It’s been over five years since it was announced thatBioShock 4was being developed, but the anticipation for the next installment is still there. Reportedly set in the Antarctic worlds of Aurora and Borealis,BioShock 4is expected to bring a new adventure that’s different from the experiences in both Rapture and Columbia.
Information aboutBioShock4is still scarce, so details like when it takes place and whether there will be returning characters are still being speculated on. TheBioShockfranchise has many memorable NPCsthat longtime fans might want to see again in the fourth game, but if developer Cloud Chamber wants to captivate fans with a different experience, it might be smart to steer clear of returning characters.
BioShock 4 Having Returning NPCs Could Defeat the Purpose of a New World
Across theBioShockfranchise, it’s pretty rare to see the same characters in all of its games, especially with its protagonists.BioShockandBioShock 2are the only games that share a couple of NPCs because they’re both set in Rapture. Other than that, players can find well-known NPCs in DLCs, likeBioShock Infinite’s Burial At Sea. So, there’s a possibility thatBioShock 4might go in the same direction, given that Aurora and Borealis seem to be completely separate from Rapture and/or Columbia.
While it’s still unknown howBioShock 4fits into the overallBioShockmultiverse, it’s certainly possible to encounter some familiar faces in Aurora and Borealis through time travel and dimensional rifts. These concepts were introduced inBioShock Infiniteand the Burial At Sea DLC as a way to establish a connection between Booker DeWitt and Elizabeth to the events of Rapture. It would be interesting to see returning NPCs, like, for example, Big Daddies, Little Sisters, and the Lutece twins, interact withBioShock 4’s protagonist. There could also be an opportunity forformerBioShockprotagoniststo show up as their original selves or alternate versions of themselves to assistBioShock 4’s lead. However, this could negatively affectBioShock 4’s experience as it might create an impression that it’s depending solely on the older games.
EveryBioShockgame is known for standing well on its own, without having to depend too much on the events of previous titles to move forward. Each has its own unique worlds, experiences, and character stories that helpbuild up the entireBioShockmultiverse. Bringing back certain NPCs toBioShock 4would not only defeat the purpose of introducing a brand-new world to players, especially one that doesn’t have clear ties to either Rapture or Columbia yet, there would be a risk of not respecting the spirit of the franchise.
Any BioShock NPC Callbacks Should Be Minimal
Granted, there is merit to re-introducing oldBioShockcharacters to build hype aroundBioShock 4, especially since it’s been over a decade since the last game came out. It could briefly bring back the iconic Big Daddy for marketing purposes, or show hints of the NPC within the Antarctic world without making them a central figure in the story. At the same time, it would benefit developer Cloud Chamber, which took over from Irrational Games, to not hinge too much on the past glory of previousBioShockgames. The developer has the opportunity to create more original characters and its take onBioShock’s Plasmid/Vigor mechanicto provide another unique experience for fans, and ultimately, build a new universe beyond Rapture and Columbia.
BioShock 4is in a perfect position to reignite interest in the franchise if its storytelling and world-building are done well. BothRapture and Columbiahave had their time in the sun, so it’s time for the era of Aurora and Borealis to bring back longtime fans and reel in newer ones too.
