Despite the massive legacy that theBioShockfranchise possesses, the series has remained rather quiet for quite some time. The last mainline release for the IP launched over a decade ago, though the community surrounding the franchise and the desire for more content is still as strong as ever. Of course, 2K Games confirmed thatBioShock4was in development in 2019, and fans have been eagerly waiting for further developments around the project ever since.
The lack of major updates forBioShock 4has always seemed like a grim indicator of the title’s development state, and recent reports have confirmed some disappointing suspicions that many fans have held for some time. These reports spell trouble for a variety ofBioShockprojects, withBioShock 4in particular facing some big changes that suggest fans will be waiting a lot longer than they might have expected for the game’s release. Other impacted projects include aBioShockremake, though this news is not nearly as disappointing as theBioShock 4setbacks.
The Recent Reports About a BioShock Remake Setback Pale in Comparison to the BioShock 4 News
The excitement aroundBioShock 4has steadily built over the years despite the lack of official information surrounding it. Some fans were even expecting a big reveal for the project over the coming months, though reports suggest that the game’s development has received quite a few setbacks.According to Bloomberg, sources have claimed that a recent progress check onBioShock 4fell well below 2K’s expectations, with major rewrites and changes needing to be done to things like the title’s core narrative.
While these reports are stated to come from trusted sources, they should still be taken with a grain of salt.
Perhaps most importantly, this led to some major personnel shifts aroundBioShock 4’s development studio, Cloud Chamber. Reportedly, 2K Games has removed Kelley Gilmore as the head of the studio, indicating the massive extent of the changes that seemingly need to be made for the project’s continued development. As well as this, Hogarth de la Plante, the creative director ofBioShock 4, has supposedly been moved to a new position that focuses on publishing as opposed to development.
This likely means that any news regardingBioShock 4will now be even further away, which is a real disappointment for fans who have waited so long for the project. Recent reports from Cloud Chamber and 2K Games also suggest that a full remake ofthe originalBioShockwas in the works, though this has now supposedly been scrapped completely. While this is another sad development for the franchise, the originalBioShockhas received enough love in recent years to soften the blow of the remake-related news.
BioShock’s Remasters Should Mean That 2K Fully Looks to the Future
The originalBioShockreceived its own remasterin late 2016 forBioShock: The Collection, meaning that fans already have a more graphically striking version of the iconic title.BioShock: The Collectionadditionally included a remastered version ofBioShock 2, meaning that extensive remakes should really be quite low down on the franchise’s agenda, as things stand. Compared to the recent reports aboutBioShock 4, it is clear to see why theBioShockremaster news might comparatively fly under the radar.
The drastic nature of the changes reportedly made to Cloud Chamber is quite concerning, with the following months seeming like a make-or-break period forBioShock 4’s development. Reports seemingly indicate thatBioShock 4’s development is still in full swing, although some concerns are understandably rising over the project potentially being scrapped if things do not turn around soon. Fans deserve some positive news abouttheBioShockfranchiseafter having waited so long for a new title, though it might be some time before this happens.
