BioShock Studio Irrational Games Is Shutting Down

[Hong Kong Cavalier]

http://kotaku.com/bioshock-studio-irrational-games-is-winding-down-all-1525186316

Irrational Games, the studio that makes BioShock, is shutting down. BioShock creator Ken Levine said today that he plans to move on to smaller, narrative-heavy games that will be released digitally.

Levine, who ran Irrational, announced the news on the Irrational Games website today, noting that he'll be starting "a smaller, more entrepreneurial endeavor at Take-Two" and laying off all but 15 people.

"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," Levine wrote. "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."

[Bjorn Against]

1. Sad, they were one of the best studios out there

I remember when they were still known as Looking Glass software, they were probably my favorite PC developer of all time and then they went under only to reform later as Irrational Games. Now Irrational is done as well, it is a sad day for gaming.

The ending of Bioshock Infinite showed so much potential for the series to branch out as well, now it sounds like the series will either die or fall into new hands who probably do not have the same storytelling abilities that Ken Levine had, it is too bad.

[Warren DeMontague]

2. Shame.

Bioshock Infinite was one of the best games I've ever played.

[Ohio Joe]

3. The final years of Irrational Games, according to those who were there

The employees were shocked.

Irrational Games, the developer that created the BioShock series along with a number of other critically beloved video games, was viewed, by a number of sources close to the studio, as closure-proof: It had pedigree, talent and — to the outside world — creative carte blanche from its parent companies, 2K Games and Take-Two Interactive.

When the studio's co-founder and president, Ken Levine, invited the team of nearly 100 employees into a meeting about the company's history last month, many were surprised to realize, as the presentation progressed, that this very history was coming to an end.

More than a half dozen individuals who worked for Irrational Games during the development of BioShock Infinite, some of whom were there that final day, agreed to speak with Polygon anonymously about their experiences within the company. Additionally, one employee agreed to speak publicly.

http://www.polygon.com/2014/3/6/5474722/why-did-irrational-close-bioshock-infinite

Wow... I suggest reading this, a very interesting look at what happened. Some of the comments are pretty interesting as well.