There’s no series quite likeBioShock, and with any luck, its tradition of excellence and ingenuity will be continued byBioShock 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 fromBioShock Infinite, there’s definitely a lot of mystery swirling aboutBioShock 4.
Interest inBioShock’s continuation has always been significant, but it’s arguably been stoked bythe reveal ofJudas, aBioShock-esque game directed byBioShockcreator Ken Levine. Indeed,BioShock 4andJudasmay 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 aboutBioShock 4, it’s impossible to say how much DNA it will share withJudas, or previous entries in the series, for that matter. But withJudason its way, having already revealed a number of key gameplay and story elements, it’s time forBioShock 4to put its money where its mouth is, lest it risk losing the faith or interest of series' fans.
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 noBioShock 4reveal 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 aboutBioShock 4development “ramping up” as evidence that a trailer or gameplay demo is imminent. Others have pointed to recentleaks about aBioShockannouncementthis summer, and while none of this info should be taken as gospel, it does certainly reflect the fanbase’s desperation for any morsel ofBioShock 4news.
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, withJudasinching toward a release dateand a bevy of “BioShock-influenced” games filling up players' backlogs,BioShock 4needs 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 likeMass 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 4may 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 4is not being developed by the same team as the series' previous entries, although there is some crossover between development staff. In some ways, theBioShockIP is being handled in a similar manner asHalo: Cloud Chamber is a new studio developed for the explicit purpose of continuingBioShock, not unlike how 343 Industries was devised specifically to manageHaloin Bungie’s wake. It doesn’t take too much digging to see howHalofans feel about 343’s treatmentof 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 withBioShock 4and Cloud Chamber. Whether it’s fair or not,BioShock 4will be comparedto 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 itsBioShockproject.
BioShock Infinite
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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.
