Irrational Closure Stuns BioShock Creator

Ken Levine reflects on the unexpected closure of Irrational Games following the success of BioShock Infinite, describing the decision as "complicated." He reveals that the studio's shutdown came as a surprise, stating, "I thought they were going to continue. But it wasn’t my company." This unexpected outcome impacted many within the studio.

Levine, creative director and co-founder of Irrational Games, spearheaded the creation of the acclaimed BioShock franchise. The studio's closure in 2014, after the release of BioShock Infinite, led to its rebranding as Ghost Story Games in 2017 under Take-Two Interactive. This event occurred amidst a challenging period for the video game industry, marked by significant layoffs at various prominent studios.

In a recent interview with Edge Magazine (reported by PC Gamer), Levine elaborated on the circumstances surrounding Irrational's closure. He acknowledged personal struggles during BioShock Infinite's development, leading to his desire to step away from Irrational, but he hoped the studio would continue. He explains, "I don’t think I was in any state to be a good leader."

Levine's retrospective highlights his efforts to ensure a compassionate transition for Irrational's employees, aiming for "the least painful lay-off we could possibly do," including providing transition packages and ongoing support. He even suggests that Irrational could have successfully tackled a BioShock remake, stating, “That would have been a good title for Irrational to get their head around.”

The anticipation for BioShock 4 remains high. While an official release date is still pending, fans are hopeful that Cloud Chamber Studios and 2K will incorporate lessons learned from BioShock Infinite's development. Speculation points towards a potential open-world setting for the next installment, while maintaining the series' signature first-person perspective.