Mikefizzled3712d ago

Just read this and I cannot believe it. At least they ended on a very very high note. Good luck to everyone for their future endeavours. They deserve it.

Nitrowolf23712d ago

This is so unexpected. Best of luck to all the meployees

guitarded773712d ago (Edited 3712d ago )

WTF?!?!? Why? I guess they're quitting while they're at the top of their game. They have enough money to go do small passion projects for a while. Maybe they'll come back with a big game after a few years.

ABizzel13712d ago

That sucks.

I was really looking forward to seeing more from them. Bioshock was one of my favorite IP's from the last generation. Best of luck to all of them, and if I could I would buy a good bunch of you up, and we'd be on our way to making greatness for the current generation of consoles.

Volkama3712d ago

Where are irrational based? What other studios are in the area that may take advantage of the talent that just became available?

Studios close, talent (hopefully) moves on and continues to deliver.

Black-Helghast3712d ago

Wow.. What a sad day to be a gamer :\ I just recently got into BioShock games and now irrational closes? </3

ABizzel13712d ago (Edited 3712d ago )

@Volkama

They're in Boston. They said other 2k teams will be picking people up, but outside of 2k Bethesda is the only developer I know close by.

Let me win the Powerball or Mega Millions, and I'll pick them up :D

badz1493712d ago

MY GOD! WTH? This news came out of nowhere! Does this means that the promised Bioshock for Vita is gone too? Sad day indeed but I think they just disband so they can get out of 2k and they are forming their own studio ala Respawn or Bungie! One can hope, right?

PLASTICA-MAN3712d ago

What about Bioshock PS Vita ?

blackbeld3712d ago

Unbelievable.

Sad but its real.

Aggesan3712d ago

Before you leave, where is that Bioshock for Vita that you promised me?

mewhy323712d ago

Well i hope that they have a great future but I would have liked so see what they could have done with the PS4.

pyramidshead3712d ago

it's beyond upsetting :(.

The future of BioShock games won't have Levine at the helm is devastating, that's on the assumption 2K decides to even make a next gen one. 2KMarin did a real good job on BioShock 2 to be fair.

Definitely going to be keeping an eye on what ever he makes.

Just feels like an unnecessary closure and end of an era.

Next gen BioShock games look bleak now, and that's a damn shame, despite showing some franchise fatigue and massive delays it was one of my favourite game franchises just because it was all quirky mostly playing on the FPS taking it out of the long line of military FPS shooters.

Kryptix3712d ago (Edited 3712d ago )

That's very surprising since Irrational Games set a new level of story telling with Bioshock and are in no financial struggle.

According to Kevin Levine, he wants to work with a small team for his next project which in a way, doesn't make sense since he can do that while having the rest of the employees work on something else. There's so much talent at Irrational Games and the fact they have to part ways saddens me but hopefully a lot of them join other studios to share their talent with.

I wish them the best of luck and hope that they're being taken good care of after the layoffs. Enjoyed their work with all Bioshock games so they deserve the best they can possibly get.

MWong3712d ago

This is so random and it sucks. I loved their games, I will miss the studio. I wonder what will happen to BioShock now?

InactiveUser3712d ago

@people above

Why would you want a dumbed down Vita BioShock when they can make a PS4 BioShock and you could play it on your Vita with remote play if you really wanted to? What a waste handhelds are in my opinion. (I own a Vita)

Yes, I know, for travel, etc. when you're out of range of remote play. Still, a big waste IMO.

Kidmyst3711d ago

Why do I have a strong feeling it has to do with Obamacare since several companies nationwide are "restructuring" to get around the new laws with it. It seem like he could just downsize and still turn over Bioshock to 2K anyways but keep the name and history of the company going. Most don't shut down a successful business, they either sell it and make Millions or continue to grow it.

+ Show (13) more repliesLast reply 3711d ago
-Foxtrot3712d ago

This is a sad day

I can't believe it, who the hell is going to create the next Bioshock games then. I mean I felt like they added the...

"There's always a lighthouse. There's always a man. There's always a city"

So they had a good reason to expand the Bioshock series into new directions. New themes, new characters, different setting, unique styles etc

So who will continue it now :|

SmielmaN3712d ago

Definitely unfortunate for bioshock fans, but he and his 15 man crew heading to Take-Two will be something to keep an eye on.

I_am_Batman3712d ago

"Who the hell is going to create the next Bioshock games then?"

