Home Gaming Irrational Games are closing their doors

Irrational Games are closing their doors

1 min read
48

bioshock-big-daddy-wallpapergames-bioshock-big-daddy-wallpaper-1024x768px-big-daddy-oawpfcob

BioShock is a household name in any home that’s flirted with video games. The franchise has made over half a billion dollars since its inception. Now, Ken Levine has posted a message to the website of Irrational Games announcing that the famed development studio responsible for this universe will cease to exist as we know it.

The last DLC for BioShock Infinite, Burial at Sea Episode 2, looks to be the final release that we’ll see come from the hands of Irrational Games. In his letter, Levine notes that the studio started from a small, three-person studio and has grown into the powerhouse we know today – but there’s clearly something the game visionary misses about the entrepreneurial journey:

Seventeen years is a long time to do any job, even the best one. And working with the incredible team at Irrational Games is indeed the best job I’ve ever had. 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.

While it’s difficult not to be excited about whatever experiences may result from Levine’s new endeavor, it’s less heartening to think about what will happen to the remainder of Irrational Games staff. Some are likely to remain with Take-Two, but others are now going to be looking for employment.

Lazygamer will be covering any news of the new project.

Last Updated: February 18, 2014

48 Comments

  1. Gavin Mannion

    February 18, 2014 at 20:10

    I’m heartbroken… Granted Bioshock 2 wasn’t great but the original and Bioshock Infinite were beautiful…

    Reply

    • Matt Buckley

      February 18, 2014 at 20:19

      Special place for System Shock 2 as well. I’m excited for what Levine’s got up his sleeve, but really wish a whole studio didn’t have to close for it.

      Reply

      • Admiral Chief in Vegas

        February 18, 2014 at 20:36

        Man, that game was epic!

        Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        February 19, 2014 at 07:31

        We never got a third though. Or a fourth. Or a fifth. Systems Shock needs to come back.

        Reply

        • Admiral Chief in Vegas

          February 19, 2014 at 07:49

          And now it probably never will ;-(

          Reply

          • Hammersteyn

            February 19, 2014 at 07:55

            Wish we could nominate kickstarters.

    • Matewis Jubilai

      February 18, 2014 at 20:46

      If there is one reason I would like to still play Bioshock 2, then it is to walk on the ocean floor outside of Rapture. That just seems so cool

      Reply

      • Admiral Chief in Vegas

        February 18, 2014 at 20:48

        Indeed!

        Reply

      • Mossel

        February 19, 2014 at 07:08

        Bioshock was actually not that bad, not great, but not bad either. In the end it was still fun to play!

        Reply

    • Theunis Jansen van Rensburg

      February 19, 2014 at 11:20

      Wasn’t Bioshock 2 handled by another company under the parent company anyway?
      I agree, though, I’m also heartbroken. Let’s hope their new project is just as good.

      Reply

  2. Admiral Chief in Vegas

    February 18, 2014 at 20:36

    Damn, right in the memory centre. Ouch.

    Reply

  3. Gustav Willem Diedericks

    February 18, 2014 at 20:41

    Terrible news 🙁

    Reply

  4. Admiral Chief in Vegas

    February 18, 2014 at 20:43

    Why does all the awesome things end up dying? Yet the silly clonepieces continue to live on.

    Makes me sad

    Reply

    • Matewis Jubilai

      February 18, 2014 at 20:53

      There is a very simple solution actually. The world needs a paintball revolution. I’m talking an aggressive multinational pyrotechnic-laden paintball drive. It should become a school sport with bigass bazooka paint guns, paintball machine guns, paintball tanks, paintball firing drones, lots of pyrotechnics and … I’m not sure where I was going with this.

      Solution2 : All 10 year olds should be forced to watch Platoon, and Through a Full Metal Jacket.

      Reply

      • Admiral Chief in Vegas

        February 19, 2014 at 07:49

        I like this solution

        Reply

    • D@ngermouse

      February 19, 2014 at 09:40

      You die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain.

