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Layoffs cutting BioShock developer Irrational Games down to team of 15 [Update]
BioShock developer Irrational Games is being cut down to a team of 15, Co-Founder Ken Levine revealed in an update on the studio's website. The developer was sitting strong at 200 employees fewer than two years ago. "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," Levine wrote. "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." Levine says that current staff will "have access to the studio for a period of time to say their goodbyes and put together their portfolios," and that other Take-Two studios will be available to "discuss opportunities within the company." Third-party developers and publishers will be able to participate in a "recruiting day" hosted by Irrational Games, offering outgoing employees interviews for other positions. Irrational's goal moving forward is "to make narrative-driven games for the core gamer that are highly replayable." Additionally, Levine says the developer will move into the digital space exclusively to "foster the most direct relationship with our fans possible." Irrational's latest game is BioShock Infinite, which will receive its Burial At Sea Episode 2 DLC on March 25. Levine says that while he's "handing the reins of our creation, the BioShock universe, to 2K so our new venture can focus entirely on replayable narrative," he's hoping the developer will "build something half as memorable as BioShock."
BioShock Infinite and Skyrim, Borderlands 2 and Dishonored retail bundles out today
Bethesda has launched a pair of multiplatform retail bundles collecting many of its best-reviewed games from recent years, including BioShock Infinite, Borderlands 2, and The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim. Bethesda's first "Award Winning Games" bundle includes Gearbox's first-person loot-'em-up Borderlands 2 and Arkane Studios' stealth-action game Dishonored. Today's second retail compilation offers up BioShock Infinite and Skyrim, with a bonus copy of the original BioShock thrown in to sweeten the deal. The two bundles are available for Windows PC, in addition to previously announced Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 editions. Each package is priced at $29.99. [Image: Bethesda]
BioShock Infinite: Burial at Sea Episode 2 surfaces next month
BioShock Infinite plunges into the second episode of its DLC campaign Burial at Sea on March 25, a worldwide release date that's confirmed for Xbox 360, PS3, and Windows PC. The game's third major DLC will be priced $15, or you can get it via the $20 season pass that also covers the previous two add-ons. The news comes shortly after series creator Ken Levine revealed the second episode will last around "five, maybe six hours." As we noted in our spoiler-coated review, the first episode of the single-player campaign takes around two hours to complete. Talking of spoilers, there's a rather large one given away by a newly released Episode 2 screenshot - we'll just link to it here. Now it's up to you to keep your hands over your eyes and ears for the next seven or so weeks. [Image: Take-Two Interactive Software]
BioShock Infinite: Burial at Sea Episode 2 trailer sits down for a chat
No surprises here: Spoilers Ahoy in this trailer for the third piece of DLC for BioShock Infinite, Burial at Sea Episode 2. Sadly, no spoilers on its release date, simply listed as "coming soon" in the video. The DLC follows on from the sea-bound episode released back in October. The second episode is expected to be priced $15 like the first, which owners of the $20 season pass don't have to pay.
BioShock Infinite on sale for $10 on PC and Mac, $20 on PS3 through Amazon
The PC and Mac versions of BioShock Infinite are currently discounted to $10 on Amazon, $20 off the game's list price. The sale price applies to both digital and boxed versions of the game. Additionally, players can pick up the PS3 version for $20 on the retailer's site. Of course, BioShock Infinite is free for PlayStation Plus members on PS3 this month, so those looking to check the game out at a discount may be better off picking up a three-month subscription at the standard rate of $17.99.
Bethesda, 2K Games $30 bundles: Skyrim & BioShock Infinite, Dishonored & Borderlands 2
Bethesda is palling up with 2K Games on an Elder Scrolls/BioShock bundle again, this time for BioShock Infinite and Skyrim. It's not the only cross-pub bundle on the way; there's also one for Dishonored and Borderlands 2. Both bundles are priced $30 and are due to arrive on February 11. It may seem a bit of an unusual union, but there's precedent: The two publishers teamed up on an "Award Winning Combo" bundle for Oblivion and the original BioShock back in 2009. We've reached out to Bethesda to find out more details, including which editions of the various games are being included. Update: A Bethesda spokesperson told Joystiq each game is the base edition, with no DLC bundled in. Also, the bundles are on PS3 and Xbox 360, and for North America only.
