Little info has been officially revealed aboutBioShock 4, but rumors have been flying. For example, developer Cloud Chamber Studios recently made a job posting seeking a Senior Writer “who can weave impactful, character-driven stories in an open world setting.” IfBioShock 4features an open world, that could be significant departure from previous games in the series.
Though everyBioShocktitle has showcased a sprawling, fantastical city, each game has been fairly linear. Locked doors and caved-in tunnels abound, creating the illusion that the players have more exploration options than they actually do. The illusion of choice is an overarching theme of the series, and this trick underlines it well.BioShock 4would ultiamtely need to convey that theme in a different way if it moves to an open world setting.
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How Open is Open?
Before jumping too far down the rabbit hole of what an open worldsetting could mean forBioShock 4, it’s worth considering what the term implies. WhileSkyrimandGrand Theft Autoare emblematic of open world exploration, it’s possible that the job posting uses the term more loosely.BioShock 4could be more open than its prequels, but with limits. An expansive environment doesn’t necessarily preclude a linear narrative.
GivenBioShock’s focus on genetic modificationand bionic enhancement, it’s also possible that Metroidvania elements might be present. Players may need to complete specific story objectives in order to gain the abilities that will let them reach other areas of the world. This would allow Cloud Chamber Studios to provide elements of an open-world game, albeit at a controlled pace.
New Possibilities
At theend ofBioShock Infinite,Elizabeth stands in an endless sea of identical lighthouses and tells Booker, “There’s always a lighthouse. There’s always a man. There’s always a city.” There could be countless cities like Rapture and Columbia, andBioShock 4might allow players to visit more than one of them.
If this is the case, then the open-world setting makes sense. Allowing players to visit these parallel realities in any order they wish would be a first, but would give them more room to solve problems without constant hand-holding.BioShock Infinitealready established that characters can travel through time by hopping between realities, so that would also justify giving players more time to explore.
This doesn’t necessarily mean that the entire game would need to take place in an open world. There could besome sections ofBioShock 4that feature an open world, while others might employ a more linear structure. This could be a way forBioShock4to subvert players expectations of being able to choose one’s fate. Alternatively, the game could be scripted in such a way that the same event can happen in multiple locations.
Spoiled for Choice
Of course, these theories assume that Cloud Chamber Studios keepsBioShock 4’s open-world elementsreigned in. The sequel might lean into a style of gameplay more similar to a Bethesda game, which would be completely new for the series. If that is the case, the game might not feel likeBioShock. Open-world games likeSkyrimandFallout 4are fun to play, but their stories aren’t typically all that satisfying. Their main quests take a back seat to a series of side quests, and the lack of urgency completely breaks the immersion of the game. Open worlds are typically more focus on the environment.
In contrast, theBioShockseries excels at telling linear stories. Players rarely have a spare moment to breathe, let alone run a Thieves' Guild or build an entire settlement. While it could be interesting to allow players to explore one of the series' sprawling cities at a more languid pace, it would likely mean sacrificing the high-stakes narrative that many fans are expecting.
ThoughBioShock 4could certainly benefitfrom the inclusion of open-world elements, player agency isn’t intrinsically necessary to a game’s success, and only becomes a positive element if supported by a strong narrative. It’s certainly possible to present a compelling story in an open world, but doing so could be a challenging task.