I think they should put that series to rest. It's hard to imagine a Bioshock game without Ken Levine working on it. I do however look forward to see what Ken can do with a smaller team. Best wishes to all the talented people that have to go now. I hope they'll find a new job at another studio.

RetrospectRealm3712d ago

Irrational had nothing to do with BioShock 2. 2k Marin did it all. BioShock 2 is in no way a bad game, so we're not necessarily doomed.

Volkama3712d ago (Edited 3712d ago )

It's a weird one. Studios closing down because it's a cutt-throat industry is not uncommon, even good studios. But that isn't the case here, there is no indication of any financial difficulties at all.

While I don't know the full story, my initial impression from this statement is that Ken should be taking better care of his employees. It seems a bit of a jerk move to put good people through redundancy just because you feel like doing something else. Social responsibility starts with those around you.

Having said that I don't know the full story, and I don't know what kind of support they're giving to the people being laid off. Hopefully they're doing right be them.

Good luck to those out of work.

torchic3712d ago (Edited 3712d ago )

"I'm bored, so you're all fired"

a bit from a tweet I just saw on twitter that completely summarises the whole situation.

but I refuse to believe that is the case, far too cruel and unkind. if Ken wanted to go into a new dirrection he could've easily pulled a West & Zampella and started a new studio somewhere else and take a few talents from Irrational with him.

lack of money or Take Two giving orders has to be a part of it.

Deadpoolio3712d ago

Ken Levine is closing the studio, to start a smaller studio...It's not closing because 2k closed it or Infinite didn't do exceptionally well

Flavor3712d ago

The games industry is so unstable, with no long term employment guarantees, where the end of a project means having to find a new job and move with your family somewhere far away.

How could they do this to a successful talented team? Just because Ken wants to make casual 'indie' budget games with a higher profit margin than a big budget AAA title?

Yeah, that must be it. The money you get for making 2d low budget pixel garbage that you can play through in an hour is just as green as the cash you get for a AAA title that requires hundreds of talented people - who have to paid.

DaGR8JIBRALTAR3712d ago

wow! first the fat boys break up...now this!

WeedyOne3712d ago (Edited 3712d ago )

It is strange...

"In time we will announce a new endeavor with a new goal: To make narrative-driven games for the core gamer that are highly replayable. To foster the most direct relationship with our fans possible, we will focus exclusively on content delivered digitally"

I like all of that except for the part that says we will focus on content delivered digitally... That combined with a small team, are they making a phone game?!? I hope not!

It could mean they are going to focus on PSN games or Live arcade games... I mean every AAA type game has had at least the option to buy disks...

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 3712d ago
Xsilver3712d ago

all the good news today then boom they hit you with this life is real, i loved Bioshock 1 and infinite wish them the best creative minds like ken Levine will without a doubt create another memorable game.

Anon19743712d ago

Unexpected news. Bioshock was an absolute classic in my books and I'm just playing Infinite now and loving it. Good luck to their employees in their future endeavors.

starchild3712d ago

What the hell? This came out of nowhere. What a sad day...

MONOLITHICIDE3712d ago

Just finished Bioshock Infinite a few weeks ago. Finished in part of my major back log of games catch up time before all the ps4 games start rolling in, which starts in March in to the future!

DeadAccount693712d ago

I liked Infinite more than either of the first 2 games, so I'm seriously bummed. This sucks.

Oh_Yeah3712d ago (Edited 3712d ago )

Hopefully a studio like Bethesda picks the talent up. That'd be wonderful and they'd fit right in with games like dishonored, wolfenstien, and fallout.

kewlkat0073712d ago

I bet you his next project is mobile. .

hkgamer3712d ago

probably, its quite crazy how much money these mobile games make. However mobile games are like a lottery its pretty hard to plan something to go viral out of nothing.

Gamer19823712d ago

At first I thought they did this to get out from 2K games but the fact they are staying under 2K makes me wonder whats the point?? Downsizing is the main reason which makes me think they are just wanting to be the next telltale and make small impact games. At least thats the impression I got from the announcement which sucks really. They will pretty much be known as a one hit wonder with bioshock. Because as great as System Shock was it never hit the same heights thanks to it being pulled from shelves..

ssj273712d ago

Play Bioshock 2.. a good game..

Played Bioshock Infinity a very irregular average game.. maybe is my fault I play it after playing KILLZONE SHADOW FALL.. but it's indeed a very over hyper game, same goes with Metro last light, a very average game that is very over hyped.

tjg593712d ago

Bioshock infinite wasn't over hyped its story was way better than killzone shadowfalls story

e-p-ayeaH3712d ago

lolwut Metro last Light is a great game.

