Summary
BioShockwas a significant title in gaming, marked by a more thematically mature story while providing a meta-commentary on the medium itself. It received two follow-ups,BioShock 2andBioShock: Infinite, and though neither was quite as well-received nor lauded as the original, the franchise has nevertheless been enshrined as one of gaming’s most revered. Naturally, fans expected aBioShock 4to materialize at some point, but afterInfinitein 2013, the series appeared to be on ice, and there was nonews about anotherBioShockfor quite a while after.
That changed in 2019 when a fourthinstallmentwas officially announced by 2K Games, who had acquired the IP and placed it under the direction of the newly formed studio Cloud Chamber. While initially a good sign, details aboutBioShock 4have arrived in fits and starts since then, and news about it (when there was any) has not always been on the positive end. By all accounts,BioShock 4began on a rocky road and remains so still. Though more bits of information have trickled out, there’s still a lot of room for fans to wonder about what the next entrywill actually entail. However, there is one element Cloud Chamber could consider adding to the franchise, and in the process give players a truly fresh perspective.
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BioShock 4 Should Feature Two Protagonists
Some of the more relatively substantialrumors aboutBioShock 4indicate it will be set somewhere in Antarctica circa the 1960s, roughly concurrent with the timeline of the first two titles. Although again nothing is officially confirmed, leaks do seem to point heavily toBioShock 4being set in either two separate cities built among the frigid wastes, or one larger multi-tiered metropolis. In either case, the names of these two locales are said to be Aurora and Borealis, and will allegedly center on warring class factions within them.
With that setup, Cloud Chamber has a big opportunity to expand on the themes and gameplay in the series. Dueling cities whose inhabitants are at odds immediately brings to mindRapture and Colombia, and the societal fractures within that eventually split them apart, thrusting them into anarchy.Bioshock 4could thus introduce two protagonists, each from the opposing group and/or place. Players would then be given a chance to experience their viewpoints separately before possibly meeting up, putting aside their differences, and joining forces.
One of the tentative titles unearthed forBioShock 4isIsolation, leading to speculation that it might be leaning more into its horror roots, especially the original’s. If true, then there also just happens to be aclassic 1980s horror movie set in Antarcticawhose general premise would fit well with switching between protagonists. In the opposite of the above scenario, the two protagonists could act as foils, allowing players to gain insight into both, while the characters themselves remain hostile and untrusting of each other.
Another suspected change isBioShock 4being fully open-worldversus the previous more linear design. The first two titles were mostly confined to cramped claustrophobic corridors, and whileInfinitedid invert this with a bright sunny floating city, even then its sandbox was comparatively small against contemporaries likeSkyrimandFar Cry.Splitting the action and plot between two main characters would go a long way to alleviating any fatigue that might be caused by staying with one character in a single location too long.
According to other reports,BioShock 4is still undergoing development issues, with its release window apparently ranging anywhere from 2025 all the way out to 2028 depending on the source. If, and when,BioShock 4does come out though, including two protagonists might be the key to regaining interest and evolving the series.
BioShock Infinite (dupe)
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Indebted to the wrong people, with his life on the line, veteran of the U.S. Cavalry and now hired gun, Booker DeWitt has only one opportunity to wipe his slate clean. He must rescue Elizabeth, a mysterious girl imprisoned since childhood and locked up in the flying city of Columbia. Forced to trust one another, Booker and Elizabeth form a powerful bond during their daring escape. Together, they learn to harness an expanding arsenal of weapons and abilities, as they fight on zeppelins in the clouds, along high-speed Sky-Lines, and down in the streets of Columbia, all while surviving the threats of the air-city and uncovering its dark secret.The City in the Sky – Leave the depths of Rapture to soar among the clouds of Columbia. A technological marvel, the flying city is a beautiful and vibrant world that holds a very dark secret.Unlikely Mission – Set in 1912, hired gun Booker DeWitt must rescue a mysterious girl from the sky-city of Columbia or never leave it alive.Whip, Zip, and Kill – Turn the city’s Sky-Lines into weaponized roller coasters as you zip through the flying city and dish out fatal hands-on punishment.Tear Through Time – Open Tears in time and space to shape the battlefield and turn the tide in combat by pulling weapons, turrets, and other resources out of thin air.
