Irrational Games, the studio behind the acclaimed BioShock series, was unexpectedly disbanded following the release of BioShock Infinite in 2013. Former studio head Ken Levine has now shed light on the reasons behind the decision, highlighting personal and professional challenges that contributed to the studio’s closure.
Struggles Behind the Scenes
In an interview with Edge Magazine, Levine opened up about the difficulties he faced during the development of BioShock Infinite, including the pressures of leadership and personal turmoil.
“Imagine you’re a creative person, and as your vision grows, you’re suddenly thrust into a managerial role without the skills or training for it,” Levine explained. “My mental health was a mess during Infinite. I was stressed, a lot of personal things were happening, and then both my parents died. I just couldn’t do it anymore, and I felt like the team didn’t trust me.”
The challenges weren’t solely personal. The rapid expansion of the team to meet BioShock Infinite’s ambitious goals created structural inefficiencies and management struggles within the studio.
Take-Two’s Corporate Decision
Despite the commercial success of BioShock Infinite, Irrational Games’ parent company, Take-Two Interactive, decided to shutter the studio. Levine revealed that his appeals to rebuild the studio were ultimately unsuccessful.
“This decision was made at the corporate level – they didn’t think it was necessary to continue the studio,” Levine said. “I think this probably made sense. Take-Two made a remaster of BioShock; it would have been a good opportunity for Irrational to gather their thoughts, create a new corporate structure, and develop the next BioShock game with confidence. I don’t think I was in a position to be a good leader for the team.”
A New Chapter with Ghost Story Games
Following the closure of Irrational Games, Levine founded Ghost Story Games, a smaller, creatively driven studio. The team is currently working on a new project, Judas, which has been described as a narrative-driven shooter. While details remain scarce and no release date has been announced, Judas represents a fresh start for Levine and his team.
Legacy of BioShock
Though Irrational Games is no longer active, the BioShock franchise lives on. Take-Two has confirmed that a new BioShock title is in development at Cloud Chamber, ensuring that the series continues to evolve even without its original creators.
Via: PCGamer