Former Striking Distance and Sledgehammer founder Glen Schofield shared his concerns about sale of his former employer, EAsaying it was a “bittersweet moment” that reminded him of Activision's sale to Microsoft.
“In just a few years, two publishing giants that have shaped our industry for the last 20-plus years have entered a new era,” he said.
“I worked for about ten years at each company, in my prime,” he wrote LinkedIn. “Watching them lose their role as dominant publishers and powerful training grounds is more powerful than I expected.”
“EA was restrained, disciplined and structured in a way that forced you to rise to the level of the room. Reviews of the franchise have been intense—no shortcuts, no guesswork. You had to know every inch of your game. And they challenged you, pushed you, tested you. But when you left that meeting, you knew exactly where you were.”
Reflecting on his first meeting as executive producer, Schofield said that “being [at EA] felt like a creative all-star cast,” with “so many legends in one place.” Activision, by contrast, “was a storm of Type A personalities, but in the best possible way.”
“The review meetings were loud, passionate, almost chaotic, with people asking each other questions,” he said. “But the questions were sharp, focused and always aimed at making the game better. It was normal for a one-hour meeting to turn into two and a half, and somehow it always seemed like time well spent.”
“So yeah, it's hard to watch these companies fall away from what they once were: big publishers, big developers, and incredible places to grow, learn, and hone your craft. They trained us for generations. They made a career. Mine included.”
But despite the “bittersweet” nature of his message, Schofield admitted the “bright side” of the acquisition meant others could now step forward.
“New leaders. New studios. New publishers. Someone will take on that mantle, we always do that in the industry. And when they do, I hope they will lead, train and invest in talent the same way EA and Activision have done. They set a bar that pushed us all to be better. They are both still around and I sincerely wish them success in whatever comes next.
“Thank you from the bottom of my heart, EA and Activision, for an amazing game and for everything you have helped me become.”
Earlier this year, Eurogamer reported that Dead Space creator Glen Schofield “already called” the new owners of EA in the hope that they can make Dead Space 4.. Schofield was an executive producer on the first Dead Space game in 2008, and while he wasn't involved in its two subsequent projects, he later developed its spiritual successor. Callisto Protocol at Striking Distance Studios in 2022. He left Striking Distance in 2023 after the game failed.
Earlier this year, Schofield wrote on LinkedIn that the games industry was “tough” after he failed to secure financial backing for his latest project. hinting that he may have directed his latest game.
