Despite the massive legacy that the BioShock franchise possesses, the series has remained rather quiet for quite some time. The last mainline release for the IP launched over a decade ago, though the community surrounding the franchise and the desire for more content is still as strong as ever. Of course, 2K Games confirmed that BioShock 4 was in development in 2019, and fans have been eagerly waiting for further developments around the project ever since.
The Unwritten Rules of BioShock Explained
Though BioShock may be quite familiar to many players, there are still some good underlying guidelines and practices to keep in mind in Rapture.
The Recent Reports About a BioShock Remake Setback Pale in Comparison to the BioShock 4 News
The excitement around BioShock 4 has steadily built over the years despite the lack of official information surrounding it. Some fans were even expecting a big reveal for the project over the coming months, though reports suggest that the game's development has received quite a few setbacks. According to Bloomberg, sources have claimed that a recent progress check on BioShock 4 fell well below 2K's expectations, with major rewrites and changes needing to be done to things like the title's core narrative.
While these reports are stated to come from trusted sources, they should still be taken with a grain of salt.
Perhaps most importantly, this led to some major personnel shifts around BioShock 4's development studio, Cloud Chamber. Reportedly, 2K Games has removed Kelley Gilmore as the head of the studio, indicating the massive extent of the changes that seemingly need to be made for the project's continued development. As well as this, Hogarth de la Plante, the creative director of BioShock 4, has supposedly been moved to a new position that focuses on publishing as opposed to development.
This likely means that any news regarding BioShock 4 will now be even further away, which is a real disappointment for fans who have waited so long for the project. Recent reports from Cloud Chamber and 2K Games also suggest that a full remake of the original BioShock was in the works, though this has now supposedly been scrapped completely. While this is another sad development for the franchise, the original BioShock has received enough love in recent years to soften the blow of the remake-related news.
BioShock's Remasters Should Mean That 2K Fully Looks to the Future
The original BioShock received its own remaster in late 2016 for BioShock: The Collection, meaning that fans already have a more graphically striking version of the iconic title. BioShock: The Collection additionally included a remastered version of BioShock 2, meaning that extensive remakes should really be quite low down on the franchise's agenda, as things stand. Compared to the recent reports about BioShock 4, it is clear to see why the BioShock remaster news might comparatively fly under the radar.
The drastic nature of the changes reportedly made to Cloud Chamber is quite concerning, with the following months seeming like a make-or-break period for BioShock 4's development. Reports seemingly indicate that BioShock 4's development is still in full swing, although some concerns are understandably rising over the project potentially being scrapped if things do not turn around soon. Fans deserve some positive news about the BioShock franchise after having waited so long for a new title, though it might be some time before this happens.
- 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
- Genre(s)
- Shooter
