Ken Levine, the visionary behind BioShock, has shared some exciting updates regarding his upcoming project, Judas. After a long period of silence, Levine, who disbanded Irrational Games years ago to form Ghost Story Games, spoke candidly about the game’s direction in a recent interview.
The new title promises to embrace the roots of traditional single-player games, offering a refreshing break from the increasingly monetized gaming landscape.
During an interview with Lawrence Sonntag from Nightdive Studios, Levine expressed his excitement that his team was allowed to design Judas without any live service elements like microtransactions. ‘I grew up playing single-player games, and I grew up before certain types of monetization existed. I’m not here to say if monetization is bad or good, but I know the kind of games I want to make,’ Levine shared. He emphasized that Judas is a ‘very old-school’ game where players get the full experience for a one-time purchase, with no hidden costs down the line.
Levine acknowledged the industry trend toward adding live services in modern games, but he was grateful that his team at Ghost Story Games was given the creative freedom to focus purely on the narrative and player experience. ‘There are no ulterior motives. We just want to entertain the player and let them have a complete, uninterrupted experience,’ he explained. Levine’s approach reflects the success of recent single-player titles like Baldur’s Gate 3, Cyberpunk 2077, and The Witcher III: Wild Hunt, which have been praised for delivering meaningful, immersive experiences without heavy monetization.
While Judas remains without a release window, Levine’s optimism shines through, promising a game that’s all about the player’s joy, free from the pressures of live service requirements. Fans of BioShock and classic single-player games can’t wait to see what’s next for Levine and his team.