BioShock movie concept art emerges from Hollywood's depths
The BioShock movie isn't going to happen, but if it ever does, this is how it might look. Concept art from Hollywood illustrator Jim Martin depicts the underwater world of Rapture in BioShock, including grand, greenish cities and dank sewage tunnels. Rapture's interior has already fallen into disrepair in Martin's concepts, with one illustration showing dingy, peeling wallpaper, and another depicting a rusty Big Daddy repair room. The BioShock film is officially dead, after years of budget and talent negotiations. In 2008, Gore Verbinski announced he would direct a hard-R BioShock movie, and he wanted $200 million to make it as bloody as possible. Hollywood executives would only shell out $80 million, and Verbinski dropped out. 28 Weeks Later director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo jumped on board but then leapt right back off in 2012. BioShock creator Ken Levine killed the project himself. Ah, what could have been. See all of Martin's BioShock concept art on his portfolio.
Kindly watch this BioShock Infinite: Burial at Sea Part 1 trailer
Take heed, citizen: There are spoilers lurking in this launch trailer for the first part of BioShock Infinite's Burial At Sea DLC, as there are in our review of it. To give you the lowdown, Richard thought it was "aggressive, salty and often clumsy" and "all too brief." You can try it out for yourself starting today on the Xbox Games Store, PlayStation Network, and Windows PCs, where it's priced at $15. It's also available via the $20 Season Pass, which includes access to the already released Clash in the Clouds arena pack, the Early Bird Special Pack, and the upcoming second Burial at Sea episode.
BioShock Infinite: 'Burial at Sea Part One' review: That sinking feeling
This is a review of downloadable content for BioShock Infinite. As such, it may contain spoilers for the main campaign. Ham-fisted is one of my favorite expressions. As a term meaning awkward or graceless, it's wonderfully evocative. You can easily imagine someone desperately trying to shove a ham somewhere it was never meant to go, perhaps into a Volkswagen's gas tank. Or you might picture a fist literally made of ham: two indelicate things, indelicately smashed together It's also a good fit for the first episode of BioShock Infinite's 'Burial at Sea' DLC, which is aggressive, salty and often clumsy.
Bioshock Infinite: Burial at Sea Episode 1 takes the plunge next month
Burial at Sea Episode 1 is dated for November 12, and the second piece of BioShock Infinite DLC will be available to download on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC for $14.99 (or as part of the season pass). A friendly reminder, citizen: This is the first episode of the two-part Burial at Sea saga, and the second currently-in-development episode remains without a date or release window. It's tough to go deep (ho ho ho) into Burial at Sea without spoilers, but if you can take a modicum of spoilage, check out our video preview of Booker's underwater undertaking.
BioShock Infinite DLC heralds the return of the weapon wheel
BioShock Infinite's forthcoming Burial at Sea DLC will re-introduce the series' classic weapon wheel mechanic, level designer Andres Gonzalez revealed during a recent Reddit AMA session. Previously featured in BioShock and BioShock 2, the weapon wheel pauses in-game action while players select from an arsenal of available firearms and abilities. BioShock Infinite ditched the mechanic in favor of a new system that limited players to two equipped weapons at any given time. Gonzales notes that the wheel mechanic will make its return alongside new plasmids and weapons exclusive to the Infinite's Burial at Sea chapters. "I can tell you that for Burial at Sea: Episode 1 we added new weapon, a new Plasmid, new Gear, Tears and we brought back the weapon wheel," Gonzalez said. "As far as upgrades go, there are upgrades available for Plasmids and you can upgrade the new weapon."
Watch the opening five minutes of BioShock Infinite: Burial at Sea
The first five minutes of BioShock Infinite: Burial at Sea - Episode 1 features plenty of dialgoue, so it should come as no surprise there are spoilers. The DLC returns to the depths of Rapture, but the underwater metropolis is not as you may remember it. The first of the two Burial at Sea episodes is due this holiday. Check out our video preview for the views of Joystiq big daddy Alexander Sliwinski - again, spoiler warnings ahoy.
BioShock Infinite: Burial at Sea swims with the fishes this holiday
BioShock Infinite: Burial at Sea Episode 1, the first of two pieces of downloadable content that return players to BioShock's city of Rapture, will be available this holiday season. During a recent visit to Irrational Games, studio head Ken Levine said part one will be out "before the holiday" and there's still uncertainty about episode two. Irrational's Director of Marketing Leonie Manshandan said, "It's not done yet, we don't have a date yet." We covered some of the details (no spoilers) of episode one in our video preview. Episode two will have players take a walk in Elizabeth's shoes. The two packs are priced at $14.99 apiece, but can also be purchased in the BioShock Infinite Season Pass.
