Striking Distance CEO Glen Schofield Leaves Studio After Disappointing Debut Game
Krafton-owned studio Striking Distance is experiencing major changes as its CEO, Glen Schofield, departs following the underwhelming performance of its first game, The Callisto Protocol.
A representative from Krafton confirmed that Schofield has decided to explore new opportunities, and the company’s chief operating officer and chief financial officer are also leaving voluntarily.
Glen Schofield, previously known for co-creating Dead Space and holding management roles at Sledgehammer Games and Visceral Games, founded Striking Distance in 2019 with the intention of creating an original narrative experience in the PUBG universe.
However, the project evolved into a sci-fi survival horror game unrelated to the PUBG franchise. Upon its release in December, The Callisto Protocol received mixed reviews, coinciding with the highly acclaimed Dead Space remake released by EA the following month.
An analyst projected that The Callisto Protocol aimed for five million sales, but due to a slow start, it may struggle to reach two million by the end of 2023.
Reports from Bloomberg indicate that Striking Distance has recently laid off over 30 employees, reducing its headcount to approximately 90.
Steve Papoutsis, the current chief development officer at Striking Distance and one of Schofield’s early hires, will assume the role of CEO.
Papoutsis, who previously worked alongside Schofield at Visceral Games and had a significant role in developing the Dead Space franchise, expressed his optimism about taking over as CEO, while Schofield described his departure as “bittersweet” but expressed confidence in the studio’s future.
