The 2000s were a great time for gaming where many current franchises found their footing. In the two decades since, gaming has evolved exponentially and so have the IPs that fans have come to love. Look no further than the upcoming revamping of the classic games in Fable 4 and Bioshock 4. While not much is known about what these titles might look like, there have been a few leaks and other clues online that point to the direction these projects are going. While Bioshock 4 and Fable 4 are very different games, they are seemingly making similar choices in development.
Currently, Bioshock 4 is in development from Cloud Chamber Studios, and Fable 4 is being developed by Playground Games. Both developers have been fairly quiet about what to expect in this new generation, but the hungry fans have been able to find the occasional job posting or leak that might point towards info on the next game. Unsurprisingly, these two games are apparently staying true to their core themes, while potentially evolving visuals/mechanics for a new console generation.
RELATED: How Fable 4 Can Improve on the Franchise's Morality System
There is some honest discussion to be had about whether the previous Bioshock and Fable games counted as open world, but anyone can admit they pale in comparison to recent open-world games. It seems that both games will seek to catch up and follow the open world trend that many IPs have moved towards. Whether this means that the game will be a bigger world or a full blown Assassin's Creed RPG transformation, only time will tell. However, based on the job listings for Fable 4 and Bioshock 4, both titles are likely to expand and open up their worlds with the capabilities of current-gen tech.
The past Bioshock entries allowed the player to roam Columbia and Rapture, sometimes with the freedom to choose how to get there. According to job listings for Bioshock 4, the team at Cloud Chamber are seeking a writer who is able to create impactful characters and stories for "an open-world setting." Playground Games also had a listing for a software engineer to work on its Forza engine, but the listing also mentions the new Fable by name. It seems that this new engineer will be tasked with altering the Forza engine to hold an RPG of a new Fable's magnitude.
It's been rumored that both Bioshock 4 and Fable 4 have been in development for a few years. However, according to leaks, it turns out that both franchises might be making similar creative decisions with the direction of each game. Both games have been rumored to be coming solely to next-gen consoles, taking advantage of the mechanic and software enhancements not available on the Xbox One and PS4. Both games seem to seek a reboot to each respective franchise, reportedly taking big chances with stories while being true to the original Fable and Bioshock spirit.
While there are many rumors circulating about what kind of world and mechanics Fable 4 and Bioshock 4 will have, no one really knows when to expect them. There have been those claiming dates that have passed and rumors that have been quashed. That being said, with both games reportedly being in development for some time, it may not be long before fans get some more information. With E3 2021 just around the corner, maybe fans will learn some more about the newest iteration to these classic franchises.
BioShock 4 is currently in development.