Former Epic, Irrational head Rod Fergusson starts new 2K studio
Rod Fergusson is launching a new studio for 2K Games in the San Francisco Bay area, he announced in a tweet today. The studio is already working on something new: "It's official: I'm launching a new studio for 2K in the Bay Area with an exciting new project! Details soon!" Fergusson most recently spent a year at Irrational Games, a subsidiary of 2K Games, as Executive VP of Development, where he helped polish up BioShock Infinite. Before that, Fergusson was Director of Production at Epic Games.
BioShock Infinite down to $20 on Xbox Games Store
The price of a ticket to reach the floating city of Columbia just got a whole lot cheaper. If you're looking to play Irrational Games' latest, BioShock Infinite, the game has been reduced to $20 on the Xbox Games Store. There's no telling whether this is a permanent price reduction or limited-time sale, so if you're interested, you may want to act fast. BioShock Infinite launched earlier this year and has since issued one DLC pack, the Clash in the Clouds arena combat pack. Another add-on episode, Burial at Sea, is also in the works and takes players down to Andrew Ryan's underwater metropolis Rapture – the setting for the first BioShock game.
BioShock Infinite 'Clash in the Clouds' DLC brings the fight to Mac
Mac gamers need no longer miss out on BioShock Infinite's first DLC add-on, Clash in the Clouds, as it's available on Mac through Steam today. Clash in the Clouds is a $5 arena combat mode where players take on waves of progressively more difficult enemies across four different maps. By completing challenges, players unlock additional concept art, Voxophones and Kinetoscopes. BioShock Infinite launched earlier this year and has gone on to sell over four million copies.
BioShock series on sale at Green Man Gaming
Green Man Gaming is offering big discounts on the BioShock series. The original BioShock and the 2K Marin-made sequel, BioShock 2, are $5 each, while BioShock Infinite is down to $20. The discounts don't extend to the recently released arena combat mode, Clash in the Clouds. Two more add-ons have been announced for BioShock Infinite, including a return trip to Rapture in Burial at Sea and a following episode where players will assume the role of Elizabeth.
Your BioShock Infinite Songbird plushie is on the way
Remember those BioShock Infinite-based Songbird plushies? The ones that were available for pre-order in May, and stood at seven inches tall with 14-inch wingspans? Irrational Games tells Joystiq that the plushies started shipping as of yesterday, so those pre-ordered songbirds will fly to their new homes soon. Irrational Games also notes that all new purchases will ship in one or two business days. The $55 songbird plushies are still in stock, available through the developer's store.
BioShock Infinite loops onto Mac this month
The sky city of Columbia opens its doors to Mac owners on August 29, when a BioShock Infinite port will inject itself into Steam, the App Store, and other online portals, priced at $60. In Aspyr Games' announcement, the Mac publisher revealed pre-orders placed through its GameAgent store will get the Columbia's Finest DLC, which came with Premium and Ultimate editions of the game at launch. The inventory-boosting DLC includes 500 Silver Eagles, 5 lockpicks, 6 gear items exclusive to it, and a couple of weapon upgrades. Finally, Aspyr told us it hopes to make the just-released Clash in the Clouds multiplayer DLC available "ready on or very close to" the Mac version's launch. Publisher 2K Games also unveiled the narratively-focused two-part DLC Burial at Sea this week, but that remains undated for all versions.
Take-Two posts $143 million net revenue in Q1, raises yearly outlook
Take-Two reported $142.7 million in net revenue during Q1 2014, down from $226.1 million in Q1 2013. It drew a net operating loss of $61.9 million this quarter, compared with $110.8 million from 2013 – the company contributed part of the loss to software development costs of a canceled 2K game that totaled $29.6 million. Take-Two attributes its first quarter net revenue to sales within Borderlands 2, NBA 2K13, Grand Theft Auto 4 and BioShock Infinite. Infinite sold more than 4 million units to date, CEO Strauss Zelnick said during Take-Two's financial call. Zelnick said he expected Grand Theft Auto 5 and 2K sports games to bolster Take-Two's fiscal 2014 numbers later this year. "With Grand Theft Auto 5 launching on September 17, followed by the releases of NBA 2K14 and WWE 2K14, fiscal 2014 is poised to be one of our best years ever," he said. "Looking ahead, we are well-positioned to capitalize on the opportunities presented by the upcoming launches of the next-generation consoles." Take-Two increased its outlook for fiscal year 2014 from $1.775 billion to $1.875 billion in non-GAAP net revenue.
