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, a surprise to most, occurred despite his belief that Irrational would continue operating even after his departure. "I thought they were going to continue. But it wasn’t my company," he stated.
Levine, creative director and co-founder of Irrational Games, led the development of the acclaimed BioShock franchise. The studio's closure in 2014, after BioShock Infinite's release, was followed by its rebranding as Ghost Story Games in 2017 under Take-Two Interactive.
In a recent interview with Edge Magazine (via PC Gamer), Levine discussed the personal challenges he faced during BioShock Infinite's development, impacting his leadership and ultimately prompting his departure. He emphasized his efforts to ensure a smooth transition for Irrational's employees, aiming for "the least painful lay-off we could possibly do." He even suggests that Irrational could have successfully handled a BioShock remake.
The anticipation for BioShock 4 remains high. While an official release date is still pending, speculation abounds, with many fans hoping Cloud Chamber Studios will incorporate lessons learned from BioShock Infinite's development, potentially creating an open-world experience while maintaining the series' signature first-person perspective.