MysticStrummer3712d ago

Loved Bioshock.

Found Bioshock 2 so boring that I never finished it.

Never even tried Infinite. One friend loved it and raved about it, and another felt about it like I did about Bioshock 2 and never finished it.

Just goes to show… something… I forget.

Anyway, RIP Ken.

ssj273712d ago

Well I never played the original bioshock sadly but I do remember people saying it was better than part 2 which confirms that this devs where going from great to good and now bad from my experience and honest point of view.
Bioshock infinity is over hyped, look at meta critics it has a 94 hahha no way that game deserve such a high score, users have a more logical number 84 which I thibk is still way to high for a very average game.. and what history are you talking about? It's very bad and very Masonic stupid paganism stuff.. you got to be a psycho to think that it's a good campaign.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 3712d ago
Pogmathoin3712d ago

Good luck to them, and looking forward to their future....

GordonKnight3712d ago

Maybe games just cost way too much to make for the new current Gen. Systems.

Hugodastrevas3711d ago

Sony should hire all this talent at once. I wish all the best to everyone affected by this huge setback.

+ Show (15) more repliesLast reply 3711d ago
Visiblemarc3712d ago

I found myself wanting to hit the agree button under your comment like 100 times.

This is......what the hell is this?!

torchic3712d ago

pretty incredible. if it can happen to them it can happen to pretty much ANYONE

NarooN3712d ago

Yep. It's shit like this that makes you realize how crazy and unpredictable real life can be.

sam_job3712d ago

WTF.... why but..... seriously can't believe what i am reading....

Globox20123712d ago

Bioshock series is one of the greatest to come out in the past ten years. Good Luck to everyone. :)

Show all comments (162)
300°

Top 10 Rarest Xbox 360 Games That Are Worth a Fortune

Twinfinite: “War may never change, but the prices of rare games do!”

Read Full Story >>
twinfinite.net
Christopher267d ago

"And lastly, famous Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling helped to create the action-RPG’s setting. What’s really fascinating, though, is that the game was partially financed by taxpayers from Rhode Island (which allegedly lost the state millions of dollars). Yikes!"

1. Now infamous Schilling
2. No allegedly, it did. And they couldn't pay it back.
3. What really lost the money wasn't the SP release but the MMO they were working on. This was supposed to be an introduction into the MMO world.

Soy267d ago

I hate counting limited editions for these lists. I mean, they're made to be rare and expensive. It's far more interesting to hear about the NCAAs (even if most people know that one already) and the El Chavos than some massive hit that came with a $200 statue at retail.

gamerz267d ago

Me too. Here's the best I can do:

El Chavo Kart $90.14
NCAA Football 14 $87.72
Spiderman: Edge of Time $75.94
Spiderman Web of Shadows $75.09
Spiderman: Shattered Dimensions $67.76

Christopher266d ago

Wow, El Chavo Kart is not at all what I expected by the name. 100% looks like a Sackboy Kart game.

Soy266d ago

It's so odd that so many Spider-Man games are seemingly given lower print runs, even if they're not the best games.

jznrpg267d ago (Edited 267d ago )

Most Xbox games don’t hold as much value compared to other systems. Kameo, Blue Dragon, Last Remnant , and a handful or 2 of other games that I kept.

sadraiden267d ago

Fallout 3 and Bioshock Infinite are the rarest games of all time.

100°

8 Best Games Set In A Multiverse

One of the biggest TV and movie tropes in the last decade has been the multiverse, the idea of exploring multiple dimensions to uncover alternate versions of existing ideas. From both a business and creative perspective, it makes sense why established franchises are shaking things up in this way.

However, there aren't many video games latching on to this trend, as rendering multiple worlds in real-time is a difficult feat and the medium is relatively young in comparison to its contemporaries, making crossover opportunities more difficult. Still, there are a few great titles that manage enough to overcome these challenges, and here are some of the best examples.

Read Full Story >>
thegamer.com
Christopher286d ago

While I love someone mentioning Planescape, not really multiverse. Planes and dimensions, yes. But, they are typically their own locations and are very rarely tied to another 'verse' let alone another plane. The only things that are directly tied are the ethereal and material planes. Otherwise, they are dimensions created of their own design and goals by the creator/owner and not comprised of 'their own version of another dimension'.

90°

Bioshock Infinite vs Clockwork Revolution Comparison

See what a side-by-side comparison of Clockwork Revolution vs Bioshock Infinite looks like.