Glen Schofield Steps Down as Striking Distance Studios CEO

Politics, News Sept. 21, 2023, 10:57 a.m.

Glen Schofield, founder of Striking Distance Studios, departs as CEO. Steve Papoutsis takes over. Schofield, co-creator of Dead Space, left after The Callisto Protocols underwhelming release.

In a surprising turn of events, Glen Schofield, the founder of Striking Distance Studios and the visionary director behind its debut game, The Callisto Protocol, has announced his departure from the company. Schofield's departure marks the end of an era, as he leaves behind a storied career that includes co-creating the iconic Dead Space franchise and co-founding Sledgehammer Games, known for its contributions to the Call of Duty series. Stepping into the role of CEO is Steve Papoutsis, a seasoned industry veteran who had previously served as the Chief Development Officer and General Manager for Striking Distance Studios.

Schofield's illustrious career in the gaming industry dates back to the early 1990s when he lent his talents to companies such as THQ, Crystal Dynamics, and Eidos Interactive. However, it was in 2008 that he truly made his mark with the co-creation of the Dead Space franchise, a series lauded by many as one of the finest in the sci-fi horror genre during that decade. Following the success of Dead Space, Schofield embarked on a new venture by co-founding Sledgehammer Games. Under his leadership, Sledgehammer Games played a pivotal role in the development of titles like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare, and Call of Duty: WWII.

In 2019, after a hiatus from active development, Schofield founded Striking Distance Studios, embarking on the ambitious journey that would lead to the creation of The Callisto Protocol. Serving as the director of the game, Schofield aimed to create a spiritual successor to the original Dead Space, a project that held immense personal significance. However, upon its release, The Callisto Protocol fell short of expectations, garnering a lukewarm reception with a Metacritic score of 69 out of 100 (including a 6 out of 10 from Game Informer). Additionally, it failed to meet Krafton's sales projections by a significant margin. In a cruel twist of fate, Electronic Arts and Motive Studio released a highly acclaimed remake of the original Dead Space in the same timeframe.

Unfortunately, the challenges didn't end there for Striking Distance Studios, as it faced the unfortunate necessity of laying off 32 employees just last month.

Taking the reins as CEO, Steve Papoutsis also brings with him a rich history tied to the Dead Space series, having played pivotal roles in the development of all three original titles during his tenure at EA and Visceral Games. He even assumed leadership of the franchise after Schofield's departure, making him the natural choice to step into the role once held by Schofield.

Reflecting on his departure, Glen Schofield expressed mixed emotions, stating, "Creating Striking Distance Studios has been an incredible journey, and I'm so proud of what we've achieved with The Callisto Protocol, a game close to my heart. While pursuing a new adventure is exciting, leaving SDS is bittersweet, but I know the studio is in excellent hands. Steve and I go way back to working at Visceral Games. I saw how successful he was in taking the reins after my departure then and how he continued the studio's success and growth. That's how I know he's the one to lead the studio into its next chapter."

As for Glen Schofield's future endeavors, there is currently no official word on his next steps, only that he has chosen to explore new opportunities. His departure marks the end of an era for Striking Distance Studios, leaving the gaming community eager to see what lies ahead for both him and the studio.