Ken Levine, the creator of the hugely popular BioShock franchise, has announced the closure of Irrational Games.
In an open letter on the Irrational Games website, Levine said: “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 said about 15 members of staff will lose their jobs as he looks to create a “smaller, more entrepreneurial endeavour” at Take-Two.
The IP will be handed over to publishers 2K so Levine’s new venture at Take Two can “focus entirely” on replayable narrative.
The BioShock games are first-person shooters developed by Irrational Games and published by 2K Games. The original BioShock, which launched in 2007, has spawned two sequels, BioShock 2 and BioShock: Infinite, and the franchise has won numerous awards.
The final instalment of the series, Burial at Sea – Episode 2, will be released on March 25.
