New information has leaked about the new BioShock, which is currently in development hell.
MP1st recently obtained previously unpublished details about BioShock 4. These include planned locations and assets revealing the main villain and protagonist, as well as a brief insight into the development process. A few locations have been confirmed, such as a prominent casino. This makes sense, as gambling has been featured several times in the series, mostly through slot machines. This time, however, it appears that the casino will be on a larger scale and could potentially serve as the setting for a major battle. There appears to be a special region or location called Solaria (or Solaris). Sources have mentioned this place and a special group known as the Solarians several times. It’s still unclear whether they are the elite who rule the city, a hostile faction, or simply ordinary citizens.
Snow will also play a role in the game’s atmosphere. Those who have been following rumors about the Antarctic location may not be surprised, but the confirmation of these weather effects suggests that they may play a central role in the experience. Beyond the frosty exterior, however, there are elements that appear to be early technical tests, confirming the existence of vast, canyon-like landscapes. There are also cables and machinery, which, while not particularly impressive, help reinforce the art direction’s goal of maintaining the style of BioShock Infinite.
Perhaps the most exciting prospect for longtime fans is the possible return of an ecosystem similar to that of the original games. While there is no explicit reference to Splicers, there are references to a person or entity called the Male Flusher. These Flushers could play a role in the city similar to that of Rapture’s Splicers. The return of the Adam substance is also possible. In the first two games, this substance was known for giving users superhuman abilities and causing addiction when used excessively. This supports the hypothesis that crazy citizens are once again roaming the city.
Images show a striking golden statue depicting a stern male figure. The statue is shown with its arms raised high in an Atlas-like pose. Another image shows three identical figures lifting three sphere-like objects to support a large spherical structure above their heads. Given the statue’s detailed features, such as its facial features and hairstyle, it can be assumed that it depicts the game’s central antagonist. This follows the series’ long-standing tradition of villains being revered by their own city, similar to Andrew Ryan in BioShock and Zachary Comstock in Infinite.
Next to the statue, there is a small figure that serves as a scale reference. At first glance, it appears to be our protagonist. The figure appears to be a sharply dressed man in a gray suit and tie, fitting the mid-century aesthetic characteristic of the series. However, this could be a placeholder for a generic NPC rather than the protagonist. Nevertheless, his attire bears a striking resemblance to Booker DeWitt’s archetype, and the fact that this particular model was chosen to represent the scale of the environment is surely no coincidence.
MP1st’s sources confirm rumors of a turbulent development cycle, especially regarding the challenging period in 2022 (or earlier). The project is undergoing narrative changes, so it’s difficult to predict how much the version of the game shown here may change. Hopefully, despite the rewrites and interesting details that have come to light, the fundamental DNA of the series will remain in the retail version.
Ironically, Judas, the new project from BioShock creator Ken Levine, is the game currently closest to release.
Source: MP1st
