BioShock 4 is in development from a new studio under the 2K banner called Cloud Chamber. This news was confirmed in December 2019, with the title expected to be in development for several years. There are very few officially confirmed details about the new game, outside of it being made by a new studio without the series creator, Ken Levine. There is enough information after being circulated, however, that infers several key characteristics about the game, and what changes that fans of the franchise could expect. While the studio is comprised of series veterans, it seems as though there could be some changes ahead.
With BioShock Infinite having been released in 2013, it’s been a long time since fans have seen a new, original title in the series. Other than the release of BioShock: The Collection, the series hasn’t been very active, until the announcement of BioShock 4 in 2019. The franchise is beloved by gamers, with each entry receiving varying degrees of critical acclaim. Due to this reputation and the passage of time, the new developer Cloud Chamber has a tall task ahead of them in bringing BioShock to a new generation. Re-treading what has come before might delight some fans, but it might not be the direction that Cloud Chamber is adopting.
One large aspect of the franchise that won’t be changed is that it will be a narrative-led, first-person shooter game. This much was confirmed by 2K on Twitter, when the formation of Cloud Chamber and the development of a new BioShock title were formally revealed. Cloud Chamber posted several job vacancies that suggest the new game is going to include more RPG elements.
Among the positions included a Senior Voice Designer, with required experience including work on RPGs and they would be responsible for crafting a dialogue system. Additionally, a Systems Designer position mentioned that the successful candidate would be helping with an “emergent sandbox world”, suggesting this will be a true open-world. Previous games have included open-world elements but never fully adopted that style of environment.
Perhaps the most anticipated news for fans is the location of the new game, and it sounds as though players won’t be venturing back to Rapture or Columbia. Several job listings refer to Cloud Chamber wanting talent who will assist in breathing life into a new, fantastical world. While fans would undoubtedly enjoy a return to Rapture or Columbia, BioShock 4 might be better off bringing fans to a new location.
Not only would it be an extremely difficult task to measure up to the experiences that have come before, Cloud Chamber could want to leave their own stamp on the series, with the setting being key to BioShock. Based on these job listings, it’s likely that the developer will take players to a new world, complete with a new vision.
A further job listing for a Senior AI Engineer mentioned that the successful applicant would work on an “urban crowd system,” and the tribal ecology of a sometimes-hostile AI. This suggests a more crowded environment than fans of the series have been used to, possibly reinforcing the notion that BioShock 4 will be in a new location. The reference to sometimes-hostile AI could imply the inclusion of factions. Coupling this with the RPG-focus, players might experience different things depending on their choices. While Columbia could be described as more bustling than Rapture, the evidence provided by the job listings still suggest a new location.
Based on the job listings, it sounds like BioShock 4 will see a continuation of the series’ solution-orientated combat. A description of the combat mentions the player looking beyond the trappings of direct conflict and leveraging ingenuity. This all sounds like an extension of the hallmark series gameplay, but within the context of the RPG elements, this could mean gamers will be able to utilize alternative methods to resolve encounters. BioShock 4’s RPG elements have big implications and could change how the player-character fits into the likely new world that Cloud Chamber is crafting.
While BioShock 4 is said to be several years away, fans are understandably excited to see what the new developer can bring to the series. Based on the available information, it’s likely that gamers will see a new location with a wider variety of interactions within it. It’s currently unknown if BioShock 4 will even be a direct sequel due to the possibilities provided by the multiverse. Further official news is most likely going to take some time to be revealed and until then, BioShock fans will be wondering whether this new project will be able to live up to the reputation of its predecessors.
BioShock 4 is currently in development.
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