The Take‑Two executive explained why, after 12 years of work, the company still invests in the nonlinear shooter Judas from BioShock developer.

Take‑Two Interactive explains how the game Judas fits into their funding strategy

Take‑Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick shared details about the company’s approach to developing and supporting projects in a Bloomberg interview. He noted that the increase in game production costs is justified only when it comes to “large-scale blockbusters.” In such cases, Take‑Two is ready to take on the corresponding risks.

However, Zelnick emphasized the need for a more prudent approach to certain franchises and types of games. If development isn’t progressing properly, the company must reassess or even cancel the project. To do this, the team conducts regular reviews (every three months), evaluating progress and confidence in success.

Judas – an example of a long‑term project

The game Judas is being developed by Ghost Story Games under the direction of Ken Levine, known as the creator of BioShock. Work on the project began in 2014; preproduction lasted five years, and the official announcement came only in 2022. At present there is no exact release date.

Despite the prolonged development, the company does not consider canceling Judas. Zelnick expressed full confidence in Levine’s vision and stated: “We firmly believe in Ken and support his ideas; ultimately this decision will be sensible.”

Platforms and story

Judas is planned for PC (Steam, EGS), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S. Players take on the role of Judas, who must escape from the wrecked spaceship “Mayflower,” where the heroine leads to catastrophe.

Thus, Take‑Two demonstrates a balance between supporting ambitious projects and rigorously assessing their viability.