For over 20 years, developer Arkane Studios has made a name for itself on games that focus almost entirely on player agency and choice. From franchises such astheÂDishonoredÂseries, to 2017’sÂPrey, to classics likeÂDark Messiah of Might and Magic, Arkane has been at the forefront of the “immersive sim” genre and has had a profound effect on games developed in that style. Given the studio’s history, there are plenty of untold stories and revelations from Arkane waiting to be discovered, with a new documentary exploring the studio’s lengthy history and impact in the games industry.A new trailer has been released for the upcoming documentary “The (Untold) History of Arkane Studios,” which is being produced byNoclip, the Patreon-backed series of game development documentaries. Specifically, the latest entry in the series will focus on the 20-year history of Arkane Studios and the making of some of its most well-known titles, includingÂDishonoredandPrey, along with some of its earliest works likeArx FatalisÂand more.
Additionally, the documentary will also include never-before-seen footage from some of Arkane’s cancelled projects that never saw release. Some of the projects seen in the trailer for the documentary includeLMNO, which was a narrative first-person adventure game with involvement from director Steven Spielberg, andÂThe Crossing, which attempted to blend a narrative experience through both single-player and multiplayer elements.
One of the most notable parts of the documentary is that it will include footage from aÂHalf-Lifeproject that Arkane worked on, which was under the titleHalf-Life 2: Episode 4. Also calledÂReturn to Ravenholmat points during its development, the project was aimed at bringing players back toÂHalf-Life 2’s iconic Ravenholm setting for a new story that would coincide with the otherHalf-Life 2episodes. The project, however, ended up being cancelled and wouldn’t see the light of day, but will make for some interesting material to see with the recent release ofÂHalf-Life: Alyx.
Noclip’s upcoming documentary on Arkane Studios will be released on Tuesday, June 28, 2025. For a closer look at the documentary, you can check out the trailer above.
