Ken Levine talks about the stress, difficulties, and consequences after the closure of Irrational Games, which released BioShock Infinite
In the latest issue of Edge magazine, Ken Levine, the legendary creator of the BioShock series, shared his memories of his career, from working at Looking Glass Studios to creating Ghost Story Games and the upcoming Judas game. He paid special attention to the closure of Irrational Games, which came as a shock not only to the team but also to the entire industry.
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BioShock Infinite, released in March 2013, received favourable reviews and high sales, but less than a year later, on 8 February 2014, Levine announced the closure of the studio and the dismissal of most employees. According to him, this decision came as a surprise even to him: "Closing Irrational was difficult. I felt out of place in this role. As a creative director, I was suddenly forced to become a manager without proper training."
Levine admits that during the development of Infinite, his mental health was at risk due to stress and personal issues, including the loss of his parents. "I just couldn't take it anymore and didn't think I had the trust of the team," he says.
Unfortunately, the decision to close the studio was made at the corporate level.
Now, looking back, he believes that everything possible was done to mitigate the effects of the layoffs: "We tried to make the transition as painless as possible for the team." Many employees returned to work on a new project, while others started their own companies.
Levin emphasises that although the situation was difficult, it has led to the emergence of new young entrepreneurs in the industry. "I am proud that despite the negative circumstances, many young people were ready to start a new life."
And now we wonder what new things Ken will be able to show us with his game Judas, which is due out this year.
Source: Edge
