Harvey Smith, a veteran game designer best known for his work on games like Dishonored and Deus Ex, mentioned that he often waits 5-10 years before playing his titles after they are released. He shared that he plays them intensively during development but takes a long hiatus once they are finished. One of his joys in revisiting these games is discovering the special touches added by the team, often finding little areas made with deep care and passion.
Smith's latest release, Redfall, which he co-directed, recently received a significant update following the announcement of Arkane Austin's closure under Microsoft's oversight. The game’s final update introduced an offline mode, improved Neighborhood and Nest systems, the ability to pause in single-player mode, an Easter egg referencing Arkane's history, and several other features. Smith noted that it will probably be several years before he plays it himself.
Although Smith isn't currently playing Redfall, many others are enjoying the final update. He expressed his excitement about the positive feedback on the polished final version of the game, saying it reinvigorated him. While he hinted at future projects following the closure of Arkane Austin, he remains discreet about his upcoming plans.