The BioShock franchise, celebrated for its groundbreaking narrative and dystopian artistry, began with the original BioShock in 2007, continued through BioShock 2 in 2010 and BioShock Infinite in 2013, and saw a remastered collection in 2016. Officially announced in 2019 with a cryptic tweet from publisher 2K, BioShock 4 has kept fans waiting over six years for meaningful progress—until now, as Take-Two Interactive delivers a promising update on the long-gestating sequel.
During the company’s Q2 2026 fiscal earnings call on November 6, 2025, Take-Two confirmed that veteran producer Rod Fergusson—known for his work on BioShock Infinite, Diablo IV, and the Gears of War series—has taken leadership of BioShock 4 at Cloud Chamber studios. The move follows earlier turbulence, including the departure of creative director Kelley Gilmore and a failed internal review that prompted layoffs and a narrative overhaul.
Take-Two president Karl Slatoff emphasized the franchise’s stature, stating (via GamesRadar+): “BioShock is a very important franchise for us. It’s one of our biggest franchises, and we’re very excited about the release of the next BioShock.” He added, “We’ve made some changes in the organisation. We’re shifting some things around, but right now, we feel that the game is on a great track for us to deliver something that’s going to exceed customer expectations. The next BioShock is going to take the franchise to the next level, which is always our ambition with all of our franchises.”
These assurances come despite a Bloomberg report earlier this year revealing that BioShock 4 had faltered in an internal review, with executives citing the story as a key weakness requiring significant revision. A planned remake of the original BioShock was also reportedly canceled amid the restructuring.
While no release window has been confirmed—previous estimates suggested 2027 or beyond—Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick has repeatedly affirmed that the game “is going to come out.” With Fergusson now steering development, the project appears to be regaining momentum. As 2K has consistently stated: “We don’t release games before they’re ready.” For a series that redefined immersive storytelling, that commitment may justify the wait.
Five years after 2K first revealed the project with a brief tweet noting that a new installment of the acclaimed BioShock series was in development, no official details or footage have surfaced. Ongoing reports of a rocky production suggest that may not change in the near future.
Meanwhile, the BioShock universe is expanding beyond gaming: Netflix is actively developing a live-action film adaptation in partnership with Take-Two and Vertigo Entertainment, with The Hunger Games director Francis Lawrence attached to helm the project—though updates on its progress have been quiet since the 2022 announcement. For a series that redefined immersive storytelling, both the game and the film carry the weight of sky-high expectations.
