The Callisto Protocol Devs Working On “Brand-New Unannounced UE5 Title”

Striking Distance Studios, a new developer formed by previous Dead Space maker Glen Schofield along with a number of other former Dead Space series devs, is now working on what appears to be its second game after coming into existence. As revealed by the Lead Gameplay Animator listing on Greenhouse, work on a “a brand new, unannounced UE5 title” is underway. The full statement reads,

Striking Distance Studios is looking for a Lead Gameplay Animator to help us create the most dynamic and engaging player and enemy experiences for a brand new, unannounced UE5 title. The Lead Gameplay Animator’s main responsibilities are to plan, organize, supervise and inspire the work of his/her team.”

Unluckily, no other details can be extracted from the listing other than that one line, and, well, apart from one of the Responsibilites points that states, “Create animations that blow our minds and inspire your team to do the same,” hinting at a title that could be more graphically-focused. But yeah, that’s about it until Striking Distance comes out with an official announcement of what’s been brewing behind the curtains.

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The Callisto Protocol remained one of the most hyped releases of 2023, with a lot of build-up to its name prior to release. Iconic Dead Space creator Glen Schofield put together Striking Distance Studios, acting as its then-CEO, along with a number of other former Dead Space series workers to push out what was supposed to be the spiritual successor to Dead Space, but only in vain.  

Back in August, mere months after the release of The Callisto Protocol, Striking Distance Studios suffered layoffs, letting go of 32 of its employees in an attempt to “realign the studio’s priorities.” The CEO of the studio Glen Schofield departed the company shortly afterward as well, saying that while leaving Striking Distance is “bittersweet,” the studio will stay in “excellent hands,” pointing at Steve Papoutsis, the current CEO. 

As for the game itself, The Callisto Protocol did go on to sell 2 million copies but failed to settle on expectations. The shortage of enough sales came across as a disappointment for publisher Krafton, which expected the survival horror title to roll over at least 5 million units. 

eXputer reviewed the game and rated it 3.5/5.0, with review expert Huzaifah Durrani calling the title out for its performance issues, the undermining of the horror theme, and an identity crisis, which is potentially what led to its downfall. On the flip side, The Callisto Protocol has fantastic visuals, a great ambiance, and impeccable motion capture features that many players are likely to enjoy.