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BioShock developer Irrational Games has laid off most of its staff, the firm’s creative director Ken Levine has announced.
In a statement on the official website, Levine said he was "winding down Irrational Games as you know it". The studio will retain 15 members of the original team.
He added that the BioShock IP will now be handled by 2K.
Levine will be staying with Take-Two, but starting what he calls a "small, more entrepreneurial endeavour". It’s not clear if he’ll be working under the 2K label or the Rockstar brand. And whether Irrational will continue as a brand.
"That is going to mean parting ways with all but about fifteen members of the Irrational team," said Levine.
"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.
"Besides financial support, the staff will have access to the studio for a period of time to say their goodbyes and put together their portfolios. Other Take-Two studios will be on hand to discuss opportunities within the company, and we’ll be hosting a recruiting day where we’ll be giving 3rd party studios and publishers a chance to hold interviews with departing Irrational staff."
