BioShock 4 is in development at Cloud Chamber, but with a new studio tackling the franchise and the departure of Ken Levine, questions have been raised about what direction the series might go in. The last BioShock game, BioShock Infinite, released in 2013, and the culture and capabilities of video game storytelling has changed a lot since then.
At least one big change is likely coming BioShock 4’s way. With hints that the upcoming title could resemble an RPG far more that previous installments, BioShock 4 may need to avoid one problem that the Fallout games have suffered from.
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There’s a lot of evidence that BioShock 4 will incorporate RPG elements. The series is known for its environmental storytelling, as well as its combination of traditional shooter elements with powered abilities like Plasmids and Vigors. In December 2020, however, Cloud Chamber released several job listings with descriptions hinting at RPG elements that the new studio may be looking to introduce to the series.
A listing for the role of Senior Voice Designer asked for experience designing branching dialogue systems. There has never been branching dialogue in a BioShock game before, and the listing hints that fans might be able to expect more Fallout-style dialogue in the next game. Adding expansive dialogue options would be a similar move to the one made by the Assassin’s Creed franchise, which introduced more RPG elements (such as dialogue options) over the last few games.
Another job listing for the role of Systems Designer also requested experience designing an “emergent sandbox world.” It’s not clear from this if BioShock 4 will be open world, and while this listing could imply RPG elements are coming, this description could also be used to describe areas from the first three BioShock games. The word "sandbox" somewhat implies access to the entire world from the get-go, which would be a first for the franchise, and could lead to more RPG elements coming to BioShock 4.
It seems there are several ways in which BioShock 4 may resemble Fallout 4 more than previous BioShock games. Considering both game franchises were already sci-fi series that played with elements of historical fiction and used a first-person perspective and semi-cartoonish art style, BioShock 4 could look a lot like Fallout.
One focus for improvement in the game will likely be BioShock 4's combat, one of the most frequently criticized areas of BioShock Infinite due to the bullet-spongey nature of enemies like the Handyman. This could make the more difficult fights tedious rather than exciting. Improving FPS combat was also a big focus in Fallout 4, which led many critics to consider it a better shooter, but a worse RPG than previous Fallout games.
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As the two franchises start to show similarities between each other, BioShock 4 needs to avoid one problem which has befallen the Fallout games over the years. The next BioShock game shouldn’t focus on the size of its world, or the breadth of its dialogue options, if that risks creating a world lacking the same philosophical focus as previous BioShock games. While the first two Fallout games had strong philosophical themes, more recent games have increasingly created a pastiche of its settings, without many particularly pressing questions.
Fallout 4 edged towards a philosophical problem with its treatment of synths, but backed away before pressing on the issue too hard, instead essentially asking the player to make their mind up about whether or not synths are sentient. The original BioShock and BioShock Infinite, on the other hand, make the positions of the storytellers very clear when it comes to the game's central philosophical questions. This has been one of BioShock’s best features, and as the game series begins to diverge from its earlier installments, it’s vital that Cloud Chamber doesn't sacrifice its best trait.
BioShock 4 is reportedly in development by Cloud Chamber Studio.