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- Bioshock 4 has been delayed beyond its planned 2027 release.
- 1/3 of the Cloud Chamber studio was recently laid off.
- At this point, the game could very well be a next-gen console title.
Bioshock 4’s troubled development is no secret at this point, as the title has faced multiple setbacks over the decade that has been put into its development.
After multiple restructures, layoffs, and leadership changes, Bioshock 4 has been delayed beyond its previously scheduled 2027 release and is now likely to become a next-gen release.
Why it matters: With so much negative news surrounding Bioshock 4 regarding its troubled development, fans feared that the game might end up being cancelled after all. Fortunately, the game finally has a release date, which will be reassuring for them.
Bloomberg‘s new report delves into Bioshock 4’s troubled development. Starting all the way back in 2014, the project was a mess from the beginning. Cloud Chamber was formed in 2017, but the attempt to establish a studio and work on Bioshock 4 simultaneously resulted in a disaster.
Soon, the studio presented a demo or a ‘vertical slice’ of the game, which was quite pleasing for the executives at 2k. However, a new problem arose regarding the outdated Unreal Engine 4.
As such, Cloud Chamber went back to the drawing board, making a switch to Epic’s latest Unreal Engine 5. Doing so took more time, adding a few more years to the game’s already lengthy development time.
Earlier this year, the game failed an internal review at 2k after it was claimed that the game lacked narrative depth. As such, Cloud Chamber lead Kelley Gilmore was fired and former Diablo boss Rod Fergusson was appointed as the new head.
Now, 1/3 of the Cloud Chamber studio was also laid off, amounting to 80 out of the total 250 employees. The same Bloomberg report also reveals 2k President’s memo sent to the staff.
we’ve made the decision with studio leadership to rework certain aspects that are core to a BioShock game, and in doing so are reducing the size of the development team to focus on this work and give the game more time in development
At this point, expect a 2028 or 2029 release for Bioshock 4.
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[News Reporter]
Shaheer is currently pursuing a Business degree while also working as a part-time Content Writer. With his deep passion for both writing and video games, he has seamlessly transitioned into a role as a Journalist. Over the past two years, Shaheer has contributed as a freelancer to various websites and landed positions on acclaimed platforms like Gamerant. Currently, his role at Tech4gamers is as a Features Writer, but he also covers News occasionally. Shaheer’s favorite gaming franchises are Assassin’s Creed and the God of War series.
Get In Touch: shaheer@tech4gamers.com
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