The long-awaited new entry in the BioShock series is reportedly facing significant development challenges, with publisher 2K Games initiating a major internal shake-up. According to a report by Jason Schreier of Bloomberg, the game recently failed an internal review, prompting an overhaul of both its narrative and studio leadership as parent company Take-Two Interactive attempts to course-correct the troubled project.
The new BioShock, currently in development at Cloud Chamber, is said to have drawn concern from senior 2K executives after they reviewed a recent build of the game. Insiders revealed that the game’s narrative was specifically identified as a weak point and will be undergoing a substantial rework in the coming months. These developments come after several years of inconsistent production and a complex development history, with the current version of the project believed to have started internally in 2019.
Following the failed review, 2K Games dismissed Cloud Chamber studio head Kelley Gilmore and reassigned creative director Hogarth de la Plante to a publishing-focused role. This shake-up in leadership has sparked concerns among employees about potential layoffs, particularly after company-wide messages emphasized the need for Cloud Chamber to become more agile and efficient.
In response to Bloomberg’s inquiries, 2K issued a statement confirming the leadership changes and reaffirming its commitment to the BioShock franchise. “We are working hard to set BioShock up for the best possible future,” said a company spokesperson. “Right now, we have a good game, but we are committed to delivering a great one. We are working closely with leadership at the studio to define this path.”
Cloud Chamber was established in December 2019 specifically to develop the next chapter in the BioShock series. The studio operates out of Novato, California, and Montreal, Canada, and was led by Kelley Gilmore, a former Firaxis executive. Several veterans from previous BioShock titles were brought on board, including lead art director Scott Sinclair and designer Jonathan Pelling, both of whom had worked on the original BioShock and Infinite.
Officially revealed in 2019, the current BioShock game has yet to receive a formal title, trailer, or release window. With the latest report indicating internal dissatisfaction and key leadership changes, it is likely that the game’s release has been pushed back even further.
Despite these challenges, 2K maintains that it remains “fully committed” to delivering a BioShock game that meets the expectations set by its critically acclaimed predecessors. Whether Cloud Chamber can regain momentum and reshape the project into a worthy successor remains to be seen. For fans of the franchise, the wait continues — but with tempered expectations.
