The BioShock series hasn't seen a new game in over eight years now, with BioShock Infinite releasing all the way back in 2013 – stirring up some controversy at launch, too. However, BioShock 4 is in development, and judging by a new job listing, it could be shaking up the franchise's formula in an entirely new way, possibly even offering an open-world setting for players to explore.
First spotted by PCGamesN, a new job listing for BioShock 4 developer Cloud Chamber's has shed some light on what the study is cooking up. The developer has a number of listings on its website, but there's a senior writer position that's been drawing the most attention, as it states that the team needs someone to deliver BioShock stories in an open-world setting.
Specifically, the job listing states, "Cloud Chamber is looking for a Senior Writer to join our talented Narrative team to bring the world of BioShock to life once again." The post continues, "We’re hoping to find someone who can weave impactful, character-driven stories in an open world setting." While a lot can change during game development, it's a massive hint at what fans might be getting when BioShock 4 lands on store shelves.
An open-world BioShock game would be a significant change for the franchise. Previous rumors have hinted that BioShock 4 uses dialogue trees, and an open-world setting does make that seem more likely, as it would likely lean more heavily into RPG territory. The post also mentions "primary and secondary" mission design as one of the core components of the position, indicating that there will be some form of side quest to distract players from the main story.
The BioShock franchise has often been hailed for its atmospheric level design, with the first game helping to revolutionize confined narrative spaces in the games industry. How that looks in an open-world setting, whether that means returning to an open version of Rapture or something else entirely, is still unclear, but it definitely seems like it could evolve the series.
After 8 years with nothing but remasters, it seems like the right time for a new BioShock game to be revealed. The big question is when a new game would be shown off. E3 2021 is right around the corner, so it's possible that fans get their first look at the game on-stage there. With video game development still impacted by the pandemic, though, it's difficult to say if that will be the case.
In the meantime, BioShock fans will just have to wait. An open-world setting is certainly an interesting concept, but it's hard to say if it would be a good fit for the franchise. However, time will tell.
A new BioShock game is in development.
Source: PCGamesN, Cloud Chamber