Summary
BioShock 4may be an open secret at this point but the mysterious nature of the project means that whena supposedly leaked image of the game surfaces online it’s difficult to not be excited. Publisher 2K confirmed that it was planning on continuing the beloved franchise in 2019 after a prolonged hiatus following the release ofBioShock: Infinitein 2013. While details on the project are still sparse and consist largely of rumors and reports, this most recent leak is the first visual evidence of the game’s existence.
First reported byMP1st, who acquired theBioShock 4screenshot from an anonymous Visual Effects Artist, the picture in question isa shot from the player character’s perspective as they aim their weapon toward a glowing ball of light that looks like a retro-futurist lamp post or, potentially, a towerin the distance. No further insight is provided but the source did clarify that the picture is from an early build that dates back to 2021. In the bottom right, the game’s ID contains the word “Parkside” which was widely reported to be the working title ofBioShock 4.
BioShock 4 Can Finally Realize The First Game’s Dream
A job listing for Lead Combat Designer at Cloud Chamber reveals that BioShock 4 could redefine combat and environments in the BioShock series.
What Does The BioShock 4 Picture Tell Us?
It Certainly Looks Like BioShock…
It’s worth noting that while the image in question does look the part,it’s always important to take leaks like this with a grain of salt until it’s officially confirmed by either 2K Games or developer Cloud Chamber. As for the image itself, it certainly seems as thoughBioShock 4is carrying over some UI elements fromInfiniteas the player’s roster of abilities is represented in the bottom left and their weapon and ammo count is on the bottom right. On the top right is a health bar and what could be a mana or stamina gauge.
The symbols on the bottom left likely represent the abilities available to the player and based on the iconography, they do appear to be relatively easy to understand.The lightning bolt probably denotes a lightning blast power, similar to the firstBioShock, while the magnet could draw items toward the player. The clock, which is seemingly activated by mixing the two other powers,is likely some kind of time distillation, either slowing or entirely stopping timeto allow foreasy infiltration or combat.
Whether or not the leakedBioShock 4image is real, one can only hope thatthe final game ends up impressing. If the picture is accurate then it certainly looks like a new installment in the iconic franchise but what will determine its success or failure isthe world-building and writing.Rumors suggest that the fourth game is set in a frozen city named “Borealis"butthis has yet to be confirmed.
