Ken Levine, Founder and creative director at Irrational Games, the minds and talent behind Bioshock and Bioshock Infinite, has released a public letter revealing large staff layoffs and internal changes in development focus.
"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." wrote Levine. "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."
The letter goes on to detail how all of the staff being let go will be allowed to stick around to say goodbyes and create portfolios for future work.
Ken Levine's goal is to make more repayable, narrative-driven games for core gamers. They will also focus on digital content only.
Read the entire letter here and shed a tear or two with me for one of the most well respected studios in games today.
Good luck to all those who lost their jobs as well as Ken's new, smaller team in their future projects.
