BioShock 4 was targeted for a late 2026 or early 2027 debut but an internal review and subsequent layoffs at Cloud Chamber will likely push the release further. Approximately 80 employees were laid off, leaving about 170 staff at the studio. Kelley Gilmore was removed as studio head and 2K hired Rod Fergusson to lead Cloud Chamber; Fergusson previously worked on BioShock Infinite and led the Diablo franchise at Blizzard. 2K praised foundational gameplay but decided to rework core narrative aspects. No official release window has been announced, and a Netflix live-action BioShock film remains in development.
According to Bloomberg, BioShock 4 was planned for a debut in either late 2026 or early 2027. However, the subsequent layoffs at Cloud Chamber will likely delay the next BioShock game even further. Bloomberg notes that 80 employees from Cloud Chamber were let go, leaving approximately 170 people remaining at the studio.
Studio head Kelley Gilmore was ousted from Cloud Chamber after the game's internal review, according to the report. In his place, 2K Games has hired Rod Fergusson to take over the studio following his own departure from Blizzard. In addition to leading the Diablo franchise for Blizzard, Fergusson previously worked on BioShock Infinite and helped get that game's production on track.
The initial reports about BioShock 4's status suggested that 2K Games was unsatisfied by the narrative. In a memo shared with GameSpot by 2K Games, president David Ismaile said, "While we're excited about the foundational gameplay elements of the project, we've made the decision with studio leadership to rework certain aspects that are core to a BioShock game."
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