Bioshock 4 will have an “emergent sandbox” and ambitious AI

Bioshock was one of the most beloved franchises of the Xbox 360/PS3 generation. Sadly, it didn’t see any follow-ups on Xbox One or PS4 despite fans knowing Bioshock 4 is indeed in development. While we have no idea when the proper reveal with a trailer and plot details will happen, we have some nuggets of info to share.

Thanks to MauroNL on ResetEra, various job listings at developer Cloud Chamber Games can clue us in on Bioshock 4. It sounds like Cloud Chamber, who are newcomers to the series, is looking to create a bit of an open-world for Bioshock. While the first two games aren’t 100% linear, they’re certainly not open-world. Cloud Chambers Games mentions the idea of an “emergent sandbox” in their job listing along with more expansive concepts.

The responsibilities listed in the description for the Systems Designer opening reads include a focus on “… interactive world systems and non-AI systemic ecology, Player growth systems & progression and Game balance and economy”. With an economy and an “interactive” world, it begs the idea of a more freeing Bioshock game.

Bioshock 4 also looks to push the boundaries of AI, noting they “are trying some new and ambitious things with AI in this game”.

“We have high ambitions for tying AI and storytelling together and it will be your responsibility to crystalize that ambition around several AI systems. You will be in close collaboration with Design leadership to flesh out the designs and finalize the implementations for an urban crowd system and the systemic tribal ecology of a sometimes hostile AI,” reads the listing for a Game AI Programmer.

There are also mentions of dialogue systems, hinting that we could be getting a branching RPG narrative a la Fallout. The Game Awards are tomorrow, if we’re lucky we could get a tease for the untitled Bioshock 4!