The next BioShock game – first announced in 2019 and allegedly in production for over a decade – has hit the skids.
Uber-reliable Bloomberg journalist Jason Schreier reports that the project is being overhauled after it failed a publisher review. Now it’s shaking up the management at developer Cloud Chamber, and some staff are concerned there may be layoffs.
According to sources familiar with the matter, the narrative is one aspect of the sequel that will subsequently be revamped.
A 2K Games spokesperson confirmed the leadership change when quizzed by Bloomberg, and released the following statement:
“We are working hard to set BioShock up for the best possible future. Right now, we have a good game, but we are committed to delivering a great one. We are working closely with leadership at the studio to define this path.”
Interestingly, the Bloomberg report also states that a remake of the original BioShock was in development, but was scrapped earlier this year. It had been rumoured before.
The first game, directed by Ken Levine, launched in 2008 on the PS3 – a year after the Xbox 360 and PC – and cemented itself as one of the all-time first-person shooter greats with its underwater setting, Rapture.
Cloud Chamber’s sequel was at one point rumoured to be set in a fictional Antarctic city during the 1960s, although we really don’t know a whole lot of information about it beyond its long development cycle.
It seems 2K Games is committed to getting this project out of the door, but with all of the setbacks and turmoil behind-the-scenes, it may be quite a good while yet before it’s ready to release.
[source bloomberg.com]
See Also
As the Editor of Push Square, Sammy has over 15 years of experience analysing the world of PlayStation, from PS3 through PS5 and everything in between. He’s an expert on PS Studios and industry matters, as well as sports games and simulators. He also enjoys RPGs when he has the time to dedicate to them, and is a bit of a gacha whale.