Irrational Games Dissolved, Ken Levine Begins New Endeavor

The Bioshock series is one of the most respected and acclaimed franchises in video game history. However, developer Irrational Games will soon disappear.

As founder Ken Levine stated on the studio’s official website, it’s time to move on. After creating some of the finest interactive productions ever, and after seventeen years of achievement, Levine is “winding down Irrational Games as you know it.” He’s taking only fifteen members of the original team and starting a “smaller, more entrepreneurial endeavor” at publisher Take-Two Interactive.

Those who lose their jobs will receive financial support and the studio will host a “recruiting day” where third-party studios can get a crack at interviewing some of the finest talent in the industry. As for what’s next:

“In time we will announce a new endeavor with a new goal: To make narrative-driven games for the core gamer that are highly replayable. To foster the most direct relationship with our fans possible, we will focus exclusively on content delivered digitally.”

And that’s precisely the sort of game we want Levine to make, right?

Happy Trails!

You guys made some great games. The Bioshock series will always stand out for me for a variety of reasons; the biggest highlights were always the unparalleled atmosphere and fantastic narratives. Deep, interweaving storylines blend with stellar gameplay, and that gameplay features an involving mix of role-playing and first-person shooter elements. Just amazing. So, on behalf of gamers everywhere: “Thank you!”