Summary
BioShockhas undoubtedly earned its place in gaming’s hall of fame. The series' first title pushed the boundaries of interactive storytelling and advanced the medium to a more mature and respected space. To this day,BioShock’s influence can be felt and seen in numerous games. WhileBioShock 2continued on a similar smaller scope, the third and latest release,BioShock Infinite,introduced a multiverse (well before the concept became as prevalent as it currently is in the popular zeitgeist) and thus opened up a wealth of narrative possibilities.
BioShock 4has been in the works since 2019. Headed by Cloud Chamber, a recently formed studio under 2K’s banner, it has allegedly had a rocky development so far. With such a weighty legacy to live up to, it’s understandable that the studio may be thinking long and hard about how to handle one of the most lauded franchises in gaming history. And perhaps the biggest challenge and most important choice Cloud Chamber faces is where it will takeBioShock’s story.
BioShock 4’s Story Needs to Choose Whether It’ll Be Connected or Standalone
BioShock 4 Needs to Pick a Direction for Its Story
BioShock Infinitelinked all three gamesvia its multiple reality-spanning aspects. In doing so, it retroactively tied them all inextricably together, for better or worse. To what degreeBioshock 4will connect to the overarching world is a huge question that will intimately inform how its story can move forward. It will be a fine balancing act forBioShock 4to incorporate the necessary core components, while not overburdening itself (and fans) or being too reliant on existing elements to prop up its plot.
Similarly,BioShock 4’s choice of philosophywill naturally affect its story sensibilities. If it looks to play off of the previous ideologies that were cornerstones of its narratives, then it will also need to stand out by not copying them too closely, either. Conversely, though, too big of a departure in this area risks making it feel disconnected from the essential tone ofBioShock. It might end up seeming like a hard reboot instead of a spiritual successor.
BioShock 4’s Possible Plot Paths
BioShock 4rumors and leakshave revealed scant details to date, but what is available could provide some clues about the vision for its plot.
These make for interesting branches already, but ifBioShock 4embraces the multiverse aspect, it allows for a wide range of creative freedom in picking and choosing threads to weave its story. The above frameworkcould end up being something like alternate variants ofRapture and Columbia, or an amalgamation of both in a single locale. Perhaps events played out differently inBioShock 4’s reality, and the tale will be about that resulting version, familiar in many ways yet distinct in its own right.
Additionally,BioShockis known for shocking twists, which puts even more pressure to deliver a coherent story that also feels in keeping with its spirit. If it aspires to be a true sequel,BioShock 4will need to at least attempt a reveal that impacts or changes the context of its plot.
Maybe Andrew Ryan and Comstock are alive and even collaborated in its universe. Whatever the case,BioShock 4has a monumental task in deciding exactly how much connective tissue it will contain regarding the previous titles, or if it will distance itself from them in service of a new direction, but still manage to recapture its quintessential identity.