      Reply

      • Admiral Chief in Vegas

        February 19, 2014 at 09:42

        Very true that. Now they live on as a fond memory, where they could have done a 180 and done micro-transactions and sh!t like that

        Reply

  5. A 2 Brute?

    February 18, 2014 at 20:55

    I am a sad octopus today 🙁 let us hope that the new Levine vision brings us games of the same calibre that Bioshock 1 and Infinite have.

    Reply

  6. RinceandLeSIGH

    February 18, 2014 at 21:04

    This breaks my heart. Is this a consequence of the new “we only sold 3mil” world?

    Reply

    • Matt Buckley

      February 18, 2014 at 21:09

      Doesn’t seem like it. There was no shortage of success for Irrational Games or Take-Two. This seems simply to be a result of Levine wanting to start something else.

      Reply

      • RinceandLeSIGH

        February 19, 2014 at 08:38

        I hope so. Still, big choice that will affect many.

        Reply

  7. The Kenn

    February 18, 2014 at 21:43

    well thats………….. irrational …. yyyyyeeeeaaaaahhhhhhh!

    Reply

  8. Skyblue

    February 18, 2014 at 23:23

    Fuck all of that. Ken Levine is a visionary and I’m keen to see what’s next for him. Congrats on not doing another Bio as it got stale and Irrational were always renowned for originality.

    Take a bow in the Skyblue Hall of Fame Mr Levine (the only one that counts imo :p)

    http://media.giphy.com/media/iqEeC6iCoWoKc/giphy.gif

    Reply

  9. Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

    February 19, 2014 at 06:22

    This is absolutely terrible news. I still love the original bioshock, and while I was critical of Infinite (they were far too ambitious with Infinite, and while a very pretty game, it was also a shadow of the first game), it’s never pleasant to hear that an ambitious developer (that at least tried to do something different) closes shop.

    Hopefully, Levine’s new 2k outfit will be able to push the envelope even more. All the best to all involved.

    Reply

  10. Mossel

    February 19, 2014 at 07:09

    Well this day got off to a great start. Atleast there’s something to look forward to with Levine’s new work.

    Reply

  11. HvR

    February 19, 2014 at 07:25

    Yeah, he knows he would be stuck doing annual Bioshock releases or a Bioshock MMO if he doesn’t get out now.

    Let the creative juice flow.

    Reply

  12. Kromas

    February 19, 2014 at 07:31

    Based on historical evidence I surmize that this is not a good thing. Everyone who leaves their company to start something new either screw up or become major idiots. Case in point: Peter Molyneux and Cliffy B.

    Reply

    • El Capitan del Blade

      February 19, 2014 at 07:44

      As A rebuttle, to your point, I Bring into Evidence, one, Tim Schafer.

      Reply

      • Kromas

        February 19, 2014 at 07:47

        Kickstarting more than one game at a time to me is not cool but okay ill give it too you.

        Reply

      • Skoobaz

        February 19, 2014 at 09:26

        And another point in case, Chris Roberts.

        Reply

  13. Umar Reborn

    February 19, 2014 at 07:33

    Fuggit…..this industry is effed up! Seriously , something is extremely wrong. I can see more and more games are gonna be plagued with MT, DLC and will eventually become F2P…I swear to god if all that’s left is EA and Activision…I’m quitting gaming

    Reply

    • TiMsTeR1033

      February 19, 2014 at 07:37

      It truely is utter bullshit how crap like candy crush keep on going and the big names, which make awesome games go under.. I guess welcome to micro transactions if things carry on soon every game will enforce them..

      Reply

  14. Umar Reborn

    February 19, 2014 at 07:46

    Is this because Irrational games can no longer sustain itself or just Ken Levine optin out?

    Reply

    • RinceandLeSIGH

      February 19, 2014 at 08:39

      Ken wanting to try something different which is of course his prerogative. Not anything to do with financial issues as far as what I have read so far.

