Bioshock 4: release date, leaks, rumors and more

When Bioshock came out in 2007, it exceeded all expectations. Not only did it introduce us to the unforgettable world of Rapture deep underwater, but it also delivered one of the most shocking plot twists in gaming history. The sequel was set in the same setting, but here Infinite showed players an entirely new dystopia floating in the clouds. Much like Assassin’s Creed, these games became defined by their setting, so many were eagerly awaiting the next installment to find out what fantasy space to explore this time around. While original game creator Ken Levine has moved on to work on Judas, 2K has tasked Cloud Chamber Studios with working on the new installment starting in 2019. And it’s been quite some time, but we still have plenty of questions that need answering.

And it’s been a long time coming.

Release Date Window

Neither 2K nor Cloud Chamber have given a specific release date for Bioshock 4. The latest unofficial update was spotted by GamesRadar on LinkedIn. Senior Cinematic Designer Jeff Spoonhower wrote:

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The Bioshock team at 2K Cloud Chamber is gaining momentum! We have many positions open in a variety of areas including art, animation, engineering, design, storytelling, and production.

This means the game has only been in pre-production until now, so we’ll probably have to wait another two to three years before Bioshock 4 is fully ready.

Bioshock 4’s release date has been set for another two to three years.

Platforms

Since the game’s full production run is set to begin in 2024, it’s safe to say that Bioshock 4 will be an exclusive to the current generation, i.e. PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S and PC.

Bioshock 4 will be a current-gen exclusive, meaning PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S and PC.

Trailers

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There are no official Bioshock 4 trailers or screenshots to whet our interest further. However, one screenshot has appeared online. It shows weapons, UI elements and a glowing tower. Apparently this image is from a visual effects artist from 2K, who took it from the 2021 demo. If it’s true, there’s still a good chance that a great deal may have changed.

A lot of things may have changed.

Even before this image appeared, there were two rumors regarding Bioshock 4’s setting. The most significant one stated that the game would be set in a 1960s city in Antarctica called Borealis. Nothing else has been mentioned, other than that the new installment will somehow tie together the previous games in the series.

At the same time, there’s no mention of the game’s setting.

Another speculation says that the game will be, or at least was once planned to be, an open-world game. This follows another job posting spotted by PCGamesN, which at the time was looking for “someone who can weave impressive, character-driven stories in an open-world setting”. That would be a big departure from the linear structure that the series has followed in every previous installment.

So it would be a big departure from the linear structure that the series has followed in every previous installment.

Gameplay

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An unchanging element of all the Bioshock games has been gameplay. And while it will undoubtedly feature new additions and mechanics, we’re guessing that Bioshock 4 will be based on first-person shooting and various sci-fi abilities. What form those abilities will take, and how much they’ll be justified in this context, remains to be seen.

What form those abilities will take, and how much they’ll be justified in this context, remains to be seen.

Bioshock also adheres to a linear structure with some episodic flashbacks. If the leaked information that the new installment will have an open world is true, we suspect this means that the entire city — whatever it may be — will be fully explored from the start and not heavily compartmentalized. There is also speculation that the game will be more like something like Prey in terms of structure. So it’s unlikely to expect the new installment of the franchise to be a large-scale game.

So it’s unlikely that the new installment of the franchise will be a large-scale game.

Pre-order

Bioshock 4 is still a big secret and probably won’t be ready for another couple years. Hopefully, it won’t be long before 2K and Cloud Chamber reveal a release date, pre-order information, and any other details about the upcoming game.

Bioshock 4 is still a big secret and likely won’t be ready for another couple years.