Ken Levine, director of BioShock Infinite, reflects on the unexpected closure of Irrational Games following the game's success. In a recent interview with Edge Magazine (via PC Gamer), Levine described the decision by Take-Two Interactive as "complicated," revealing it came as a surprise to most of the team. He had hoped Irrational would continue, even after his departure, stating, "I thought they were going to continue. But it wasn’t my company."
Levine acknowledges personal struggles during BioShock Infinite's development, impacting his leadership and ultimately leading to his own departure. He aimed to minimize the impact of the studio's closure, prioritizing a smooth transition for employees with comprehensive support packages. He even suggests that a BioShock remake would have been a suitable project for the remaining team.
The closure of Irrational Games, known for titles like System Shock 2 and BioShock Infinite, occurred in 2014, with the studio later rebranded as Ghost Story Games. This event occurred amidst a period of industry restructuring and layoffs affecting other major studios.
With the anticipation building for BioShock 4, developed by Cloud Chamber Studios, fans are hoping the developers will learn from the experiences and challenges surrounding BioShock Infinite's development and release. Speculation points towards a potential open-world setting for the upcoming title, while maintaining the series' signature first-person perspective.
