A recent report has shed light on the development of BioShock 4, while also revealing that a planned BioShock remake has been canceled. The first BioShock game is considered by many to be one of the absolute best video games ever made. Its sequels earned a great deal of acclaim as well, though they didn’t have quite the same impact as the original.
Unfortunately, the BioShock franchise has been dormant since Infinite was released in 2013. Franchise creator Ken Levine moved on to other projects, and 2K effectively put the IP on ice beyond releasing a remastered collection of the three games. That changed with the creation of Cloud Chamber, which has been tasked with developing BioShock 4.
BioShock Remake Has Reportedly Been Canceled
According to Bloomberg, BioShock 4 development has had some troubles, apparently failing a publisher review that has caused a leadership shake-up at Cloud Chamber. While a lot of focus has been on BioShock 4’s development woes, the report also mentioned that a BioShock remake was apparently in the works, only to get canceled. Between BioShock 4’s reported behind-the-scenes problems and the unannounced BioShock remake being canned, it’s certainly a sad day for fans of the franchise. However, there is some hope that the franchise could turn things around.
It seems BioShock 4 needs more time in the oven if it hopes to live up to the lofty expectations set by previous games in the franchise. While BioShock 4’s development troubles are concerning, the management shake-up and seeming desire to make the game “great” instead of simply “good,” as 2K told Bloomberg in the report, could eventually result in a better game. BioShock fans may be growing impatient, and understandably so, but at least 2K seems dedicated to making BioShock 4 the best it can be.
The BioShock remake being canceled is disappointing, but not the end of the world. After all, fans can already play through a version of the original BioShock with better graphics thanks to BioShock: The Collection. There’s also the BioShock movie in development at Netflix that could help tide fans over while they wait for new games in the series.
Still, BioShock fans have had no major new content since 2013’s BioShock Infinite, and so it’s understandable that they are growing restless and may be saddened by the recent Bloomberg report. For the sake of the fans, here’s hoping that BioShock 4 gets on the right track and the Netflix series lives up to the hype.
