Glen Schofield: Krafton reportedly gave The Callisto Protocol three extra months, then took them back
Glen Schofield says Krafton promised Striking Distance three extra months on The Callisto Protocol, then later withdrew them.
According to Schofield, that decision would have shifted the game from a December 2022 release to March 2023.
He also describes difficult conditions during the pandemic, with a team of around 100 people and recurring illness.
What happened
Glen Schofield, co-creator of Dead Space and former head of Striking Distance, has criticized Krafton in an interview over the development of The Callisto Protocol. In his version of events, the publisher first promised three extra months of development time and later withdrew that promise. Schofield links that decision to how the game ultimately shipped.
The core of his claim is that the extra time could have meant The Callisto Protocol would not have launched in December 2022, but in March 2023 instead. In the information provided, that timeline is attributed solely to Schofield’s recollection. There is no independent evidence included here showing that the extension was formally agreed to, or that Krafton officially reversed it later.
Schofield also says the game was made under tough conditions during the pandemic. He describes a studio of around 100 people and says there were four to six illness cases per month at times. He also claims the team in Spain was shut down. In his telling, staffing issues and logistical constraints played a direct role in the production.
The available context suggests Schofield’s comments should be read as his own account of what happened during The Callisto Protocol’s development. The information does confirm that the game was developed by Striking Distance and published by Krafton, but not how Krafton itself would explain the alleged extra development time or its later removal.
Timeline
2022-12: According to Schofield, The Callisto Protocol was on track for a December 2022 release if development had continued on his preferred schedule.
2023-03: Schofield says the game could have slipped to March 2023 if the extra three months of development time had remained in place.
2020-2022: Schofield places production during the pandemic and cites recurring illness within a team of around 100 people.
2026-10-13: Publication date of the provided source context.
Background
The Callisto Protocol was developed by Striking Distance and published by Krafton. The studio was led by Glen Schofield, who previously became known as the co-creator of Dead Space. That background matters because Schofield is not just describing a single production issue, but a broader conflict between creative leadership and a publisher during the development of a major AAA game.
The situation Schofield describes took place during a period when many game companies were dealing with remote work, sickness, and Covid-related restrictions. In his account, the team had around 100 people, with multiple illness cases each month and a situation in which the Spain team was shut down. Those details place the production in a time when planning and staffing were under pressure for many studios.
The provided information does not include a response from Krafton to Schofield’s remarks. It also does not include a document or other source confirming that the extra three months of development time were formally promised and later withdrawn. As a result, this remains Schofield’s allegation rather than an independently verified account.
What is clear is that The Callisto Protocol eventually launched in December 2022. Schofield’s comments therefore concern the period before release and how much more time he believes the studio needed to finish the game. His remarks are best understood as a retrospective on the production of a game that has already shipped, not an update on an active development project.
Sources
- Eurogamer interview with Glen Schofield about Krafton and The Callisto Protocol