BioShock 4 Development Screenshot Leaks, Suggests Time-Controlling Powers

Highlights

A BioShock 4 reveal might be on the horizon after a rumored gameplay screenshot was shared online by MP1st.
The screenshot follows a slew of job postings at 2K Cloud Chamber as production on the next BioSock game ramps up.
In the screenshot, several Plasmid abilities are shown, including multiple that reference the ability to play with time.

It seems increasingly more and more likely that a BioShock 4 reveal could be on the horizon. Just last week, a game designer at 2K Cloud Chamber, the studio developing the next BioShock title, shared a slew of job postings as production ramps up. Now, a rumored in-game screenshot has been shared, showcasing the game’s UI, as well as potential time-controlling abilities has been shared online.

As first unearthed by MP1st, the screenshot is presumably in-engine, and it offers a strong look at what the game will be about. According to the website, the screen comes from a 2K Visual Effects Artist, though no other details were provided due to privacy concerns. That said, what is shown lines up with previous BioShock 4 information, as well as the general aesthetic of past BioShock games.

MP1st

A screenshot showcasing BioShock’s 4 world, UI and gameplay

BioShock 4 Might Let Players Control Time

To start, the screenshot references “Parkside,” which has been rumored to be the codenamed title for BioShock 4. That codename has been reported in the past by multiple outlets, including by Jason Schreier and Colin Moriarty, respectively. That helps lend it further credibility.

Judas and Bioshock screens mixed with Judas hand and Big Daddy

Judas Being So Like BioShock Just Makes Me Sad

Judas still seems like it’s just BioShock, and there’s not much to be excited about there

Elsewhere, it appears that at least four Plasmid abilities will be part of the gameplay. In the top left corner, there is an hourglass, which might suggest some sort of time control ability. In the bottom left corner, an additional three Plasmid abilities are displayed. The first of which is a stopwatch symbol, meaning time will play some sort of factor in the game.

The other two symbols shown are a magnet and a lightning bolt. It’s probably safe to assume that the lightning bolt will be an electricity-based ability, which has been central to BioShock. Meanwhile, the magnet might be for something related to telekinesis, though that is less clear.

Whoever the protagonist will be is carrying a “Ricochet Shotgun,” which looks strikingly similar to the Rivet gun from BioShock 2. It also showcases three weapon placeholders and the “Y” button. That “Y” button might be used to swap weapons out, and while the three placeholders are all the same image, it could mean that players will only have access to three weapons at a time.

What’s less easy to determine is the setting of the game. The player-controlled character is facing what looks like a lighthouse, a central motif in all of BioShock. It’s also dark and cloudy outside, making it hard to pinpoint where exactly the game will take place. That said, the presence of a lighthouse alone is enough to suggest whatever BioShock 4 ends up being, it’ll at least carry over the established plot threads.

Given that the game was announced all the way back in 2019, it’s nice to see that it is still in active development. Perhaps it won’t be long before we can get our hands on it, too.