Arkane founder Raphael Colantonio quits studio

The founder of Dishonored and Prey developer Arkane has announced his departure from the studio after nearly two decades.

While the company’s credits have touched on well known titles such as Call of Duty: World at War and BioShock 2, it was 2012 stealth adventure Dishonored that shot the company to fame.

Its most recent release, Prey, was a hit with critics, but has fallen short of some commercial expectations.

The last 18 years have been an amazing adventure – from starting Arkane in 1999, to making our first game, Arx Fatalis, to joining ZeniMax Media in 2010 and releasing the Dishonored series and Prey to critical acclaim,” Raphael Colantonio said. [But] it is time for me to step out to spend some time with my son and reflect on what is important to me and my future.”

Co-creative director Harvey Smith will now head Arkane’s Austin studio while the process of shifting to a new management team in Lyon takes place. Colantonio will remain at the studio until this process is complete.

I’ve had the opportunity to work with some of the best and brightest people in the industry, and I feel extremely lucky to have been part of this journey with everyone at Arkane,” he added.

I’ve also been through the hard times. But, I can say that joining ZeniMax took things to the next level and gave Arkane the opportunity to emerge as a world-class studio. ZeniMax enabled us to make the best games that we’ve ever made. And I know there is even more to come.

I wish the best to everyone at Arkane, Bethesda, and ZeniMax. Without a doubt I will miss everyone. As I close, I’d like to thank the Arkane fans for their passion and support. I proudly join them as Arkane Studios’ biggest champion, and I look forward to playing the extraordinary new games the studio is working on.”