Recent reports have suggested that Bioshock 4 is currently being developed, which means that now is the best time to play through the Bioshock series. Bioshock told an unprecedented, narrative-driven story that sparked new conversations about auteur gaming when it was originally released in 2007, and gave birth to a legacy of storytelling that concluded with Bioshock Infinite in 2013. The three games in the Bioshock series are absolute must-play first-person shooters, and if a new Bioshock game is coming, there is a lot to catch up on.
Bioshock 4 will be developed by Cloud Chamber, a team of former Bioshock developers formed specifically to work on the next Bioshock game. This marks a departure from previous games, which were famously developed and directed by Ken Levine. Levine isn't working on the next Bioshock, instead focusing on his next game, which is in development and still doesn't have a title. Nevertheless, Bioshock will continue as a series, relying on the previous stories' narrative and creating a new installment for a new generation of consoles and players.
Understanding the complex narrative of the Bioshock series may be the most important part of the Bioshock experience. The Bioshock series is entirely narrative-driven, taking the player through each game's respective cities and interacting with the citizens, Splicers, Little Sisters, and Big Daddies, learning their stories and helping (or harvesting) along the way. All three games relied heavily on players' choices, and the games' conclusions were affected by their decisions. If there is, indeed, a new Bioshock game on the horizon, then the previous Bioshock games provide a necessary context.
All Three Bioshock Games Are Available In Bioshock: The Collection In HD
Bioshock: The Collection contains all three games, estimating for about 34.5 hours of gameplay to beat every Bioshock game back-to-back. Both Bioshock and Bioshock 2 have been remastered in HD, with vastly improved textures and frame rates. Bioshock Infinite is included, as well as each game's respective DLC content. The first Bioshock game features two major content additions: the Museum of Orphaned Concepts and Imagining Bioshock. The museum features early renders of character and location concepts that were left on the cutting room floor for the first game while Imagining Bioshock is a series of video interviews with Ken Levine on the game's development process. With the complete story narratives and additional content, there is a lot to explore before Bioshock 4 arrives.
News about Bioshock 4 is still scarce, but some reports have suggested that the setting and time period have leaked. This news offers a hopeful glimpse into Bioshock's future, which appears to be falling in line with similar themes from all three games. Now, more than ever, is the best time to jump in to Rapture and Columbia, and to discover and revisit everything that will make Bioshock 4 just as interesting.