Publisher Take-Two has included Ken Levine’s new game ‘Judas‘ created by the mastermind behind BioShock, in its plans to release 87 games within the next few years. The release date is expected between now and March 31, 2025, as stated in the company’s recent earnings report. Although delays are possible, the name game is one of 38 mobile titles scheduled to be launched during this time.
Take-Two’s executive, Zelnick, expressed confidence in the company’s upcoming release slate during an interview with IGN. He acknowledged that not all games on the schedule might be released on time but expressed optimism in continuously delivering high-quality titles to the market.
Judas will be playable on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S when it becomes available. The initial trailer for the psychological first-person shooter was unveiled during December 2022’s The Game Awards event.
In December, Judas was introduced by Ghost Story Games, a new studio formed by Ken Levine after the closure of Irrational Games, the studio responsible for BioShock. The player steps into the shoes of Judas, a character surviving on a spaceship that is rapidly breaking down. To guarantee survival, Judas must establish alliances with their fiercest adversaries.
The reveal trailer for Judas displayed gameplay similar to BioShock, including a first-person viewpoint and utilizing various elemental powers and skills. Despite limited information about the game, it has been confirmed that it will be released on the PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC platforms through Steam and the Epic Games Store.
The 2022 Game Awards revealed Judas, the next game from BioShock’s lead developer Ken Levine and Ghost Story Games, as a surprising announcement. Despite leaks and rumors indicating that Judas would be distinct from BioShock, the reveal trailer showed clear similarities in tone and gameplay. Despite this, Judas may still have unexpected elements should Ken Levine’s ambitious game design plans come to fruition.
As stated in a report by Polygon, the development of BioShock Infinite was a complex and sometimes trying experience. To reconcile Levine’s artistic goals with the production of a marketable game, notable developers such as Jordan Thomas and Rod Fergusson stepped in to find a solution.
As reported by Game Developer, ghost Story Games is the successor of Irrational Games. Ken Levine, who serves as the creative director of Ghost Story, is a veteran of 24 years in the gaming industry, having been involved in creating classic titles such as Thief and System Shock 2. He is widely recognized for his work on BioShock, particularly for designing its frightening splicers. For the past eight years, Levine has hinted about the design of his future game through talks, including a GDC discussion with GameSpot about utilizing “narrative Legos” to build highly reactive and replayable video game environments.
In the beginning of the 2000s, Irrational Games, which was headed by Levine, developed various games. In 2002, they released Freedom Force, a tactical RPG that was influenced by Silver Age comic books. In 2004, Levine served as a writer for Tribes: Vengeance, a first-person shooter in the sci-fi genre. In 2005, Irrational Games released two more games: Freedom Force vs. The 3rd Reich, the follow-up to Freedom Force, and SWAT 4, which marked a move towards a more realistic and serious tone compared to their earlier games.
Levine and a group of former Irrational Games colleagues founded Ghost Story Games in 2017 to produce a single-player game focused on storytelling. Despite being in the works for many years, some people were skeptical that the game would ever be completed, especially after reports emerged suggesting it was facing development difficulties. However, Levine and Ghost Story Games still announced their upcoming title, Judas, at the Game Awards, regardless of these rumors.
According to a report from Bloomberg earlier this year, the game’s development has faced multiple setbacks, including reboots and direction changes from Levine. Levine had previously stated in 2015 that his next game would be a sci-fi first-person shooter, which Judas appears to be in line with.
Nearly six years after Ken Levine, the creator of BioShock launched the studio Ghost Story Games, it has unveiled its debut game. Although Judas is not a BioShock game, its trailer appeared at The Game Awards and borrowed from its visual design. It’s also a first-person shooter where you can use elemental powers.
As the main character, Judas, you play a “mysterious and troubled” individual stuck on a collapsing spacecraft. According to the Steam page, the only way to survive is by creating alliances with those who are your greatest enemies.
