Cloud Chamber, the studio tasked with reviving the decade-dormant BioShock series, has reportedly failed an internal review with 2K Games execs, resulting in a leadership shakeup.
Anonymous sources speaking to Bloomberg said it was the game’s narrative, in particular, that apparently failed to impress, and was “identified as an area in need of improvement [that] will be revamped in the coming months”.
Following the review, studio head Kelley Gilmore was ousted, and creative director Hogarth de la Plante moved into “a publishing role”. The rest of the Cloud Chamber team was told in an all-hands meeting that the company needed “to become more agile and efficient”. Colleagues are now worried that cuts may follow.
In response to the report, a 2K spokesperson acknowledged the change at the top of the studio to Bloomberg, saying it remained “fully committed to ensuring we deliver a BioShock game that exceeds the lofty expectations of our fans”.
“We are working hard to set BioShock up for the best possible future,” 2K Games said in a statement. “Right now, we have a good game, but we are committed to delivering a great one. We are working closely with leadership at the studio to define this path.”