According to reports, the new BioShock has actually been in development for years. Just earlier today, 2k announced that a new BioShock was being made. Bioshock is no doubt one of the most acclaimed video game series of all time. Gamers have been eagerly anticipating news about the future of BioShock as there hasn’t been a mainline game in nearly seven years.
BioShock Infinite released back in 2013 to universal acclaim. But despite the strong critical opinion of the game, developer Irrational Games was re-structured, laying off all but 15 employees. Irrational games, led by BioShock creative director Ken Levine, re-branded as Ghost Story Games. The team relocated outside Boston, Massachusetts and are currently working on an unannounced project. Because of Levine’s departure from the series, many believed that the BioShock franchise would be coming to a close. But Publisher Take-Two was quick to respond, calling BioShock an ‘unquestionably permanent franchise.’ More so, a direct sequel was recently teased in a corporate earnings call.
The news that the new BioShock has been in development for years comes by way of Kotaku. Writer Jason Schreier says that sources indicate the game has been in development since 2015. Initially, Bioshock publisher 2K contracted Certain Affinity, a support developer for Call of Duty and Halo, to begin work on what insiders referred to as Parkside (BioShock 4.) But over the following two years, 2K decided to move development back in-house, effectively cancelling its partnership with Certain Affinity.
Since 2K no longer had an internal development team to work on BioShock, they had to create a new one. Thus, Cloud Chamber was born, led by Global Studio Head Kelley Gilmore. According to reports, the shift to bring BioShock back in-house happened some time in 2017. The game known as Parkside was completely re-booted at this time and re-focused under direct 2K supervision. Cloud Chamber started work in Novato, California, where 2K headquarters are. But as 2K announced today, development will be split between studios in California and Montreal.
It seemed strange that there had been such little news about BioShock in recent years. In addition to being critically acclaimed, the series is also a strong financial earner. Publisher 2K has taken advantage of the series enormous popularity with the BioShock Collection; a re-mastered packaging of the three mainline games - BioShock, BioShock 2 and BioShock Infinite. However, the wait between games has never been nearly this long. In fact, all three games were released three years apart from one another. It’s not likely that the new BioShock will be released any time soon, but at least it’s now confirmed to be in development.
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The new BioShock is currently in development. No release date or platforms have been announced.
Source: Kotaku
