Judas by BioShock Creator Promises ‘No DLC, No BS’ — Just One Full Game, Old-School Style

In an era of bloated season passes and piecemeal content, Ken Levine’s Judas throws it back: a full game, no post-launch paywalls and no extra fluff.

If you’ve played BioShock, then Ken Levine needs no introduction. Now, the iconic creator is back with Judas, and he’s doing things differently. Or perhaps… doing things like they used to be done. After years of being neck-deep in GaaS titles and early-access teases, Judas is heading in the opposite direction. In a recent interview with Eurogamer, Levine stated bluntly, “[Judas is] old school. You buy the game, and you get the whole thing.”

Published by Ghost Story Games, the studio Levine founded post-Irrational Games, Judas is a first-person narrative shooter slated to launch on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. What’s notable is not just who’s making it, but how they’re choosing to distribute it: no planned DLC, no live service hooks, and no microtransactions. In Levine’s words, “This is how games used to be.” And frankly? That kind of talk resonates loudly after years of nickel-and-dime culture.

It’s been over a decade since BioShock Infinite, and fans have been itching for something new from Levine. With Judas, there’s an unmistakable spiritual link to the DNA of Rapture and Columbia—futuristic tech, heavy philosophical undertones, and strong female characters. The mystery-soaked world of Judas includes floating cities again, with an AI governor named Tom who is literally breaking apart society to “fix” it.

No DLC? That’s Not Just Bold — It’s Strategic

Let’s be clear: When a developer says “no DLC,” gamers these days tend to take it with a pinch of salt. But Levine’s comments feel notably more grounded. “We have no plans for post-launch monetisation,” he said, adding that it would be a self-contained narrative with “enough replayability through choices and player agency.” It’s not just a story-driven shooter—it’s one designed to change around you every time you play.

So what’s in the game that might justify that one-time purchase? Judas features a unique companion system, where players interact with three major characters—each of them former friends (or enemies) who can either help or ruin your mission depending on your choices. Your ability to manipulate AI factions in real time makes story consequences dynamic, and not just illusion-of-choice fluff. Basically, if you liked making decisions in Telltale Games or Disco Elysium, Judas wants to up that ante—but with guns and biotech powers.

Visually, Judas shows an upgraded Unreal 5 engine punch. The aesthetic carries BioShock’s stylised retro-futurism, but with even more modernity mixed in. Expect slick metal corridors, exaggerated facial animations, and high-contrast neon chaos. It’s polished, shiny and weird—in the best way possible.

The release date hasn’t been pinned down with a day just yet, but publisher Ghost Story Games confirmed a narrow launch window of early 2026. There’s been no announcement of preorder perks or collector’s editions yet—but expect movement on that by late 2025.

What’s also refreshing? The game won’t be geo-locked or released in staggered zones. It’s a straight-up, global launch across the board from Day 1.

As for pricing, while not officially confirmed, insiders suggest Judas will launch at a premium standard of £59.99 / €69.99 / $69.99 / RM329 across digital and physical stores. No subscription exclusives (like Game Pass) have been announced, meaning you’re paying for access—but what you get is all of it.

This full-package model is a rare stance in 2025, and it’s making waves. Indie darling studios like Meridian4 have already commented that Judas could spark a slow shift away from “live service dependency.” It’s debatable whether this changes the AAA strategy en masse, but for story-focused gamers who want completeness? Judas could be a template.

For all those exhausted by paywalled endings and Battle Pass season grinds, this might just be the beginning of something… or rather, a return to something sorely missed: buy the disc, load it up, play the whole damn thing.