When you see footage of Judas, the long-awaited new game from Ken Levine, it’s easy to feel a sense of déjà vu. A gun in one hand, strange powers in the other, and a stylized, crumbling world teetering on the brink of ideological collapse. It practically screams BioShock. But according to Levine himself, what we’re seeing is only skin-deep. He claims Judas is his “biggest radical departure” since the original BioShock, a game that will fundamentally change how players experience a story.
Looks Familiar, Plays Different
Let’s get the obvious out of the way. Yes, Judas is a first-person shooter where you wield weapons and powers. You’re trapped in a collapsing city-sized spaceship, the Mayflower, which is carrying the last of humanity to Proxima Centauri. The visual DNA it shares with BioShock is undeniable. However, Levine insists the similarities end there. The core of the game, how the world is populated, how you encounter enemies, and how the narrative unfolds, is where things get truly different.
Unlike the linear stories of BioShock, where the villain is always the villain, Judas is built on a foundation of dynamic relationships. The game’s structure is designed to react to you, the player, in a way that goes far beyond simple dialogue choices.
The Power of “Narrative Legos”
The secret sauce behind Judas is a concept Levine calls “Narrative Legos.” For years, he has talked about creating a game with a story that isn’t fixed, but can be assembled from different blocks, or “Legos,” based on the player’s actions. Judas is the full realization of that idea. On the Mayflower, there are three leaders: Tom, Nefertiti, and Hope. Your actions will draw you closer to some, and alienate others. Ignore one of them for too long, and they won’t just be upset; they will become your villain, gaining new powers and actively working to sabotage you.
Levine has openly said this system was heavily inspired by the Nemesis System from Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor, which created procedural, personal rivalries with orc captains. Judas aims to take that concept and apply it to a deep, character-driven story. Who you befriend and who you betray will fundamentally change the game you play. Your greatest ally in one playthrough could be your arch-nemesis in the next.
A Long and Winding Road
This level of ambition doesn’t come easy. Judas has been in development for nearly a decade, starting shortly after Levine closed his former studio, Irrational Games, in 2014. The project has been subject to reports of development hell and reboots, with an initial 2017 target being missed by a wide margin. More recently, the game was expected to launch by March 2025, but that window has also closed. Currently, there is no official release date.
While the long wait can be concerning, it also speaks to the incredible complexity of what Levine and his team at Ghost Story Games are trying to achieve. They are not just making another shooter; they are trying to build a new kind of storytelling engine.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Judas?
Judas is a new single-player, narrative first-person shooter from Ghost Story Games, the studio led by Ken Levine, the creative director of BioShock and System Shock 2.
How is it different from BioShock?
While it shares a similar art style and first-person combat, Judas features a dynamic, replayable story built with “Narrative Legos.” Your actions and relationships with the three main leaders determine who becomes the villain of your story.
What is the story about?
You play as Judas, a revolutionary aboard the Mayflower, a city-sized spaceship on its way to Proxima Centauri. Your goal is to survive by making and breaking alliances with the ship’s three powerful leaders.
Is it inspired by the Nemesis System?
Yes, Ken Levine has cited the Nemesis System from Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor as a key inspiration for the game’s reactive character relationships.
When is the release date?
There is currently no official release date for Judas. A previously stated target of March 2025 has passed, and the game’s release is now listed as “to be announced.”
Will it have microtransactions?
No. Ken Levine confirmed in July 2025 that Judas is a traditional single-player game focused on story, not monetization. You buy the game, and you get the full experience.
Conclusion
It’s easy to be skeptical of a game that has been in development for so long, but the ambition behind Judas is undeniable. Ken Levine isn’t just trying to recapture the magic of BioShock; he’s trying to push the boundaries of interactive storytelling itself. If he and his team can pull it off, Judas won’t just be a great game—it could be a landmark title that influences developers for years to come. For now, all we can do is wait and wonder which leader we’ll betray first.