Bioshock Creator Shocked at Irrational Games' Sudden Closure

Summary

• Ken Levine reflects on the closure of Irrational Games after the success of BioShock Infinite, describing the decision as "complicated."
• Levine believed the studio would continue despite his departure, but was surprised to learn that it was not his company to control.
• Anticipation grows for BioShock 4, which might feature an open-world setting, with fans hoping it learns from BioShock Infinite's lessons.

Ken Levine, the creative director and co-founder of Irrational Games, has shared his thoughts on the studio's closure following the success of BioShock Infinite. In a recent interview with Edge Magazine (via PC Gamer), Levine described the decision to close Irrational Games as "complicated." He revealed that personal struggles during the development of BioShock Infinite led to his desired departure from the studio, but he had hoped it would continue without him. "I thought they were going to continue. But it wasn’t my company," Levine stated, highlighting the unexpected nature of the closure to most involved.

Irrational Games, known for its contributions to the horror RPG genre with System Shock 2 and the acclaimed BioShock series, including the original 2007 game and 2013's BioShock Infinite, was shut down in 2014. The studio was later rebranded as Ghost Story Games in 2017, still under Take-Two Interactive. Levine expressed his respect for the Irrational team, noting his efforts to make the layoffs as painless as possible by offering transition packages and continued support.

The closure of Irrational Games came at a time when the video game industry was facing significant challenges, with mass layoffs affecting companies like Riot Games and Ubisoft. Levine's departure was influenced by his personal struggles, which he admitted left him in no state to be an effective leader.

Looking ahead, fans of the BioShock series are eagerly awaiting the next installment, BioShock 4. Announced five years ago, the game is being developed by 2K and Cloud Chamber Studios, though an official release date remains undisclosed. Speculation suggests that BioShock 4 could feature an open-world setting while maintaining the first-person perspective of its predecessors. Fans hope that the new game will draw valuable lessons from the discourse surrounding BioShock Infinite.