Despite originally being announced five years ago, there is still no sign of Bioshock 4. However, with reports that it could be an open world setting, it will be a lot different to what we are used to for the series.
Developed by Cloud Chamber, Bioshock 4 will be the fourth instalment in the Bioshock series, a retrofuturistic video game series originally created by Ken Levine. Now headed by Cloud Chamber, it appears as though the title will be going in a different direction with rumours it could feature an open world setting as opposed to its previous linear gameplay.
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These rumours began circulating in 2021 when Cloud Chamber posted several job listings online. One note that stuck out to fans was included in the job listing for a senior writer which read "someone who can weave impactful, character-driven stories in an open world setting." Additionally, the same job listing also required someone who could "brainstorm primary and secondary mission content", which could hint at potential side missions and quests, something we have not seen in the Bioshock series before.
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An open world setting would also make sense with the studio’s call for a videogame AI programmer. The candidate must be able to help with "urban crowd system and the systemic tribal ecology of a sometimes-hostile AI" and "push the envelope of what is possible with interactive crowd systems".
Fans are divided over the idea of an open world Bioshock 4. The series has been praised for its rich and layered storytelling which could be lost in a world where you can get easily sidetracked. However, adding “interactive crowd systems” and AI that are affected by your choices could add a whole new element to the story.
It remains to be seen if Cloud Chamber will be able to live up to the Bioshock name. However, with reports that we could be waiting a while for Bioshock 4, it might be a long time until we find out.
Featured Image Credit: 2K Games