trimmed. Feedback cycles get rushed. And long-term developer support gets pushed aside.
What once felt like a forge now feels like a factory.
Eyes wide, hearts heavy
Glen Schofield isn’t bitter, but he’s not blind. As the industry barrels forward, his reflections serve as a quiet warning. Studios will still make hits. But if they stop making talent, the hits might not last.
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