An open-world BioShock game is a huge departure from the franchise’s previous games. That said, there is some value to this transition, as the game’s overall setting and style of world-building would fit nicely within a larger game world. Granted, there haven’t been any recent announcements about BioShock 4, so the open-world rumor hasn’t yet been confirmed. Nonetheless, it’s interesting to argue what an open-world BioShock title could bring to the table.
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The Case for an Open-world BioShock 4
Job listings for Cloud Chamber Studios, the company in charge of BioShock 4, suggest that the game will be set in a new location, separate from both Rapture and Columbia. The listings also hint at the title’s potentially open-world setting since the call for a Senior Writer requires someone who can, “weave impactful, character-driven stories in an open world setting.”
The BioShock series is known for its strong character-driven storytelling, and this is reinforced by the game’s linear progression. It allows the player to experience the narrative the way the developer intended, thus making for a tighter and more cohesive story. As such, many longtime fans have expressed their fear that an open-world BioShock game might take away from the game’s already stellar narrative style.
These fears are well-grounded. After all, the gaming community has seen plenty of games with great stories but disappointing open worlds. However, with some tweaking and expansion, BioShock’s unique style could benefit from an open-world game. The primary reason for this is the fact that BioShock has always had great settings. The cities of Rapture and Columbia are amazing fantasy worlds, memorable both conceptually and visually. Thus, expanding the game world to allow for more exploration would showcase more of what makes the setting so great.
BioShock then adds to the already interesting setting by scattering audio diaries all across the map. These build on the game’s ongoing story, often providing context on specific locations or even the overall state of the city. In an open world, these audio diaries hold more potential to tell stories about the greater universe, which is something the developer can utilize in BioShock 4. Overall, BioShock’s compelling settings are what makes it such a prime candidate for the open-world genre.
What BioShock 4’s Open World Shouldn’t Be
All that said, making BioShock 4 into an open-world game treads a fine line. It could end up as story-driven as its predecessors, just with a richer game world. Alternatively, it could become something more akin to Bethesda’s open-world games, which encourage the player to go out and explore, even if it means dropping the main story for some time. While this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it doesn’t quite fit the brand that BioShock has made for itself.
The developers would do well to emulate what made the past BioShock games so great — the excellent storytelling. While an open-world map can enhance a game’s narrative, it also has the potential to detract from it. Given this, it’s no wonder the fans are hesitant about an open-world entry to the franchise. Still, open-world BioShock 4 is little more than a rumor at this point, much like most of what the community knows about the game. It looks like people will have to wait and see what the developer has planned.
BioShock 4 is in development.
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