Bioshock Creator Was Shocked by Irrational Games Closure

Irrational Games' Closure: A Retrospective from BioShock Infinite's Ken Levine

Ken Levine, director of BioShock Infinite, recently reflected on the unexpected closure of Irrational Games following the game's success. He described the decision by Take-Two Interactive as "complicated," revealing that the studio's shuttering came as a surprise to most, including himself. Despite his own desire to leave Irrational, Levine expected the studio to continue operating. "I thought they were going to continue. But it wasn’t my company," he stated in an interview with Edge Magazine (via PC Gamer).

Levine, Irrational's creative director and co-founder, led the development of the acclaimed BioShock franchise. The studio's closure in 2014, after the release of BioShock Infinite, marked a significant event in the gaming industry, especially considering Irrational's contributions to titles like System Shock 2 and BioShock Infinite. Levine attributes his decision to step back to personal challenges faced during Infinite's development, stating, "I don’t think I was in any state to be a good leader." He strived to make the layoffs as smooth as possible, providing transition packages and support to affected employees.

The legacy of Irrational Games and BioShock Infinite continues to resonate. Levine even suggests that a BioShock remake would have been a suitable project for the studio to undertake. Now, anticipation builds for BioShock 4, currently in development at Cloud Chamber Studios. While an official release date remains elusive, fan speculation points to a potentially open-world setting, though retaining the series' signature first-person perspective. This upcoming installment has the opportunity to learn from the experiences and discussions surrounding BioShock Infinite's release.