During the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360's life there were plenty of fantastic offerings, and the emergence of franchises like Uncharted, Mass Effect, and Borderlands did well to cement the legacies of each respective console. BioShock was in the same boat in 2007, setting a trilogy in motion that ended with BioShock Infinite in 2013. It's a beloved property, with the first and third games being two of the highest reviewed and most-praised on their respective hardware. Ken Levine served as the writer for both releases, and after the rebranding of Irrational Games in 2017, BioShock's presence in the gaming space became almost non-existent.
Ghost Story Games has reemerged with the BioShock veteran at the helm, as Judas was formally announced at The Game Awards 2022. It has yet to receive a release date, but knowing what Levine is working on should enough to keep fans happy as the title moves forward. It's good news for players, but concerning for BioShock, as Levine's project was reportedly in development hell and there's still no news about Cloud Chamber's newest entry in the esteemed 2K-published property.
BioShock 4 is a Long Time Coming
It has been nearly 10 years since BioShock Infinite released to near-critical acclaim, and aside from a couple of DLC add-ons in the form of Burial at Sea the series has been quiet for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One generation. It's one of a few series that had three mainline entries, all of which reviewed well and stayed in the minds of players, though it's likely the series has been hit by personnel changes as the IP was handed to all-new developer in Cloud Chamber.
Many feel Rapture is one of the finest settings in fiction, and while BioShock 4 may not utilize it, the city has been a driving force behind the series' success. To leave the decaying, terrifying, but beautiful walls of Rapture untapped moving forward would be a shame, and never returning to Columbia is not something anyone would have expected after BioShock Infinite released. Being dormant for so long means looking back on BioShock feels like a nostalgic trip rather than a loving return to a place that should be more relevant.
Judas Marks Ken Levine's Long-Awaited Return
Levine is an industry professional who is perhaps better known than the company he founded, not unlike Hideo Kojima. Judas bears obvious resemblance to BioShock, and more importantly shows that the development hell it experienced wasn't too much for the project to withstand. The reveal trailer is dripping with atmosphere and deeply conflicting tones as the uplifting aesthetics and environments make way to unsettling survival horror. It's an exciting game for many, but more importantly it is proof that Ken Levine's influence is as strong as ever.
The obvious resemblance to BioShock makes Judas a game that instantly shoots up the list of most anticipated for many, and though BioShock 4 is confirmed to be in development, Judas is the sure-fire spiritual successor to Levine's previous works. From the dystopian visuals and elemental abilities to its unsettling tone, the mountain of similarities between this project and the series that inspired it makes most comparisons fair game. The problem arises when the absence of a BioShock 4 reveal remains, as there is nothing other than older games for fans to compare. Ken Levine revealed Judas before Cloud Chamber has so much as shared any information, which puts the veteran franchise on the back foot.
Bioshock 4 is in development.