There's no series quite like BioShock, and with any luck, its tradition of excellence and ingenuity will be continued by BioShock 4, a decidedly opaque and secretive sequel developed by fresh-faced developer Cloud Chamber. With this new studio in charge, and almost two whole console generations separating it from BioShock Infinite, there's definitely a lot of mystery swirling about BioShock 4.
Interest in BioShock's continuation has always been significant, but it's arguably been stoked by the reveal of Judas, a BioShock-esque game directed by BioShock creator Ken Levine. Indeed, BioShock 4 and Judas may very well be in direct competition with one another, as both feature unconventional first-person-shooter gameplay and heady, complex narrative themes. At least, that's what one would assume: with virtually nothing revealed about BioShock 4, it's impossible to say how much DNA it will share with Judas, or previous entries in the series, for that matter. But with Judas on its way, having already revealed a number of key gameplay and story elements, it's time for BioShock 4 to put its money where its mouth is, lest it risk losing the faith or interest of series' fans.
BioShock 4's Rumored Antarctica Setting Would Enable a Twist on Rapture
Not much is known about BioShock 4, but a popular and longstanding setting rumor could put it in conversation with the first two games.
BioShock 4's Reveal Should Be Worth the Wait
BioShock 4's Official Reveal Ought To Be a Hum-Dinger
With nothing concrete revealed about it at the time of writing, it should come as no surprise that no BioShock 4 reveal date has been announced; there's no trailer debut or gameplay showcase confirmed to be coming down the pipeline any time soon. But naturally, audiences have speculated that such a reveal is in the works, with many citing a 2024 LinkedIn post about BioShock 4 development "ramping up" as evidence that a trailer or gameplay demo is imminent. Others have pointed to recent leaks about a BioShock announcement this summer, and while none of this info should be taken as gospel, it does certainly reflect the fanbase's desperation for any morsel of BioShock 4 news.
In light of this, it would be a shame for Cloud Chamber to offer nothing more than a cinematic teaser-trailer when breaking its silence. No, with Judas inching toward a release date and a bevy of "BioShock-influenced" games filling up players' backlogs, BioShock 4 needs to make a big splash, reminding audiences of why the series is so important in the first place. A trailer that features real gameplay, or at least in-engine cinematics, would be much better than something like Mass Effect 4's barebones announcement trailer, for instance, as it would give fans something to chew on and analyze. With radio silence for the better part of a decade, BioShock 4 may have to play catch-up with its marketing—a cheeky 30-second teaser trailer simply won't do.
There's Hope for BioShock 4, but It Has Something To Prove
As previously mentioned, BioShock 4 is not being developed by the same team as the series' previous entries, although there is some crossover between development staff. In some ways, the BioShock IP is being handled in a similar manner as Halo: Cloud Chamber is a new studio developed for the explicit purpose of continuing BioShock, not unlike how 343 Industries was devised specifically to manage Halo in Bungie's wake. It doesn't take too much digging to see how Halo fans feel about 343's treatment of the series, as even favorable opinions of the studio tend to admit that it hasn't lived up to Bungie's legacy.
2K no doubt wishes to avoid a similar fiasco with BioShock 4 and Cloud Chamber. Whether it's fair or not, BioShock 4 will be compared to those games that preceded it, and Cloud Chamber will inevitably be pitted against Irrational Games in the eyes of many players. Because of this, it would be in Cloud Chamber's best interest to be bold, confident, and comprehensive whenever it decides to draw back the curtain on its BioShock project.
BioShock Infinite
- Released
- March 26, 2013
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language, Mild Sexual Themes, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco
- Developer(s)
- Irrational Games
- Publisher(s)
- 2K
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 3
- Franchise
- BioShock
WHERE TO PLAY
Indebted to the wrong people, with his life on the line, veteran of the U.S. Cavalry and now hired gun, Booker DeWitt has only one opportunity to wipe his slate clean. He must rescue Elizabeth, a mysterious girl imprisoned since childhood and locked up in the flying city of Columbia. Forced to trust one another, Booker and Elizabeth form a powerful bond during their daring escape. Together, they learn to harness an expanding arsenal of weapons and abilities, as they fight on zeppelins in the clouds, along high-speed Sky-Lines, and down in the streets of Columbia, all while surviving the threats of the air-city and uncovering its dark secret.
