Everything We Know About Judas, The Upcoming RPG From The Director Of BioShock

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Back at last year’s Game Awards, I got wind of an intriguing project by none other than Ken Levine, the mastermind behind BioShock. His new narrative-driven RPG, titled Judas, is still veiled in enigma, being developed under his freshly minted studio, Ghost Story Games. Naturally, fans have been quick to tag it as “BioShock in space,” but as the release date inches closer, it’s evident that while Judas undeniably carries a torch lit by the series that catapulted Levine into fame, it’s much more than just BioShock with a cosmic makeover. Judas is carving out its unique niche.

With limited information available so far, trailers, special events, and developer discussions have provided a more defined image of what players can anticipate from Levine’s new project. For those eager to unravel the mysteries of this enigmatic RPG, continue reading for a comprehensive overview of Judas, including plotlines, gameplay elements, and all the details in between.

Table of Contents [hide]

  • When does Judas launch?
  • What platforms is Judas releasing on?
  • What is Judas about?
  • Judas gameplay details
  • Judas trailers

When does Judas launch?

Initially, it was planned that Judas would be launched in March 2025, but March arrived without any updates or announcements from Levine or the team at Ghost Story Games.

At present, neither an official nor tentative launch date has been set for the game titled Judas. On its Steam page, it is noted as being released soon, while Take-Two Interactive simply states that the release date remains undisclosed in their latest earnings report.

What platforms is Judas releasing on?

Judas will launch on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.

What is Judas about?

The description on Steam says, “A crumbling spacecraft. A last-ditch strategy for escape. You are the enigmatic and tormented character Judas. To survive, you must form or shatter allegiances with your sworn adversaries. Will you collaborate to repair the damage you’ve caused, or let it all go up in flames?

As a gamer, I’ll be slipping into the boots of Judas, a resilient woman living and laboring aboard The Mayflower, a spaceship that’s been hit by a catastrophe. It seems like Judas might have played a role in this disaster, but survival is my only priority now. The ship has taken a beating, with sections breaking off, areas depressurizing, and fires erupting. My mission? Stay alive, no matter the sacrifices I need to make.

As a fervent admirer, I can’t help but notice that the central character’s name, Judas, hints at betrayal being a significant motif in this game’s storyline. However, it remains unclear whether Judas represents the traitor or the one who has been deceived. What piques my curiosity is the trailers’ frequent depictions of androids with human-like features, but each sporting a luminescent green symbol on the back of their hands – could these symbols hold the key to understanding the theme of betrayal?

In the game’s introduction, a clearly hurt Judas exclaims, “This ship is perishing, and I see no escape except by joining forces with one of them.

It’s plausible that Judas might be a robot or highly advanced AI, considering she appears to have glowing green circles on her hand and demonstrates abilities similar to Plasmid powers. Alternatively, she could be a human character with extensive mechanical enhancements, reminiscent of the protagonist V from Cyberpunk 2077. However, if Judas is indeed a human, it seems she has undergone an extraordinary amount of augmentation, as game footage shows her surviving in open space without any protective gear.

The storyline of the game might incorporate time travel as an element, given a fast edit in one trailer showing Judas close to a wall calendar displaying 1979. Yet, it could simply be a deception since certain dialogues from Judas hint at a universe where thoughts are monitored by a Big Brother-like entity, and artificial memories can be inserted into the robotic inhabitants of the station, similar to Westworld.

In the trailers of this game, other scenes hint at “The Big Three,” a powerful trio who previously ruled The Mayflower. This group consists of Hope, a youthful woman with pink locks and a whimsical style; Nefertiti, a woman endowed with bizarre mechanical skills and a keen fashion sense; and Tom, a middle-aged man donning a cowboy hat. It seems that these three characters are Judas’s adversaries, and the players might need to decide which one Judas will flee the ship alongside.

In one of the trailers, Judas declares, “I’m liberating you,” as she disregards the computer terminal’s alarms warning about an impending disaster upon pushing the button. “Regardless of your preference.

Based on the trailers, it appears that the game is likely to receive a Mature (M) rating. This classification from the Entertainment Software Rating Board means the game is typically suitable for those aged 17 and above, as it might contain strong or frequent violence, gory scenes, sexual content, and/or profanity.

Judas gameplay details

Although ‘Judas’ being described as ‘BioShock in space’ is an enticing summary, the game seems to be much more unique than just a BioShock clone based on its current presentation. It shares some similarities with the BioShock series as it’s a narrative-driven first-person shooter RPG created by the same developer, but ‘Judas’ distinguishes itself from Ken Levine’s previous projects in numerous ways.

One significant distinction between Judas and the BioShock series lies in their gameplay structure. While BioShock follows a linear storyline, Judas is a procedurally generated roguelite, meaning it changes every time you play.

In a conversation, Levine clarified that we don’t refer to this as procedural like Minecraft, where everything is based on mathematical rules. Instead, we construct various elements within the game first, and then we train the game to create good levels, narratives, and most crucially, respond to your actions.

In this game, The Big Three characters seem as holograms to Judas, and her interactions with each of them significantly impact the storyline. Performing a favor for one member of The Big Three boosts their affection towards Judas, but it might upset at least one of the others, and resentment can lead to trouble. If Judas angers one member, they could retaliate by informing another member about her strategies or whereabouts. It’s evident that Judas’ character development, particularly in regards to player decisions, is more complex than BioShock’s straightforward “Save the Little Sisters or act like a cold-hearted villain” dilemma.

Regarding the “roguelike” aspects of the game, Levine mentions that death plays a significant role. Health-restoring items are hard to come by, and foes are abundant throughout.

According to Levine, upon dying, there’s a chance for you to reinvent yourself. This involves self-improvement, upgrading your skillset – a versatile collection of abilities – and even transforming the journey itself, symbolized by the Mayflower.

To learn about how Judas was played in the game, take a look at Lucy James’ analysis of it, who is a senior producer at TopMob and spent five hours playing the game during a preview event that took place in 2024.

Judas trailers

Check out all the trailers for Judas below.

Judas reveal trailer:

Judas story trailer:

While Judas doesn’t resemble BioShock in every aspect, it carries distinct traces of Ken Levine’s past creations. These include a bleak, dystopian backdrop, powers reminiscent of Plasmids, and outlandish scenarios such as riding on a colossal robotic hound much like boarding a Bathysphere.

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2025-05-30 20:39