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." In a recent interview with Edge Magazine, Levine revealed that the studio's shutdown surprised most of its employees, 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, creative director and co-founder of Irrational Games, acknowledges personal struggles during BioShock Infinite's development that contributed to his decision to leave. He explains, "I don’t think I was in any state to be a good leader." Despite the closure, he strived to ensure a smooth transition for his team, aiming for "the least painful lay-off we could possibly do," providing transition packages and ongoing support.

The closure of Irrational, known for its contributions to the horror RPG genre with System Shock 2 and the BioShock franchise, stands in contrast to the anticipation surrounding BioShock 4. Levine suggests that Irrational could have successfully handled a BioShock remake, a project he believes would have been a suitable undertaking for the studio.

With BioShock 4 currently in development at Cloud Chamber Studios, fans speculate about its potential open-world setting, hoping the developers will learn from the experiences surrounding BioShock Infinite's release. While announced five years ago, an official release date remains elusive.