BioShock creator Ken Levine is one of my favorite game designers of all time, but he broke my heart earlier this year. In February, Irrational Games shut down and laid off the majority of its staff, with only Levine and a select few staying. Ever since then the future of Irrational has been a mystery, but now they could finally be gearing up for their next project.
Irrational Games has resurfaced and started hiring again, according to the studio’s official website. There are currently two job listings available, with one of them making mentions of working in Unreal Engine 4 and recommending multiplayer experience. That doesn’t tell us as much as it used to, but it is an indication that Irrational has some direction again.
The Senior Programmer listing doesn’t reveal much else, aside from the expected AI and animation systems that you’d expect in any game really. It’s just great to see Irrational’s name in the news again, especially after the controversial events earlier this year. Instead of leaving the studio, Ken Levine laid off most BioShock staff and stuck with publisher Take-Two, teasing smaller, indie-like projects in the future.
This is probably the beginning of the new Irrational Games, which I suspect is going to be very different from the BioShock and System Shock games we remember them by. Ken Levine teased that the studio’s future projects would still be narrative-driven, but have a much smaller scope. It’s going to be a while until anything solid really surfaces, but at the very least Irrational Games is back.
Last Updated: November 24, 2014
ToshZA
November 24, 2014 at 09:04
I’m currently playing through Bioshock Infinite – what an incredible game. Combat could be harder, but everything else is fantastic.
Will be nice to see something new from at least some of those guys. 🙂
Hammersteyn
November 24, 2014 at 09:11
Elizabeth!
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 24, 2014 at 09:22
Hope you’ve got the Burial at Sea DLC as well, the first one isn’t the greatest but the second one is damn good.
ToshZA
November 24, 2014 at 09:24
Yeah I got the season pass along with the game. Was on special a few weeks ago. Cannot wait 😀
Mossel
November 24, 2014 at 09:23
Play it on 1999 mode without using vending machines! I still wouldn’t call it super difficult but there is a certain boss fight that had me pulling my hair out.
ToshZA
November 24, 2014 at 09:24
Now that sounds more like what I need in my FPS games 😀
Mossel
November 24, 2014 at 09:26
hehe and you get to be part of the elite 1% of the world that has the achievement on steam!
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 24, 2014 at 09:40
heh – finding all the trash cans in Bioshock 2 is also a 1% achievement. I’m… an elite janitor. :/
Mossel
November 24, 2014 at 10:27
Nice! xD
Peet Luckhoff
November 24, 2014 at 09:44
I am currently busy with such a playthrough, but cannot finish it!
Mossel
November 24, 2014 at 10:25
You can do it man! Just use the sniper rifle, bucking bronco and undertow. Then you are pretty much unstoppable!
Hammersteyn
November 24, 2014 at 09:09
Terrific news for a kak Monday. Ken Levine FTW
Rock789
November 24, 2014 at 09:16
I’m really keen to see what their next project is gonna be. After playing some of the great, narrative-driven, ‘smaller’ titles this year from developer powerhouses (like Child of Light and Valiant Hearts), I’m interested to see what sort of direction Irrational Games will take with it.
Hammersteyn
November 24, 2014 at 09:19
Both were surprise gems this year. *Sniff* that Valiant Hearts ending :'(
Rock789
November 24, 2014 at 09:24
I know, right?! Such a great game. Hits you right in the feels… **sniff** And it plays excellently. I loved it – gimme more of that!!
Skyblue
November 24, 2014 at 09:50
Worth playing then?
Rock789
November 24, 2014 at 09:55
Absolutely! I’d highly recommend those 2. Not the longest games in the world, but well worth playing. Particularly Valiant Hearts – I truly love that game!! The gameplay and the storyline are just fantastic!
Skyblue
November 24, 2014 at 09:58
Thx, on the list that never stops growing. Shorter games are sometimes a good thing as I find they get to point and get you invested far quicker than some of the bigger games out there… looking at you Ubishit.
Rock789
November 24, 2014 at 10:00
They’re actually both made by the indie arm of Ubisoft… **blushes**
But they are really good games – promise! 🙂
Mossel
November 24, 2014 at 09:20
http://www.reactionface.info/sites/default/files/images/1310650820313.jpg
Admiral Chief Wang
November 24, 2014 at 09:21
That was quite Irrational
Mossel
November 24, 2014 at 09:25
http://asset-3.soup.io/asset/3839/5008_395f.jpeg
Spaffy
November 24, 2014 at 09:25
Nice 😀
Mossel
November 24, 2014 at 09:27
This is officially my favourite venn diagram of all time! xD
ReaperOfSquirrels
November 24, 2014 at 09:44
hahaha epic
Admiral Chief Wang
November 24, 2014 at 09:58
Oooooh nice!
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 24, 2014 at 09:25
THAT was quite bad.
Skyblue
November 24, 2014 at 09:49
Just when I got happy in my pants I read “smaller, indie-like projects”. Fuck that, get the rights to System Shock back from those assholes at EA and lets see a remake.
Clay
November 24, 2014 at 18:01
At this point Ken Levine is about the worst thing that could happen to System Shock. He’s hooked on mass-market success now.
oVg Puer aeternus
November 24, 2014 at 10:28
lol I actually dusted off Bioshock Infinite this weekend. GREAT game.
TROY BAKER I LOVE YOU!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjbWQFHi4Aw
Sir Rants A Lot is a DADDY
November 24, 2014 at 11:40
Good
WitWolfy
November 25, 2014 at 07:22
All we can do is hope…