Glen Schofield Blames Krafton for Rushed Release of The Callisto Protocol

The Callisto Protocol, directed by Glen Schofield, faced significant challenges during its development, leading to a compromised launch. Schofield, renowned for his work on Dead Space, recently shared (thanks PCGamesN) insights about the hurdles the team encountered, primarily due to the publisher Krafton’s insistence on an early release.

Development Hurdles and Publisher Pressure

Initially, Striking Distance Studios, led by Schofield, partnered with Krafton with high hopes. However, Schofield revealed that the relationship strained over time. Krafton initially promised Schofield more time to complete the game, but later demanded a December 2022 release. This sudden change forced the team to accelerate their efforts, impacting the game’s quality.

Schofield expressed his frustration in an interview with Dan Allen Gaming, stating, “I wanted about three and a half more months to work on the game. But in January 2022, Krafton insisted on the December release.” The rushed timeline meant additional strain on resources and personnel.

The COVID-19 pandemic further complicated the situation. Many of the studio’s 200 employees fell ill, with entire departments sometimes unable to work. The “great resignation” of 2021 also hit the studio hard, with 49 employees leaving for better-paying jobs. Schofield described 2021 as the worst year of his professional life due to these challenges.

As a result of these pressures, significant content was cut from The Callisto Protocol, including four bosses and two enemy types. Schofield lamented these cuts and suggested that the game could have been much more if given the additional time.

Reflecting on the experience, Schofield admitted he would have fought harder against the imposed deadline. Despite these challenges, he remains hopeful for future projects, hinting at new game announcements in 2024.