There are many rumors going around aboutBioShock 4, and there are far more questions surrounding it than answers, but the current rumor seems to be that it’ll be ditching its Earthly settings of games past in favor of heading to the cosmos for an adventure in space. With a setting like that, there are seemingly infinite possibilities as to where the game’s studio Cloud Chamber could take the story. If all the rumors about the game are to be believed, thenBioShock 4is setting itself up to be a welcome return to theBioShockfranchise.
One thing that the game should lean into if its space setting is true is cosmic horror. The most recent entry in the series,BioShock Infinite, ditched most of the franchise’s horror roots in favor of creating a new identity for itself as a swash-buckling adventure game, but it might be worth Cloud Chamber’s time to revisit horror especially if it’s paired with a cosmic setting. While some details surrounding the project might be antithetical to a horror framework, such asBioShock 4’s rumored open world, the setting alone does more than enough to set the groundwork forBioShock 4’s horror possibilities.
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Bringing BioShock Back to Horror
WhileBioShock Infinitecertainly wasn’t without its horror moments, so much of the series' DNA is built around spooky atmospheres and horrific monsters, elements that took a backseat inInfinite. Space, conversely, is a perfect setting to create and highlight those elements, which could makeBioShock 4a true return to the series' roots. After all,BioShockwas originally aspiritual successor to the cyberpunk space-horror franchiseSystem Shock, so returning to space would be the perfect place forBioShockto truly return to horror.
So little is actually known about the infinite void of space that its setting for a horror game is almost too good to be true, especially ina series such asBioShockthat likes asking philosophical questionsabout the nature of existence and schools of thought. Space could introduce terrifying aliens to the franchise, or it could play with an equally terrifying concept: that humanity is truly alone in the universe. Either direction could prove to be a gripping narrative full of cosmic horror built around the idea that humanity knows hauntingly little about what lies beyond the stars.
Given the amount of technology required to live in space,BioShock 4could also borrow some of the cyberpunk horror present in the original twoSystem Shocktitles. Obviously, withBioShockbeing the spiritual successor to such an iconic series, the game would need to bring more to the table than simply retreading the same ideas thatSystem Shockhas already brought to gaming. Fortunately, there are still plenty of different places for the sequel to go that would seeSystem Shockusedas a jumping-off pointfor even deeper ideas.
The thing that ties all aspects of cosmic horror together, whether that’s the fear of technology, aliens, or the inherent inhospitable environment, is the simple fear of the unknown: a fear that theBioShockseries has capitalized on in every entry in the franchise. Whenever a player starts up aBioShockgame for the first time, they’re walking into a completely unknown world full of narrative twists and scares that play with the gamer’s expectations. It seems likely thatifBioShock 4is set in space, it’s going to capitalize on the anxiety that comes hand in hand with the setting.
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