Ken Levine shuttering Bioshock studio Irrational Games

[KMJ_84]

In a statement issued on the homepage of the company’s official site, BioShock creator Ken Levine says he will be closing down the BioShock Infinite studio soon, with most of its staff being laid off in the process.

“I am winding down Irrational Games as you know it. I’ll be starting a smaller, more entrepreneurial endeavor at Take-Two,” Levine wrote. “That is going to mean parting ways with all but about fifteen members of the Irrational team. There’s no great way to lay people off, and our first concern is to make sure that the people who are leaving have as much support as we can give them during this transition.” Levine had said as recently as October that the possibility for Irrational to produce a new Bioshock title still existed. Now, Levine and those folks he’s bringing with him to this Take-Two sponsored startup will look more closely at story and reaplayability in new game projects.

Meanwhile, 2K will take over the BioShock property completely moving forward.

More info here - http://www.vg247.com/2014/02/18/ken-levine-shuttering-irrational-games/

Well that's a shock. I thought Bioshock Infinite was a commercial hit. That game itself had an ok storyline but lacked the replay-ability factor.

The decision just seems a bit irrational IMO.

 

[jstep7262]

I was bummed to hear this too. I hope that someone else picks this up and keeps the franchise going. I don't want this to be the last that we see of Bioshock!

 

[BBGold]

I was bummed to hear this too. I hope that someone else picks this up and keeps the franchise going. I don't want this to be the last that we see of Bioshock!

I personally, do. Levine's direction for the game was exactly where it needed to go and it was his brain child. Handing the reigns that is the Bioshock franchise to anyone less qualified would be a step in the wrong direction, ruining a pretty fantastic series.

 

[TheDarkDefender]

The only game in this series that I've played to completion is BioShock Infinite. That game was the perfect blend of gameplay and story. It's always sad seeing a dev like this get closed down, while the huge, AAA devs continue to pump out the same stuff every year. The games industry is at a loss.

 

[CpmPanda]

Bioshock 1, 2 and Infinite were amazing, goodness the stories were perplex to say the least. I hope someone else takes over Bioshock, don't let a good thing go to waste! I'd play another Bioshock in a heart beat man.

 

[SpaceTiger]

So 2K's taking it over? It really makes it seem like the 15 Levine is taking with him is the core group that also have an idea of where the series would've gone had they continued and those laid off were more or less the ones who do the heavy lifting, so it's kind of a mystery what 2K will do with it. It's always a shame when a good, consistent studio closes up shop and a loved series gets scooped up.

It's kind of like the creator of AC not being involved in the game anymore. Ubisoft can do what they want with the series and it really seems like there's no end for the series in sight even though Ubisoft keep saying they have one while the creator knows exactly where he would've ended it. Who knows what 2K will do with it or who they'll hand it off to.

 

[Tomba]

2K does solid work overall and great work on sports games. We're in wait and see territory as far as the future of the series goes. Who knows they might come up with something true to the original...or even get Desilets to work on it.

 

[NuclearDragon]

lol You're tossing SpaceTiger Desilets to have work. I see you Tomba. Still it's really...irrational to just close up shop and stuff, but I'm sure there's better, deeper reason than just I'm setting up a smaller studio under Take-Two.