Shocking Closure for Irrational: Bioshock Creator Reacts

Ken Levine reflects on the unexpected closure of Irrational Games following the success of BioShock Infinite, describing the decision as "complicated." In a recent interview, Levine revealed that the studio's shuttering came as a surprise to most, including himself. He had hoped Irrational would continue, despite his own departure, stating, "I thought they were going to continue. But it wasn’t my company."

Levine, the creative director and co-founder of Irrational Games, led the development of the critically acclaimed BioShock series. He acknowledges personal struggles during BioShock Infinite's development contributed to his decision to leave, admitting, "I don’t think I was in any state to be a good leader." Despite this, he strived to make the studio's closure as painless as possible for his team, arranging for transition packages and continued support. He even suggests that a BioShock remake would have been a suitable project for the studio to undertake.

The news of Irrational's closure comes amidst a period of industry upheaval, marked by significant layoffs at various prominent studios.

With the announcement of BioShock 4, fans anticipate the next installment in the series. Speculation points towards an open-world setting, potentially incorporating lessons learned from BioShock Infinite's development and reception. While the release date remains unconfirmed, the game is currently under development at Cloud Chamber Studios. The game will maintain the first-person perspective established in previous titles.