Arkane Studios CEO Raphael Colantonio announced his departure on the company’s official blog.
Colantonio attributed this decision to personal circumstances and a desire to spend more time with his family.
According to the analytical company NPD Group, Rafael’s resignation was preceded by weak sales of Prey in the United States — the March and April releases of games for Nintendo Switch in May sold better than the AAA title Arkane Studios in the month of its release.
However, in Colantonio’s farewell letter, he does not mention Arkane Studios’ performance.
After the departure of Colantonio, the Austin branch of Arkane Studios will be headed by the director of Dishonored 2, Harvey Smith.
The ex-head of the studio promised that he would participate in the affairs until Arkane Studios finds a manager at the head office in Lyon.
Rafael Colantonio founded Arkane Studios in 1999. The company’s first project was the role-playing game Arx Fatalis. Since 2010 Arkane Studios has been a part of ZeniMax Media Corporation.
The studio gained fame thanks to such titles as Dark Messiah of Might and Magic, the Dishonored series and the relaunch of the Prey franchise.
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