Bioshock creator Ken Levine’s Judas has been in development for almost ten years, and now his studio Ghost Story Games are finally ready to show what its been working on all that time. While Judas is still a narrative-driven FPS in the style of the Bioshock games, it’s also a procedurally generated roguelite set in a dynamically-shifting open world. Here’s what we know so far.
Judas is fundamentally built around a concept Ken Levine calls “narrative Legos,” which he has been refining since his GDC talk by the same name all the way back in 2014. The concept mixes procedural generation with bespoke building blocks of narrative or dialogue, creating a game that can react to a player’s decisions in a way that feels natural.
“We call it pseudo-procedural because it’s not like Minecraft where everything’s being generated off a set of pure mathematical heuristics,” Levine explained in an interview with IGN. “You build all these smaller piece elements in the game and then you teach the game how to make good levels essentially, and good story, and most importantly, reactive to what you do.”
One of the most obvious ways this comes across in Judas is through the player’s interactions with the game’s three main NPCs–the ship’s former leaders Tom, Nefertiti, and Hope. The characters appear to Judas as holograms, and she can build relationships with them, or end up on their bad side–often angering the other two if she does a favor for one.
With their relationships always dynamically changing, so too will these characters’ interactions with Judas–if she’s annoyed them, they might reveal her location to enemies or stop her from accessing an important resource. If she’s on their good side, they might autonomously help out in combat or otherwise aid in an objective.
“Those scenes can happen anywhere and there’s tons of those different kinds of interactions,” Levine explained. “The dialogue can happen anywhere they appear to you … They’re not in cutscenes. You don’t have to watch ’em in cutscenes. They’ll appear wherever you walk, wherever you look.”
Another big departure from Bioshock’s classic formula is Judas’ roguelite elements. In Judas, death is just a part of the journey–in fact, the game opens with Judas being brought back from the dead. Health is purposefully scarce, and not always easy to access when surrounded by enemies.
Levine clarified that Judas is not specifically a roguelite or a strategy game, but it does pull elements from those genres. “You do have the opportunity when you die to go change yourself,” he explains, though adds that he doesn’t want to give too much away. “Improve yourself, change your tool chest, which is a pretty broad and variable tool chest, and change the Mayflower itself.”
Despite the departures from the Bioshock formula, previewers agree that Judas will feel fundamentally familiar to fans of Bioshock–especially the weapon set-up of having a weapon in one hand and an elemental power in the other.
GameSpot’s Lucy James previewed the game for the Friends Per Second podcast, and also discussed her first impressions with managing editor Tamoor Hussain for Spot On, which you can check out here.
Judas is expected to release by March 2025, and will be available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.
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3 Comments
I am beyond excited for the release of Judas, the successor to BioShock! The idea of a procedurally generated roguelite set in a world inspired by BioShock has me on the edge of my seat. The thought of exploring new environments and facing unpredictable challenges every time I play is thrilling. I can’t wait to dive into this unique gaming experience and see how it compares to its predecessor. Bring on the adrenaline-pumping action and strategic gameplay – Judas, I’m ready for you!
I am absolutely buzzing about the news of Judas being a procedurally generated roguelite successor to BioShock! The idea of exploring a constantly changing world filled with unique challenges and surprises has got me on the edge of my seat. I can’t wait to dive into this new adventure and see how the developers have put their own spin on the beloved BioShock formula. The thought of facing off against unpredictable enemies and uncovering hidden secrets has me counting down the days until I can get my hands on this game. Bring on the challenge, I’m ready for it!
I am beyond excited for Judas, the successor to BioShock! The idea of a procedurally generated roguelite set in a world inspired by BioShock’s intricate storytelling and immersive gameplay has me on the edge of my seat. The thought of exploring a constantly changing world filled with unique challenges and surprises has me itching to dive in and see what kind of experience awaits. I can’t wait to see how this game pushes the boundaries of the genre and delivers a fresh take on the beloved BioShock formula. Bring on the madness and mayhem, Judas!