It’s certainly a sad day for the gaming industry, as we see yet another legendary studio throw in the towel. This time, it’s rather surprising news, as Irrational Games is the one to go. Why surprising? Well, because the studio has considerable pedigree, and while it certainly had its ups and downs, its recent releases weren’t sub-par, not in the slightest. The studio emerged 17 years ago, and their first major project was a classic of video games, mainly System Shock 2. In more recent times, the studio had developed the critically acclaimed BioShock: Infinite, a worthy successor to the initial BioShock titles. BioShock Infinite has received numerous awards last year, and for good reason – it was a beautifully crafted tale in a wonderous universe and with some memorable characters.
Today’s news came from Irration Games studio head Ken Levine, who’s decision seemed to be driven more by a change of heart, rather than financial difficulties. The entire BioShock series has generated over half a billion dollars in revenues, and will most likely keep bringing in money. So, what drove Ken Levine to dismantle Irrational Games? Well, it seems the developer wants to return to the good old days of developing within a small team, for a very specific audience. “While I’m deeply proud of what we’ve accomplished together, my passion has turned to making a different kind of game than we’ve done before. To meet the challenge ahead, I need to refocus my energy on a smaller team with a flatter structure and a more direct relationship with gamers. In many ways, it will be a return to how we started: a small team making games for the core gaming audience.” he stated.
What this means is that all but a core of 15 Irrational Games members will be laid off. The small core that will remain under Levine’s leadership will then be housed within 2K’s walls, and will focus on developing story-driven games that will focus true fans and will be delivered digitally. Of course, this shut-down of Irrational Games will occur only after the last DLC for BioShock Infinite is released. More specifically, this means the 25th of March, when Burial at Sea Episode 2 will be released.
“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. I’m handing the reins of our creation, the BioShock universe, to 2K so our new venture can focus entirely on replayable narrative. If we’re lucky, we’ll build something half as memorable as BioShock.” concluded Levine on Irrational Games’ official website.
As such, we’re saying our goodbyes to a legendary developer. We’re wishing the very best to Levine in his new endeavor, and we’re hoping that those members of Irrational Games that haven’t been fortunate enough to join him in his new team will be able to find a worthy enough place within the gaming industry.