BioShock 4: Everything we know so far

BioShock 4 was officially confirmed to be in the works back in 2019, but it's been a long time since we've had an update on the project. Revealed to be under development from 2K founded Cloud Chamber Studios, the new BioShock game is being brought to life by a team made up of talent who worked on previous entries in the FPS series.

Interestingly, we also have the BioShock-like FPS Judas (which is spearheaded by ex-Irrational Games developers including BioShock creator, Ken Levine) to look forward to alongside BioShock 4. But the upcoming installment in the series has been among the most anticipated new games in the pipeline for almost six years, and there's still a lot of mystery surrounding its direction, or how it will tie to the previous entries in the series. Still, speculation only grows, with supposed leaks surfacing in the past that may hint at what's to come.

2025 is already shaping up to be a big year for releases, with the likes of Assassin's Creed Shadows landing, and upcoming adventures like Borderlands 4 and Doom: The Dark Ages. Will it also be the year we learn more about BioShock 4? Only time will tell. But in the meantime, we've brought together a helpful roundup of everything we know so far, from the initial press release, to an interview with the development team in 2019, and more.

BioShock 4 release date is still to be determined

No official release date has been announced just yet for BioShock 4, and we're still awaiting on update on when we might expect the game to arrive, but we do know it's still currently in the works.

In a LinkedIn post that went up back in 2024, senior cinematic designer Jeff Spoonhower shared the following: "The #Bioshock team at 2K Cloud Chamber is ramping up!" Along with the post were job adverts for various positions in the team. So don't worry, BioShock 4 is still coming. But as of right now, it's tricky to say how far things are down the road, as there have been speculations flying regarding a potential release window for years now.

You may remember how a datamine surfaced in 2021 and pointed towards a launch date sometime in 2022. However, that proved to be a dead lead. Here's hoping we hear more news sometime soon, though. In the meantime, you can read our BioShock review to get a refresher on the story!

Who is working on BioShock 4?  

BioShock 4 is currently being developed by Cloud Chamber, a studio founded and owned under the 2K publishing label. The studio is led by former Firaxis Games veteran developer, Kelley Gilmore. In an interview with GamesRadar+, Gilmore says that the studio has strong "BioShock DNA", since several members had key roles to play in other BioShock titles – including creative director Hoagy de la Plante, art director Scott Sinclair, and design director Jonathan Pelling.

Gilmore also added that other developers on the team have worked on other notable game series: "Our team also has game development veterans from high-profile franchises like Call of Duty, Assassin's Creed, Star Wars, Battlefield, and Walking Dead. As part of our recruiting efforts, we're looking for people from many different backgrounds and experiences."

"I'm confident that the depth and variety of game development experience at Cloud Chamber will lead to another unforgettable BioShock experience."

BioShock 4 could be set in an open-world  

We don't have much in the way of concrete details regarding the BioShock 4 setting, but a Cloud Chamber job listing seemingly suggests that the upcoming game may possibly be set in an open world. The job listing for a senior writer, which was posted back in April 2021, called for someone who can "weave impactful, character-driven stories in an open world setting."

With BioShock and BioShock 2 submerging us below water in Rapture and BioShock Infinite taking us to the clouds, we can't help but wonder where BioShock 4 will take us next - or what an open-world installment might look like. Hopefully, we'll have a new addition to add to our list of the best open world games soon, folks!

BioShock 4 gameplay

Gameplay-wise, the official 2K press release suggested that BioShock 4 intends to retain the series' first-person perspective. At least, that was the developer's intention back in 2019.

This is inferred by 2K president David Ismailer's mentioning of the core pillars the series is known for, with the press release touching on Cloud Chamber's plans for BioShock 4: "We can’t wait to see where its powerful narrative and iconic, first-person shooter gameplay head in the future with our new studio team at Cloud Chamber leading the charge."

Of course, it's been some time since the press release came our way, and there's always the chance that the initial plans or direction has changed over the course of development. Here's hoping an update on the project comes our way soon.

BioShock 4 story details

At this point in time, we don't yet know much about BioShock 4 story or its place in the timeline of the series. What we do know, thanks to a statement from Gilmore in the press release, is that the Cloud Chamber team is looking "to create yet-to-be-discovered worlds – and their stories within – that push the boundaries of what is possible in the video game medium". This suggests we're set to see the story and setting of BioShock 4 go in a new direction.

"BioShock defined what a compelling narrative and immersive world can bring to a video game. Players interact with it in their own unique ways and have unforgettable experiences," Gilmore told GamesRadar+. "That will remain at the core of our design vision for the next BioShock, and we have a myriad of ideas on how best to achieve it."

BioShock 4 leaks and news

More speculative rumors also came to light in 2021 from Colin Moriarty claiming that BioShock 4 may take place in a fictional 1960's Antarctic city supposedly called "Borealis". So far, though, nothing official has been confirmed.

In our interview, Gilmore touched on how "environments have played a critical role throughout BioShock history and are incredibly important to the gameplay experience." While not much more was said on the topic, Gilmore did add that "there are many creative directions to explore." With so many possibilities, we really can't wait to find out more.

There were also uncorroborated rumors in 2021 that BioShock 4 would be called BioShock Isolation, with one Twitter user claiming that the game would be set in an "isolated dystopian city."

Finally, on July 13, 2024, there was a supposedly leaked BioShock 4 screenshot of the upcoming game. The image isn't super interesting, but it does show off some sort of tower, which is topped by a glowing sphere and a new weapon called the "ricochet shotgun." The alleged leaked BioShock 4 screenshot is rumored to be from a 2K visual effects artist. However, it's of course worth taking everything with a grain of salt as nothing has been confirmed just yet.

BioShock 4 may be using Unreal Engine 5

The prospect of seeing a new-gen BioShock game is exciting, to say the least. Thanks to a job listing posted back in May 2021, our sense of anticipation has only intensified.

In the Cloud Chamber listing for a Senior gameplay programmer, there is the mention of being able to "work within Unreal Engine 5", which may suggest BioShock 4 is using the latest generation game engine from developer Epic Games. If what we've seen of upcoming Unreal Engine 5 games are anything to go by so far, it could be a real feast for the eyes.

While no platforms have been confirmed for the new BioShock, we're certainly eager to see how Cloud Chamber brings the next instalment to life using the latest hardware. As Gilmore said in our interview back in 2019 during the early stages of development, "One of the great things about our industry is how much it evolves on a regular basis. We constantly have new technology and innovations to explore, as well as expanding ways to reach and interact with our fans. We can't discuss any specifics yet, but we're excited about the possibilities."

The original BioShock is still considered to be one of the best single-player games of all time, so its sequel is one of our most anticipated. While we wait, why not check out some of the exciting upcoming PS5 games and upcoming Xbox Series X games on the horizon?