Ken Levine, creator of BioShock, has offered new details about his upcoming game, Judas. In an extensive discussion with Lawrence Sonntag from Nightdive, Levine characterized Judas as a game in the “old-school” vein, noting its deliberate avoidance of contemporary trends such as online modes and live services.
“You purchase the game, and you receive the complete experience,” he stated. “There are no online components, no live services, because everything we do is focused on delivering the narrative and immersing the player.”
Levine clarified that he isn`t criticizing developers who choose to make games with these models, understanding that they require significant investment and companies seek a return. He expressed gratitude that his studio, Ghost Story Games, is given considerable autonomy by its owner, Take-Two. “We are very fortunate to work for a company that has sufficient faith in us,” he commented, “to say, `Alright, you`ve been developing this project for a considerable time, it will cost a fair sum of money, and we won`t impose any of those elements on you.`”
He also pointed to recent market successes among games that lack live service features and significant online elements, citing titles like Baldur’s Gate 3, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.
“These titles are fundamentally traditional single-player experiences,” Levine explained, “and they do not incorporate that sort of monetization. I believe audiences appreciate such games, particularly in the AAA sector, where development costs can be so high that publishers often seek alternative monetization strategies.” He added, “I am simply thankful that we are permitted to avoid that approach, as it allows us to design the game purely for the player`s enjoyment.”
Judas was announced several years ago but still lacks a specific release date or window. It is currently planned for release on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.
This is Levine`s first major project since BioShock Infinite, released in 2013. A 2022 report indicated the game was initially targeting a 2017 launch but has faced significant delays, often described as “development hell.” The report mentioned that while Levine was granted time and creative latitude to fulfill his vision for Judas, this “absence of oversight initially seemed ideal” but ultimately proved “detrimental,” according to developers.
Mike Snight, who previously collaborated with Levine at Irrational Games and followed him to Ghost Story, described working for Levine as “very challenging.” Snight and half of the original development team for Judas eventually left the studio. Levine reportedly told staff that the funding provided by Take-Two to Ghost Story was merely a “rounding error” for the parent company known for GTA. Analyst Michael Pachter suggested that Take-Two is likely to afford Levine all the time needed for the project.
Regarding the BioShock franchise, Take-Two`s 2K division is developing a new installment at Cloud Chamber. Levine is not involved in this project, and it also does not have a release date yet.