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, while he anticipated its continued operation, came as a surprise to most. Levine, creative director and co-founder, had envisioned a different future for the studio after his departure.
The closure, announced in 2014, followed the release of BioShock Infinite and its subsequent DLC. Irrational Games, later rebranded as Ghost Story Games, became a Take-Two subsidiary. This event occurred amidst a period of industry upheaval marked by significant layoffs at other prominent studios.
In a recent interview with Edge Magazine (via PC Gamer), Levine elaborated on the circumstances. He acknowledged personal struggles during BioShock Infinite's development, impacting his leadership and ultimately leading to his departure. Despite his personal challenges, he believed the studio could have continued without him. He emphasized his efforts to ensure a smooth transition for the team, prioritizing support packages and minimizing the impact of the layoffs.
Levine expressed the belief that Irrational could have successfully tackled a BioShock remake, a project he feels would have been a suitable undertaking for the talented team.
The anticipation for BioShock 4 remains high. While an official release date is pending, fan speculation points towards an open-world setting, potentially incorporating lessons learned from BioShock Infinite's development and reception. The game is currently under development at 2K and Cloud Chamber Studios.
