Bioshock Creator Was Shocked by Irrational Games Closure

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Summary

  • Ken Levine reflects on Irrational Games‘ closure post-BioShock Infinite’s success, a decision he deemed “complicated.”
  • “I thought they were going to continue. But it wasn’t my company,” Levine stated, confirming that the studio’s shutter came as a shock to most involved.
  • BioShock 4 anticipation builds, set possibly in an open world, with fans eyeing lessons learned from BioShock Infinite’s release.

As a devoted movie buff reminiscing about my days in the gaming industry, I can’t help but reflect on the unexpected closing of Irrational Games under Take-Two Interactive. I was the creative director and co-founder of this esteemed studio, along with my fellow visionaries Jonathan Chey and Robert Fermier, who had previously made waves at Looking Glass Studios. Together, we breathed life into the critically acclaimed BioShock series, a saga that includes the groundbreaking 2007 original, the captivating BioShock Infinite of 2013, and the subsequent BioShock Infinite: Burial at Sea. The journey was nothing short of extraordinary, but the end came as a genuine shock to all involved.

In 2014, Levine declared that Irrational Games was shutting down after the launch of BioShock Infinite. Subsequently, in 2017, the company transformed into Ghost Story Games while continuing as a subsidiary under Take-Two. Regrettably, the gaming industry has faced tough times with numerous job cuts, such as Riot Games scaling back its League of Legends team and Ubisoft laying off staff from multiple US offices over the past year, among other instances.

In a chat with Edge Magazine (through PC Gamer), Levine discussed the closure of Irrational and referred to it as a “complex” decision. He detailed his personal hardships during the creation of Infinite, which ultimately prompted Levine’s resignation from Irrational, but he wished for the studio to carry on without him. However, he clarified that since Irrational wasn’t his company, the studio’s shutdown was a surprise to many involved. Irrational Games is recognized for its significant contributions to the best horror RPG genre with System Shock 2, and its success with BioShock Infinite. Unfortunately, unexpected challenges in Levine’s personal life during the production of Infinite forced him to step back. “I don’t believe I was capable of being a good leader at that time,” Levine shared.

BioShock Infinite’s Ken Levine Explains Why Irrational Games’ Closure Came as a Shock

BioShock Infinite, although deeply melancholic and sorrowful, left a lasting impression on players. Built upon its achievements, Levine later mused that Take-Two might have permitted Irrational Games to rework the original BioShock. Reflecting on the talent of the Irrational team, he suggested, “That would have been an ideal project for them to tackle.” In an attempt to minimize the impact, Levine strove to execute a layoff as gently as possible, providing transition packages and ongoing support during this difficult period.

Enthusiasts of the steampunk series have a significant reason to be excited about what’s coming up, as news of the next major release has been made public. Many anticipate that BioShock 4 will draw inspiration from the narrative of BioShock Infinite. Despite the announcement of BioShock 4 five years ago, an official launch date remains undetermined as Cloud Chamber continues to work diligently on its development. There’s a lot of speculation that the upcoming game could feature an open world setting, while maintaining the first-person perspective from earlier versions in the series.

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2025-01-09 17:13