After it was announced in late 2019, the excitement for BioShock 4 was quickly through the roof. The series is one of the most influential in gaming history, so another entry will surely break more ground if handled properly. Rumors about the potential of BioShock PS5 exclusivity have been circling, so there's still plenty of mystery surrounding the project as it still seems to be in the earlier stages of development. Hopefully, it will look to other recent influential games for inspiration, namely Resident Evil Village.
The eighth entry in the Resident Evil franchise managed to properly capitalize on the momentum that the series has been building up since Resident Evil 7, and BioShock 4 would do well to take some cues from the game. It's clear that RE8 took some inspiration from the BioShock series either directly or indirectly, so it would make sense for BioShock 4 to then take inspiration from Resident Evil. The main element that would transfer well from Village to BioShock 4 is the way that RE8 handles open-world horror.
BioShock 4’s Potential Open-World
Based on a recent job listing for the upcoming sequel, BioShock 4 is reportedly going to be open-world. While some fans might be dismayed because the three other entries in the series have made use of their linear nature to great effect, an open-world game map doesn't necessarily mean that all hope is lost for the narrative twists and turns that the series is known for. A great example of an open-world game that still manages to handle its narrative with care is Resident Evil Village.
While not exactly open-world in the way that Ubisoft and Rockstar sandboxes are, Resident Evil Village tells much of its story through the titular village setting between each relatively linear section. When Ethan Winters gets thrown back into the village, linear narrative takes a backseat in favor of exploration and environmental storytelling, two key elements that the BioShock series has always made great use of despite its linear structure. Hopefully, BioShock 4's open-world will have a similar feel to RE8's, with linear sections dispersed throughout its playtime alongside open sections full of exploration and player-led discovery that aid the overall narrative themes.
Resident Evil Village’s Horrific World
Not only does Resident Evil 8 get its open-world narrative structure right, but it also masterfully ties in its horror elements to make for a game full of impactful, memorable scares. While BioShock leaned away from outright horror in favor of Infinite's Columbia, the game wasn't entirely devoid of horror elements. If BioShock 4 decides to go back to the franchise's roots and embrace a more horror-based tone, it should look to Resident Evil Village on how to properly incorporate those elements in an open-world space.
Despite the fact Ethan Winters ends up heavily armed by the end of Resident Evil Village, the game still manages to be scary throughout its entire runtime. This is done through its more linear sections, with each being drastically different from the last, keeping the player on their toes and unable to predict what's to come. BioShock doesn't need any help on making things scary, as the original BioShock is a horror experience that holds up today. However, if the game shifts its focus from an entirely linear experience and into the unknown territory for its studio of open-world horror, it would definitely benefit from studying a recent example of open-world horror done right in RE8. It could also take cues from The Evil Within 2, which has a similar structure to Village.
BioShock 4 is currently in development.