Summary
Despite its development being officially confirmed by 2K Games in 2019, little to no information is known aboutBioShock 4. With the last entry to the franchise releasing a decade ago, fans are desperate for any details they can muster about the title, and the extensive leaks and rumors surrounding the game are all they have to go off.
The setting ofBioShock 4is arguably the most important aspect of the title that fans want to discover, with many rumors purporting to shed light on this. AnyBioShocktitle is defined by its setting, and it appears that Cloud Chamber is going for a balancing act between two locations that will be very difficult to maintain.
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BioShock 4: Finding a Balance Between Two Cities
The lack of clarity surroundingBioShock 4’s core details has only been worsened by the development issues that the game is supposedly facing. Having been announced four years ago, it is likely that the core vision of the game has shifted over time, and this has been reflected in the conflicting leaks and rumors for the title that have surfaced over the years.
Despite this, one strong rumor has persisted over time which suggests thatBioShock 4will ultimately feature two contrasting cities as its core locations. This rumor states thatBioShock 4will showcase an underground city as well as one in the sky, reflectingthe iconic franchise locations of Rapture and Columbia. Supposedly, these two locations will be locked in a bitter war between each other, with the player traversing both of them throughout the game’s story.
These rumors do not suggest that these cities will be Rapture and Columbia themselves, but potentially two brand-new locations for the IP. A lot of other rumored information aboutBioShock 4indicates that the game will be set around Antarcticaand a fictional city called Borealis, with two cities potentially existing within the continent.
While the concept of two wildly different cities at war is an exciting one forBioShock 4, it would reignite one of the most divisive debates in the franchise’s community. ManyBioShockfans are torn between whether Rapture or Columbia brought the best out of the IP, and this argument could easily be repeated ifBioShock 4features both subterranean and sky-set cities.
The location of anyBioShockrelease is deeply important for world building and narrative progression, and it could be extremely difficult to give both cities the necessary depth and screen time to achieve this inBioShock 4. This is where Cloud Chamber would have to ensure that a perfect balance is present between both cities, withBioShock 4’s reported development issuesonly making this an even more challenging task.
Considering thatBioShock 4is the first title that Cloud Chamber has ever developed, portraying two cities in the title seems like an even larger risk. With a decade having passed sinceBioShock Infinite, an immense amount of expectation is already being placed on the next title, and adopting the locational formulas of past games without the same nuance could be devastating forBioShock 4.
Of course, the upcoming title would have to take some risks if it wishes to reinstateBioShockas a dominant franchise in the gaming industry, and having two cities could be the way to achieve this. However, crafting a narrative balance between both locations while honoring and adding tothe legacy of pastBioShocktitlesis a huge ask for an inexperienced studio, and could be a make-or-break move for Cloud Chamber and 2K Games.
BioShock 4is currently in development.
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