BioShock 4 is in development at a new studio named Cloud Chamber. While it's a new company, Cloud Chamber is comprised of BioShock veterans who hope to bring the series to the new generation. Not much is known about the game yet, though it has been suggested it contains an open world and more RPG elements than before. The direction of the new title is largely unknown too, and players have been wondering if it'll bring back familiar locations or be something new entirely.
Several job listings have suggested what players can expect from BioShock 4. Vacancies at Cloud Chamber have indicated that the new game will use more RPG elements, Unreal Engine 5, and have an open world. The suggestion of its open world could mean a new setting is on the cards, though it could just as easily mean that an expanded Rapture or Columbia could be featured. While some players may long for a return to Rapture, it could be in Cloud Chamber's best interests to move the series forward and create something completely fresh.
BioShock 4 and The Game's Setting
One of the most important aspects of any BioShock game is its setting. Rapture and Columbia informed the visual styles of the games they were featured in and provided a backdrop to the larger themes the games explored. With a new BioShock game, it's safe to assume that new philosophical themes will be explored, and with that a new setting should be used. The underwater city of Rapture is intrinsically connected to the Objectivism of the first two BioShock games, in the same way that nationalism is linked to Columbia from BioShock Infinite. A new setting would allow Cloud Chamber to explore heavyweight topics without being tethered to the series' past.
Cloud Chamber's Mark On the Series
Cloud Chamber may be composed of series veterans, but the team will undoubtedly want to leave its own mark on BioShock. The best way that the studio can achieve this would be to leave behind some of the elements that have defined the franchise thus far. While it might be tempting to revisit Rapture or Columbia, this would be retreading the same territory and it could prove to be frustrating for players.
Returning to the horror elements of Rapture or expanding on themes the series has already explored might be pleasing to some fans, but it wouldn't bring the franchise forward. Cloud Chamber might be better off eschewing the idea of the game being BioShock 4, and instead, make something that stands on its own within the series.
BioShock Infinite's endgame twist creates a huge challenge for Cloud Chamber. The end of Infinite set up a framework that all future games in the series could follow. It established the multiverse and that there's always a man, a lighthouse, and a city. A lot of players expect Cloud Chamber to follow this template, but it might be better and more surprising to work around it or fundamentally change the structure entirely.
This could be achieved by the developer telling a self-contained story, or by the events of the game profoundly impacting the multiverse. Following the established formula could risk BioShock 4 coming off as derivative of the original games, and negatively impact its chance of being assessed on its own merits.
BioShock 4 likely won't be released any time soon, so there could be a long period of theorizing for fans. Hopefully, it won't be long before gamers get to hear some official news on BioShock 4. While it might be tempting for developer Cloud Chamber to follow the established path, it could be in the studio's best interests to move away from previous games in the series. As beloved as Rapture is, the game could be better off in a new setting and exploring new themes.
BioShock 4 is currently in development.