Glen Schofield blames Krafton for rushed release of The Callisto Protocol

Background Glen Schofield, known for co‑creating the Dead Space series, is the founder of Striking Distance Studios, the developer behind the horror title The Callisto Protocol. The game was published by Krafton, the South Korean company that also owns the popular battle‑royale title PUBG.

Schofield’s statements In an interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Schofield said that during the COVID‑19 pandemic Krafton had initially offered Striking Distance an additional three months of development time. He later claimed that the company withdrew that promise, leaving the studio with limited resources and a tight schedule. According to Schofield, this led to a situation where he felt compelled to release the game before it was ready, describing the decision as one he was forced to make.

Context of the pandemic Schofield referenced the broader impact of the pandemic, noting the high death toll in the United States and the personal loss of a close friend. He linked these pressures to the challenges faced by his team, stating that the pandemic created significant operational difficulties for the studio.

Reaction to the launch Schofield expressed frustration with Krafton’s handling of the development timeline, suggesting that the publisher’s management decisions contributed to the perceived shortcomings of the final product. He also indicated personal disappointment, acknowledging that the forced launch affected his own sense of responsibility for the game’s quality.

Publication details The comments were reported by Eurogamer on 13 October 2026, and a related piece appeared in PC Gamer on the same day, though the latter article contained limited substantive information beyond promotional material. Both outlets identified Schofield’s criticism of Krafton’s management as a central theme.

Industry implications The situation highlights ongoing tensions between independent studios and larger publishers, especially when external crises such as a global pandemic intersect with development schedules. It also underscores the potential impact of promised but later withdrawn development extensions on a game’s release readiness.

The statements from Schofield provide a rare insight into the pressures faced by developers during unprecedented times and raise questions about the balance of power in publisher‑developer relationships.