Ever since the first BioShock released in 2007, 2K's thought-provoking first-person shooter series has had a dominant place in gaming culture, and many fans are highly anticipating the upcoming BioShock 4. The publisher and new developer Cloud Chamber have gone quiet since the next entry in the BioShock series was confirmed in 2019, but considering it was revealed the game would still be a few years away at that point, this is hardly surprising. However, players are essentially none the wiser about BioShock 4 after four years - beyond a few rumors here or there.
As the next installment is in new hands, with the original trilogy storyline wrapped up neatly in BioShock Infinite's Burial at Sea: Episode Two expansion, there has been plenty of speculation around BioShock 4. It seems sensible to start fresh in some ways, but fans of the franchise will also be looking for the telltale signs that this is a BioShock game, so moving away from the original entries completely would undoubtedly lead to some disappointment. One series that has pretty much perfected this balancing act is Final Fantasy, so BioShock should take some notes when it comes to its own continuity.
Ongoing Stories in the Final Fantasy and BioShock Series
When it comes to long-running series that have embedded themselves in pop culture, there aren't many that can top Final Fantasy. The science-fantasy anthology franchise has spanned many different types of media, and will continue to grow with the release of Final Fantasy 16 this year. Many of Square Enix's titles are among some of the most beloved releases in gaming, with Final Fantasy characters like Cloud, Terra, and Lightning becoming instant icons. While a look at the library of previous Final Fantasy entries and attempting to work out how they relate to each other can become confusing, the series has managed to craft an almost fool-proof format when it comes to sequels.
While there aren't many direct sequels in the Final Fantasy franchise. Besides a handful like Final Fantasy 10 and Final Fantasy 10-2, the majority of games merely have a similar style and setup. If players enjoy one title, it's likely they'll enjoy the rest, and so Final Fantasy has managed to create a definitive identity despite its diverse games. BioShock started to develop something similar, with the first game and its sequel taking place in the same setting but BioShock Infinite bringing that formula to a completely different time and place. While fans don't know what BioShock 4 will entail, replicating this approach could be a good idea.
The Potential Impact of BioShock 4
Final Fantasy and BioShock are two very different beasts, and what works for one might not always work for the other. However, Final Fantasy's method of creating an anthology that maintains the same essence and sensibility, but still creates unique games that can test out new things and push boundaries, could be transferred to BioShock. BioShock Infinite may eventually tie back to its two predecessors, but it also showed that the building blocks of a BioShock game can be used to make something different from what fans have seen before.
With the Final Fantasy template, which builds a new world in each entry while retaining core elements from the franchise as a whole, BioShock could create something really interesting. There are some indisputable qualities that make a game look and feel like BioShock, but this still leaves room for it to introduce new elements and update others to give players something fresh. This can be essential to make sure the series can keep growing without losing fans, either because they get too far away from what the games were in the first place or stay too safe and recycle too many elements.
BioShock 4 is in development.