After a fairly lengthy hiatus,BioShock 4is finally set to arrive sometime in the near future, with 2K and Cloud Chamber announcing that the project was in full development back in December 2019. Though no trailers have been released and no official details have been confirmed just yet, a number of leaks have made their way online over the last few years, with a few of them suggesting thatBioShock 4is using some form of open-world design.
On the surface,BioShock 4’s apparent decision to go open-world makes complete sense. One of the best features oftheBioShockseriesis its expansive and unique settings, and it makes complete sense thatBioShock 4would want to double down on that and bring the franchise’s most epic setting yet. But creating a compelling open-world game isn’t as easy as it looks, andBioShock 4may want to look to other stellar examples for inspiration, with one those releasing in just a few days' time.
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BioShock 4 Should Take Notes From Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores' Open-World
WhenHorizon Zero Dawnlaunched back in 2017 it was unfortunately immediately overshadowed byZelda: Breath of the Wild, and its innovative approach to open-world game design. But that’s not to sayHorizon Zero Dawn’s open-world was bad, far from it. With a unique robotic post-apocalypse aesthetic, breathtaking visuals, tons of side content, and cohesive world-building,Horizon Zero Dawn’s open-worldgave players plenty of bang for their buck.
Horizon Forbidden Westunfortunately met a similar fate last year, withElden Ringand its ownBreath of the Wild-inspired open-worldovershadowing the franchise the once again. But again,Horizon Forbidden West’s open-world was another great example of the genre, with plenty of content to dive into and even more intriguing world-building elements than its predecessor.
TheHorizonfranchise’s open-world already have a lot to teachBioShock 4. For a start,BioShock 4’s open-world should feel lived in, and organic. Even if its setting is meant to be rundown or abandoned,BioShock 4can still do a lot to make its environments feel realistic - as if people had truly been living there - just likeHorizon’s open-world. Similarly,BioShock 4’s open-worldshould feature plenty of side content. WhileBioShock 4certainly doesn’t need quite as much side content asHorizon Forbidden West, a full open-world adventure game, it should still feature a healthy amount of meaningful side quests and a fair few collectibles that actually reward the player through gameplay. It’s also imperative that any side content inBioShock 4feels like it should belong in that universe and franchise. There shouldn’t be any awkward side games that don’t really belong inBioShock 4’s world, or any combat challenges if there’s no in-universe reason behind their existence.
But the most interesting inspiration forBioShock 4’s open-world might be just around the corner. On July 15, 2025,Horizon Forbidden West’sBurning ShoresDLC is set to release. Along with new weapons, new tribes, and a new story for Aloy,Burning Shoresis also bringing a new mount called the Waterwing to the game. With an appearance and function similar to the Sunwing, theHorizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores' Waterwingcan be used to travel the skies above the post-apocalyptic version of L.A., but unlike the Sunwing, it can also dive into the watery depths below. The seamless transition between air, ground, and water is definitely something thatBioShock 4should take inspiration from for its own world. If there’s one surefire way to stand out from the rest of the series, it’sBioShock 4giving players several different settings, allowing them to traverse freely between each one.
