Trouble in Rapture 2.0? BioShock 4 Stumbles, First Game Remake Sunk
AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer ·
BioShock 4's narrative face-planted in an internal review, leading to a leadership shakeup, and to add insult to injury, the rumored BioShock 1 remake is now swimming with the fishes. Looks like Rapture might need a serious reboot before it's ready for its close-up.
Right, so it seems even underwater utopias face development hell. According to a report over at Eurogamer (cheers, mates!), BioShock 4, that ambitious follow-up we've all been waiting for, apparently didn't exactly knock the socks off 2K execs during an internal review. And *bloody hell*, that's not even the worst of it.
The primary concern? The narrative. Apparently, it needed... *ahem*... improvement. Which, in corporate speak, probably means it was about as compelling as watching paint dry, underwater. Following the less-than-stellar reception, there's been a leadership shakeup at Cloud Chamber, the studio tasked with reviving the series. Studio head Kelley Gilmore is out, and creative director Hogarth de la Plante has been shuffled off to a “publishing role.” (Sounds like someone's getting banished to the shadow realm, doesn't it?).
And what's the company line? A 2K spokesperson told Bloomberg they're still “fully committed to ensuring we deliver a BioShock game that exceeds the lofty expectations of our fans.” Sure, mate. We've heard that one before. They reckon they've got a 'good' game currently, but they aspire to a 'great' one. But what does *that* even mean? Will it be more plasmids? A crazier villain than Andrew Ryan? More importantly, will it actually run on my rig without melting it?
But hold onto your diving helmets, because it gets worse. Remember all that whispered talk about a potential remake of the original BioShock? Yeah, well, according to the Eurogamer report, that’s been cancelled. Shelved earlier this year, apparently. It's always a gamble remaking a classic, isn't it? Fair dinkum, sometimes, magic just can't be bottled twice. Sound familiar to anyone following gaming? (cough, Silent Hill, cough).
And just for good measure, the Netflix BioShock adaptation has also been scaled back. Producer Roy Lee, speaking at San Diego Comic-Con, mentioned a "more personal" film with a tighter budget, thanks to some reshuffling at Netflix's movie department. So, instead of a grand, sweeping epic, it's shaping up to be a more intimate affair. Which, honestly, might not be a bad thing. A smaller, more focused story could actually capture the claustrophobia and moral ambiguity of Rapture better than a blockbuster ever could.
So, what’s the takeaway here? BioShock 4 is facing some serious hurdles, the remake's sunk faster than an ADAM-fueled lunatic, and the Netflix adaptation is getting a makeover. Should we panic? Nah. Not yet. Development is a messy business. But let's hope 2K can pull this one off and deliver a BioShock sequel worthy of the name. Otherwise, we might just have to stick with replaying the original… again.
Tags: BioShock, 2K Games, Development Hell, Remake, Netflix Adaptation
Original article: Eurogamer