It might have been revealed by 2K Games and the new development studio Cloud Chamber that BioShock 4 was on the way, but after the initial announcement in 2019, the companies have been disappointingly quiet about the upcoming game. BioShock 4 has a lot to live up to, with the first game in the series still referred to by many as a masterpiece in suspenseful science fiction. With their iconic settings, challenging FPS gameplay, and exploration of thorny political and philosophical issues, the BioShock series is a respected and beloved franchise in the gaming world, and plenty of fans have been eager for another installment.
BioShock and BioShock 2 explored a much different world than BioShock Infinite, even though there are obvious parallels and connections between the various entries. However, the differences between the previous games' settings, time periods, and themes really open up the possibilities of what BioShock 4 might cover. Rumors are already swirling around BioShock 4's possible locations and when it might be set, but so far there aren't many confirmed details. Some gamers are hoping for a return to Rapture, but even if BioShock 4 doesn't revisit the submerged city, it could feature some of its more interesting aspects like the intimidating Big Daddies and their dark origins.
Revisiting BioShock's Big Daddies
The hauntingly beautiful skyline of Rapture that players first encounter in BioShock is one of the most memorable parts of the whole series, but Big Daddies are just as iconic. The hulking metallic behemoths are a formidable enemy in BioShock and become a playable character in BioShock 2 after gamers take control of Subject Delta, and they're an indisputable part of the franchise's DNA. BioShock Infinite was pretty light on Big Daddies and only featured them in its DLC Burial at Sea, so no matter where BioShock 4 is set, the time seems right to bring them back.
From a rumored arctic setting to taking the action to space, where and when BioShock 4 takes place is still a mystery. However, there are a number of ways in which BioShock 4 could revisit Big Daddies and bring back one of Rapture's darkest storylines. Big Daddies were the result of experimentation where genetically enhanced humans were grafted into armored diving suits. Originally created to act as maintenance workers, Big Daddies later became protectors to the equally iconic Little Sisters. A new setting could have its own version of a Big Daddy, regardless of whether it comes in the form of a space suit-wearing giant or someone kitted out for arctic exploration.
How BioShock 4 Can Explore Previous Plot Points
It's not just the look or the suggested threat of a character like a Big Daddy that BioShock 4 could feature. Big Daddies may look incredible, but one of the most interesting things about them is their origins. BioShock games explore the lengths humans can go to when they're free from certain restrictions, like the government control that Rapture and the floating city-state of Columbia sought to escape from. However, both cities soon moved past their idealistic origins and darker elements came into play, like the splicing and experimentation that became rampant in Rapture.
While this practice led to the creation of Plasmids and Vigors that give players special abilities, it also led to civil wars and substance abuse, and in Rapture's case, the collapse of society. BioShock 4 could once again explore the moral gray areas of human experimentation, and the benefits and pitfalls that it can lead to. Big Daddies are an iconic symbol of this, but the sad fate of characters like Delta shows the stakes of this dark narrative and the potential for similar plots for the next game to explore.
BioShock 4 is in development.