Ken Levine, creator and co-founder of Irrational Games – the company known for creating critically acclaimed BioShock game series, announced company’s closure plans on Tuesday.
Levine broke the news of closure of the 17 years old gaming studio in a statement on the studio’s website. Levine revealed that an idea about a new project is the main reason behind studio’s closure.
Levine said he will be starting a new venture under Irrational’s parent company, Take-Two, the video game publisher that launched the BioShock series through its 2K label, along with other fifteen Irrational developers.
“Seventeen years is a long time to do any job, even the best one”, said Levine.
“I am winding down Irrational Games as you know it. I’ll be starting a smaller, more entrepreneurial endeavour at Take-Two. That is going to mean parting ways with all but about fifteen members of the Irrational team.”
“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.” Levine added.
Levine also said that the closure will have no effect on the release of the final DLC for BioShock Infinite, Burial at Sea Episode 2, which is still slated to be released on March 25 for the PS3, X360 and PC.
“If we’re lucky, we’ll build something half as memorable as BioShock”, Levine concluded.
