Editing Irrational Games (section)

=== Closure and transition to Ghost Story Games (2014-2017)===
{{Main|Ghost Story Games}}
On February 18, 2014, Levine announced that the vast majority of the Irrational Games studio staff would be laid off, with all but fifteen members of the staff losing their positions. Levine said that he wanted to start "a smaller, more entrepreneurial endeavor at Take-Two," speaking to how much stress completing a large game like ''BioShock: Infinite'' had caused him.<ref name="gamespot shutdown"/> Levine said, "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."<ref name="gamespot shutdown"/> Levine had considered starting a new development studio for this, knowing that building the ideas would take several years before any game product would be made. Still, Take-Two offered to let him keep the division within Take-Two, with Levine saying that they told him, "there was no better place to pursue this new chapter than within their walls."<ref name="gamespot shutdown">{{cite web | url = http://www.gamespot.com/articles/bioshock-creator-irrational-games-is-shutting-down/1100-6417821/ | title = BioShock creator Irrational Games is shutting down | first = Eddie | last = Makuch | date = February 18, 2014 | access-date = February 23, 2017 | work = [[GameSpot]] | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170627074318/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/bioshock-creator-irrational-games-is-shutting-down/1100-6417821/ | archive-date = June 27, 2017 | url-status = live | df = mdy-all }}</ref> Take-Two considered this studio separate from Irrational Games, preventing Levine from using the name,<ref name="gi.biz 2014">{{cite web | url = http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2014-05-14-take-two-ceo-open-to-buying-more-studios | title = Take-Two CEO open to buying more studios | first = Chris | last = Morris | date = May 14, 2014 | access-date = May 14, 2014 | publisher = [[GamesIndustry.biz]] | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140514220336/http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2014-05-14-take-two-ceo-open-to-buying-more-studios | archive-date = May 14, 2014 | url-status = live | df = mdy-all }}</ref> and shutting down Irrational Games shortly after Levine had made his decision in 2014.<ref name="pcgamer levine 2025">{{cite web | url=https://www.pcgamer.com/games/ken-levine-never-expected-take-two-to-shutter-irrational-after-bioshock-infinite-the-decision-was-made-at-a-corporate-level/ | title=Ken Levine never expected Take-Two to shutter Irrational after Bioshock Infinite: 'The decision was made at a corporate level' | work=PC Gamer | last1=Stanton | first1=Rich }}</ref> Around 15 developers continued with Levine at this new studio;<ref name="gi.biz 2014"/> the remaining 75 staff were laid off, though 2K offered a career fair to help find jobs for the displaced developers.<ref name="gamespot shutdown"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.polygon.com/2014/2/28/5458470/irrational-games-closure-layoffs-75-job-fair-57-studios |title=Irrational Games closure led to 75 layoffs, job fair hosted 57 studios |date=February 28, 2014 |access-date=April 15, 2014 |publisher=Polygon |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140415081133/http://www.polygon.com/2014/2/28/5458470/irrational-games-closure-layoffs-75-job-fair-57-studios |archive-date=April 15, 2014 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref> According to Levine, in the years after the layoffs, several of the former Irrational staff had rejoined Take-Two and 2K under the studios that were working on a new ''BioShock'' title, though Levine himself was not involved.<ref name="pcgamer levine 2025"/>
 
By February 2017, Levine had announced the name of his new studio, [[Ghost Story Games]], with the focus focus "to create immersive, story-driven games for people who love games that ask something of them".<ref name="gamespot ghoststory">{{cite web | url = http://www.gamespot.com/articles/former-bioshock-studio-irrational-games-adopts-a-n/1100-6448166/ | title = Former BioShock Studio Irrational Games Adopts A New Name | first = Chris | last = Pereira | date = February 23, 2017 | access-date = February 23, 2017 | work = [[GameSpot]] | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170224174800/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/former-bioshock-studio-irrational-games-adopts-a-n/1100-6448166/ | archive-date = February 24, 2017 | url-status = live | df = mdy-all }}</ref>