Everything We Know About BioShock 4
We’re long overdue a return to the dense mythos of BioShock. Our last adventure to the world of architectural and structural nightmares was in BioShock Infinite in 2013, and since then, fans have been desperate for another title in the series. Rapture and Columbia are iconic video game locales and make for some riveting gameplay and even better topsy-turvy storytelling. And now, as we know that a fourth BioShock title is on the way, its hype hums in the background of gaming conversation.
So, now’s the time to ask the question - what’s BioShock 4 actually going to look like?
When Is BioShock 4 Coming Out?
There isn’t a solid release window for the game just yet, but a tweet from 2K games back in 2019 suggested that a new BioShock was in the works, and “will be in development for the next several years”. Plus, given that job listings are still going live with connections to the game, it’s safe to assume it could be as late as a couple of years from now.
Fans have waited some time for this game, but however much time the game needs, it deserves to become the best it possibly can be.
How Will BioShock 4 Run?
It was recently revealed by a job listing looking for a developer with experience in the game engine that Bioshock 4 will run on Unreal Engine 5. This means it might take a little longer to produce the game, but its graphical fidelity will be something the series has never seen before.
It means that the game will have an advantage over other titles when it comes to its adaptation to the next generation of consoles. The game is likely to be the best looking in the series if it can match the moodiness of the first game’s lighting in Rapture.
Who Is Developing BioShock 4?
2K have actually created a whole new development company to work on Bioshock 4, made up of veterans who worked on the original series. The first job of Cloud Chamber Studios is the latest title in the series, carried by BioShock contributors Hoagy de la Plant, Scott Sinclair and Jonathan Pelling. They make up art directors, acting environment lead and lead environment artists, and ensure that there’s some direct rooting to the original titles for the sequel.
Where Is BioShock 4 Set?
It is said that BioShock 4 will be set in a whole new location from the previous game, which has piqued the curiosity of many fans. The series has gone underwater and into the sky - so where’s next? Space?
Truly only time will tell the direct location of the game, but one thing we know for certain is that BioShock 4 will be an open-world title, a first for the series. Job listings from Cloud Chamber have implied the series will be taking the leap to absolute exploration, which frankly, makes the possibilities for the game endless.
How Will BioShock 4 Play?
The job listing leaks strike again, this time one that suggests that BioShock 4 will contain more RPG elements than its predecessors. The presence of an “emergent sandbox world”, as mentioned in the listing, is interesting, as it’s a feature that’s prominent in RPG titles. So who knows, maybe we might get some more customisation than just your choice of plasmids?
That’s all we know about BioShock 4 for now, and so far, and the title looks like a worthy successor to the legendary series. Wherever the game takes place, and whenever we’ll get to hear more of it, we can’t wait to see where it takes us.
Images via 4K