Bioshock Creator Surprised by Irrational Games Announcement

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 shutdown 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, acknowledges the personal challenges he faced during BioShock Infinite's development, impacting his leadership and ultimately leading to his departure. He emphasizes his efforts to ensure a smooth transition for the studio's employees, aiming for "the least painful lay-off we could possibly do."

The closure of Irrational Games, known for titles like System Shock 2 and BioShock Infinite, stands in contrast to the anticipation surrounding BioShock 4. Levine suggests that Irrational could have successfully handled a BioShock remake, but the decision ultimately rested with Take-Two Interactive. Fans eagerly await the next installment, speculating about an open-world setting for BioShock 4 while hoping lessons learned from BioShock Infinite's development will shape the new game's creation. While announced five years ago, BioShock 4's release date remains unconfirmed.