Why is Irrational Games Shutting Down? BioShock Creator Leaves 15 Staffers Out of Work

Irrational Games is closing shop as co-founder Ken Levine announced that the BiosShock creator will be starting a new venture and leaving 15 people out of work.

When asked why Irrational Games is shutting down, Levine wrote on the company’s website:

“I am winding down Irrational Games as you know it. I’ll be starting a smaller, more entrepreneurial endeavor at Take-Two. That is going to mean parting ways with all but about fifteen members of the Irrational team. There’s no great way to lay people off, and our first concern is to make sure that the people who are leaving have as much support as we can give them during this transition.”

Irrational Games Shutting Down May Mean the End of the BioShock Series â€" photo from Devian Art

Being one of the most popular game-making companies in the industry, Levine also expressed his remorse of parting ways with Irrational Games as he starts up his new and smaller endeavor Take-Two Interactive:

“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,” Levine said. “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 Ken Levine and the Irrational Games team have completed the last installment of BioShock that is set to be released on March 25, the future of the beloved series is yet to be seen.

Why Is Irrational Games Shutting Down? BioShock Creator Leaves 15 Staffers Out of Work.