The Long Wait for BioShock: Take-Two CEO Expresses Disappointment
You’d think that creating a new BioShock game would be a straightforward task given the franchise’s rich legacy. After all, as the saying goes, “there’s always a lighthouse.” But the reality has been pretty different, with fans left hanging since the last installment, BioShock Infinite, launched back in 2013. Three sensational titles dropped in quick succession—BioShock in 2007, followed by BioShock 2 in 2010, and Infinite three years later. Yet here we are, still waiting.
In a recent discussion with Stephen Totilo, Strauss Zelnick, the big boss at Take-Two Interactive, didn’t hold back on his feelings about this delay. While he’s not entirely shocked by how long it’s taking to roll out a new BioShock, Zelnick admitted he’s “deeply disappointed.” He explained that while surprises can be jarring, his real concern stems from the time lost chasing creative ideas that didn’t pan out.
“Finding the right creative direction has been quite the challenge,” Zelnick shared, reflecting on their struggle to pin down a solid concept for the next game. It seems they spent considerable time exploring various paths that didn’t lead anywhere fruitful. But fear not! Zelnick mentioned he’s feeling more optimistic about the project now.
One of the reasons for this newfound hope is the arrival of Rod Fergusson, who previously led the Diablo team at Blizzard. He switched gears to take charge at Cloud Chamber, the studio tasked with bringing us the next BioShock. His involvement is set to provide a fresh perspective, as he has taken on a similar role before with BioShock Infinite.
However, it hasn’t all been smooth sailing. In a bid to realign the project, some tough decisions were made, including laying off around 80 staff members—nearly a third of Cloud Chamber’s team. This restructuring is aimed at refining key elements that make a BioShock game what it is.
As exciting as this news is, we might still be in for a long wait before we get our hands on that next thrilling adventure. So, while Zelnick’s optimism is a good sign, it seems we’ll need to be patient as the team works their magic to bring that famed lighthouse back into view.