BioShock Franchise Faces New Development Hurdles
It appears fans of the iconic BioShock series will have to wait even longer for new content. According to a report by Bloomberg's Jason Schreier, the highly anticipated remake of the original 2007 BioShock game has been 'put on hold' by 2K Games. Simultaneously, the next mainline installment in the franchise is reportedly stuck in what's described as 'development hell,' following a poor internal review and a shake-up in leadership.
Original BioShock Remake Shelved
A remake of the first BioShock title could have served as a perfect bridge between BioShock Infinite and the next major game. However, hopes for its release have now significantly dimmed. Sources close to Bloomberg indicate that the decision to 'freeze' the project was made several months ago, leaving its future uncertain.
New BioShock Game Encounters Significant Problems
Parallel to the remake's pause, Cloud Chamber, the studio tasked with developing the next original BioShock game, is navigating a challenging period. A recent internal evaluation by 2K leadership reportedly yielded unsatisfactory feedback for the project. As a result, 2K Games dismissed the studio head, Kelley Gilmore, and creative director Hogarth de la Plante was transferred to the publisher's division. During a recent meeting with Cloud Chamber employees, management reportedly stressed the need for the team to become more flexible and efficient, leading to concerns among staff about potential layoffs.
In response to Bloomberg's inquiry, 2K Games issued a statement:
"We are working incredibly hard to deliver the best possible future for BioShock. We have a good game right now, but we are striving to make it a great game. We are working closely with studio leadership to determine the path forward."
A Decade of Troubled Development
If Schreier's 2019 report is to be believed, development on a new BioShock game began as early as 2015, under the codename 'Parkside.' The project was initially entrusted to Certain Affinity, a studio previously known for assisting with multiplayer in major titles like Call of Duty: Ghosts and DOOM. This was intended to be their first large-scale project, but the collaboration faltered, and by late 2016, 2K decided to reboot the game and transfer it to an internal studio. The new team began to form in 2017. Further reports from insider 'Oops Leaks' suggest the project was rebooted yet again in 2022, this time due to challenges stemming from the pandemic. Effectively, the new BioShock game has been in development for approximately ten years.
Long Wait for a Beloved Franchise
The BioShock franchise remains one of the most successful in the gaming industry, with total sales of its three main installments exceeding 43 million copies. Yet, despite its critical and commercial acclaim, 2K Games has not released a new entry since BioShock Infinite in 2013. These latest reports underscore the continued challenges in bringing the next chapter of this beloved series to players, suggesting a release date remains far off.
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