The last two decades of gaming have birthed some truly unforgettable franchises spanning nearly every genre imaginable. One such franchise is the BioShock series, which has blended FPS action with atmospheric, psychological horror in a way that is both artistic and endlessly entertaining. The franchise has been unfortunately quiet since the release of BioShock Infinite almost ten years ago, but the patience of BioShock fans could pay off soon, as BioShock 4 has been in development for some time now. Although there aren't many definitive details on the game, BioShock 4 has nevertheless been the subject of rampant speculation since its announcement.
It seems like there's a new rumor on BioShock 4 every other week at this point, but all of those rumors have painted a very pretty picture of the overall game. From an open-world design to a setting in the deep reaches of outer space, BioShock 4 has the potential to really shake up the franchise. While it may be exciting to see BioShock 4 do something new, however, it should still feel like it's a part of the BioShock world. One of the best ways to ensure that, while also maintaining the franchise's mystical charm, could be found in one of BioShock Infinite's biggest twists: the existence of a multiverse.
Explaining BioShock Infinite's Multiverse
The initial introduction of the multiverse in Infinite came by way of the player's companion Elizabeth, who is able to open up "Tears" in space-time that allow her to access parallel universes. This is used as a gameplay mechanic throughout much of Infinite, but the big twist comes towards the end of the game's story. After Infinite's climactic final battle, players find themselves in BioShock's original underwater city of Rapture, where Elizabeth guides them to the surface and outside of a lighthouse.
It's here that players learn of the extent of BioShock's multiverse, and the endless alternate versions of Elizabeth and protagonist Booker Dewitt. Not only does the multiverse exist, but because of it, it's revealed that the game's antagonist Zachary Comstock is also an alternate version of Booker Dewitt. The only way to end the cycle of violence caused by Comstock is to kill Booker before he takes on this other identity, which ultimately happens, resulting in presumably only one universe left by the time the credits roll. It's a mind-bending twist, adding a layer of theoretical science on to BioShock's usual philosophical focus.
How BioShock 4 Could Use The Multiverse
While BioShock Infinite's ending may have seemed final, the concept of the multiverse as it's currently understood could provide some loopholes for BioShock 4 to bring it back. The universes created by protagonist Booker Dewitt's decisions may have been destroyed, but that doesn't mean there can't be other parallel universes associated with another character or setting. In fact, the setting of BioShock 4 has been one of the most contentious rumors around the project, which could be settled by allowing players to shift between varying settings by way of the multiverse. This could let the game explore any number of unique locations, and provide a layer of diversity should the game be open-world as it's rumored to be.
The BioShock series has always been interested in subverting the expectations of fans through complex philosophical thought and scientific theory, and there are more than enough opportunities for BioShock 4 to continue that trend. The multiverse would not only open up some intriguing gameplay opportunities beyond what Infinite accomplished, but it could hook in gamers that have recently become familiar with the concept thanks to things like Spider-Man: No Way Home. For the time being, fans will just have to keep an eye out for the long-awaited reveal of BioShock's return.
BioShock 4 is currently in development.