      Reply

      • Umar Reborn

        February 19, 2014 at 08:41

        So why are we all mourning?…..people got laid off because he wants to do his own thing?….Seems I misread this thing

        Reply

        • RinceandLeSIGH

          February 19, 2014 at 08:42

          Well it’s an awesome company and while he may come up with something amazeballs in a few years it is sad it is closing. Not to mention the people who will be looking for new jobs. Why can’t someone like SE close?! *RUNS

          Reply

        • SheHulkNigri

          February 19, 2014 at 08:59

          You know, if Ken Levine is such an AMAZING guy as everyone here is wailing at the top of their voices, why the fuck can he not take his current team and work on this “great new vision” with them?
          Or is it again a case of another guy that had some success with a game or two waking up in the morning, taking his Bible and read Genesis 1 verse 1: And in the beginning, Ken Levine created the Heavens and the Earth.
          You know what, Ken Levine cost people their jobs. Money. But NO. All is fine, cause the guy that made one or two decent games recently wants to be a glory hound.

          Reply

          • Umar Reborn

            February 19, 2014 at 09:02

            OOOOHHH MYY GOD, get out of my head!!! lol

            That is exactly what I was thinking….too. Why couldn’t he take the team with him? Imo he, as you said, is looking to hog all the glory alone…

          • Verrayne

            February 19, 2014 at 09:25

            Because he doesn’t want to manage 70 people anymore? Why should he be forced to do something he doesn’t want to?

            An employee can quit at any time and nothing is said yet if a business owner wants to sell or leave everyone is up in arms. He is a human being and he is free to make any choice he wants to, just like an employee.

          • SheHulkNigri

            February 19, 2014 at 09:34

            If an employee quits, it usually means he has found employ somewhere else. It does mean that he needs to be replaced yes, but the chances that he is really irreplaceable is slim to none.
            If a business owner quits, there is a loss of jobs. Now basic economics will tell you that is a bad thing. No job = no money = no food on the table.
            What gets me about this whole thing is that he had an entire team sacrificing how many hours to make Bioshock what it was. Then when he feels the need to run, he simply goes: Well fuck you all. Yes, you did make me great and all but still, fuck you all!

          • Verrayne

            February 19, 2014 at 10:58

            His choice, they can leave anytime they want and he can as well. Doesn’t make him a good or a bad person, just a person exercising his right to freedom of choice.

            The employees could have joined a company run by multiple shareholders and not just one. They made the choice the day they signed their contracts that they will go along with any decision he makes.

  15. oOqUiS

    February 19, 2014 at 08:45

    So that’s it…no bioshock for Vita.

    Reply

  16. Alien Emperor Trevor

    February 19, 2014 at 08:53

    I’m curious to see what he’s planning next.

    Reply

    • SheHulkNigri

      February 19, 2014 at 09:05

      He is going to make this amazing game that is just going to blow your mind. You will be this hero digging in the dirt and finding condoms. With your dog. And you can make moral decisions… Do I tap on this side of the cube or that side of the cube? And for the sequel, you will do the exact same thing, only this time with a diesel powered Lancer and yelling: I have lost my brother. MY BROTHER!!!! And fuck the entire Carmine family that lost A, B and almost lost C Carmine because they were not a grunt with a cool name like Fenix!

      Reply

      • Alien Emperor Trevor

        February 19, 2014 at 09:20

        I’m not curious anymore.

        Actually I lie, I am – what is my motivation to dig for condoms? Are we searching for caches of buried cocaine? That seems more likely that hunting for latex, and the dirt would ruin the lube so it can’t be that. Although you never specified if they were used or not, but again the dirt would ruin that.

        Reply

        • SheHulkNigri

          February 19, 2014 at 09:44

          You dig for condoms cause you want to have sex. Because no store/stall can sell you a condom. Yes, weapons of nearly mass destruction you can get, but not a condom.
          Plus a dirt covered condom is not a bad thing. In fact, it is a reference to the Roman Catholic belief that sex with a condom is a sin, therefore dirty. See?

          Reply

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            February 19, 2014 at 09:53

            That sounds like a silly game. It would have to be co-op & I’m #foreverSP.

  17. Devourer of Small Bunnies

    February 19, 2014 at 11:02

    Tis a sad bit of news that. Made a little better by the idea of a new game. Still though 🙁

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Check Also

The CritCast Episode 15: Cybertron Pranks is up now for your listening pleasure!

There’s a tremendous amount of laughing in this episode, so if you don’t vibe with unbridl…