Ken Levine reflects on the unexpected closure of Irrational Games following the success of BioShock Infinite, describing the decision as "complicated." He reveals the studio's shutdown surprised most, including himself: "I thought they were going to continue. But it wasn’t my company."
Levine, creative director and co-founder of Irrational Games, spearheaded the BioShock franchise, including the original game, BioShock Infinite, and its DLC. He announced Irrational's closure in 2014, after BioShock Infinite's release. The studio was later rebranded as Ghost Story Games in 2017, remaining a Take-Two subsidiary.
In a recent interview with Edge Magazine (via PC Gamer), Levine discussed the personal challenges he faced during BioShock Infinite's development, leading to his desire to leave Irrational. However, he expected the studio to continue. He explains, "I don’t think I was in any state to be a good leader." The closure, therefore, came as a significant shock. Irrational Games, renowned for System Shock 2 and BioShock Infinite, faced unforeseen pressures due to Levine's personal circumstances. He aimed to make the lay-offs as smooth as possible, providing transition packages and support.
The Impact of Irrational's Closure and BioShock 4's Anticipation
BioShock Infinite, despite its somber tone, left a lasting mark on gamers. Levine believes Take-Two could have leveraged Irrational's expertise on a BioShock remake, stating, "That would have been a good title for Irrational to get their head around."
With BioShock 4 on the horizon, fans are anticipating lessons learned from BioShock Infinite. Announced five years ago, the game's release date remains unconfirmed as 2K and Cloud Chamber Studios continue development. Speculation points towards an open-world setting, while maintaining the series' first-person perspective.
