The Callisto Protocol‘s Future Uncertain After Disappointing Sales, Studio Restructuring
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Striking Distance Studios’ survival horror title, The callisto Protocol, sold between 6 and 7 million copies, according to studio head Glen Schofield, despite a challenging launch and critical reception. This information comes as Schofield announced a shift away from new projects, citing the immense financial and personal toll of the game’s development.
Development Costs and Publisher Concerns
The development of The Callisto Protocol, set on Jupiter’s moon Callisto, proved significantly more expensive than Schofield’s previous work on the Dead Space franchise. While Dead Space had a budget of $32 million under Electronic Arts, The Callisto Protocol reportedly cost $160 million, funded by publisher Krafton. this ample expenditure prompted two internal audits at Krafton, as executives questioned the resource allocation for a game of its scope.
Post-Launch Support and DLC
Similar to Dead Space 3, which received a post-launch DLC to resolve a cliffhanger ending, The Callisto Protocol was supplemented with ”The Final Transmission” DLC. Schofield expressed dissatisfaction with this practice of delivering crucial story elements after the initial release,particularly given the base game’s relatively concise length.
Project Hellion Scrapped, schofield’s Future
Following the game’s release, communication between Krafton and Schofield ceased until May 2023, coinciding with the DLC launch. work then began on a new project, “Hellion,” but that undertaking has now been cancelled. Schofield indicated exhaustion from the demanding production of The Callisto Protocol and has stated he will not be pursuing new game development in the near future.
Despite the criticism and the 83 post-release amendments made to the game, Schofield maintains that The Callisto Protocol was financially accomplished. He stated, “As far as I know, the game sold in 6-7 million copies. I heard about this result twice, but even if it was a five -million sale, the game has earned on herself.” However, the likelihood of a sequel appears remote, and the brand’s future remains uncertain.
