Bioshock Creator Was Shocked by Irrational Games Closure

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 following his departure, surprised most of the team, as he believed Irrational would continue operating. "I thought they were going to continue. But it wasn’t my company," Levine stated in a recent interview.

Levine, creative director and co-founder of Irrational Games, led the development of the critically acclaimed BioShock series. The studio's closure in 2014, after BioShock Infinite's release, 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 companies.

In his interview with Edge Magazine (as reported by PC Gamer), Levine discussed the personal struggles he faced during BioShock Infinite's development, contributing to his decision to leave Irrational. He emphasizes that he wasn't in a position to effectively lead the studio at that time. Despite the closure, Levine aimed to make the transition as smooth as possible for his team, providing comprehensive support packages. He even suggests that a BioShock remake would have been a suitable project for the studio to undertake.

The anticipation for BioShock 4 remains high. While an official release date is still pending, fans speculate that the upcoming title from 2K and Cloud Chamber Studios might feature an open-world setting, while retaining the series' signature first-person perspective. Many believe BioShock 4 can benefit from lessons learned during the development and release of BioShock Infinite.