Rumor: BioShock prequel to bring the fall of Rapture

by James Ransom-Wiley { Jan 8th 2008 at 1:30PM }

We need only glance at the numbers, awards and "franchise" qualification from Take-Two to know that a BioShock sequel is coming. In what form (direct sequel or 'Shock spinoff?) and by which hand (2K Boston or 2K Australia – or 2K Marin?) remain the mysteries, but the latest rumor, passed along by Czech gaming site Hrej.cz, claims a prequel has entered pre-production and is on target for a summer 2009 release; a date which would be consistent with the "roughly two year interval" set by Take-Two during an investors call in September.

An unnamed source within 2K Games allegedly told Hrej that development is currently focused on scripting a plot based on events prior to the original BioShock and creating graphic design elements for such a prequel, but official word from 2K is that there is simply "nothing to announce at all." Still, a Czech source bringing the rumor along on the same day 2K Czech is formed seems like an interesting coincidence. Do the Czechs balance?

Read - Rumor source (Hrej.cz – Czech)
Read - 2K responds to rumor (Videogamer.com)

Tags: 2k-games, bioshock, take-two

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Ashe @ Jan 8th 2008 1:35PM

Hmm... I can see that going either way. I'm sure they have the talent to do it well, but... a big part of Bioshock was the atmosphere. Entering a dilapidated underwater city already past its initial downfall, and inhabited by strung out crazy people. Hopefully they can find something similar to work with and not lose that feeling to the game.

Brett from Atlanta @ Jan 8th 2008 1:40PM

Yeah, but if there was some sort of event that happened and caused utter chaos, then I think the character would still be pretty strung out, and irrational. They could make this work.

Saria the Cat @ Jan 9th 2008 3:58PM

I already discussed this a long time ago on the official Bioshock forums, but I think a prequel could really work, "especially if there were multiple ways to play again (like, at least two distinct sides, whether you start off on Fontaine's side or Ryan's). Factions could be pretty cool. Starting off as a male (or female we need some love) Rapture citizen, and by some accident (maybe you want a better opportunity for your family so you agree "just this once" to a dangerous smuggling deal in order to get some much-needed resource like cash, Adam to heal your sick daughter, whatever), get caught up in a whirlwind of politics. You move up and find yourself involved in deeper with politics and dangerous deals and important people, get to know either Fontaine or Ryan very personally as they rise/decline. You get to see the effects of over-splicing on, say, your wife or husband, or best friend. Get to see how people transform from normal citizens to junkie splicers. The world of Rapture is plunged into chaos. You're there when the first pipe leaks appear. And the game ends somewhere before Bioshock begins."

Marty @ Jan 8th 2008 1:35PM

I thought Bioshock did a great job, maybe better than Gear of War, at presenting a world that looked like it could have been amazing to behold before it was ruined. So this could be interesting, I suppose.

Darayz @ Jan 8th 2008 1:37PM

I wonder if this could be a downloadable content type thing? Episodic content that reuses the textures and gameplay from the original game?

Ten Dolla Bill @ Jan 8th 2008 2:06PM

rom @ Jan 8th 2008 1:37PM

I was actually hoping for a prequel rather than a sequel. I've always wanted to see how Rapture looked before the sh*t hit the fan. Hopefully we get a glimpse of it.

Hashbrown_Hunter @ Jan 8th 2008 7:32PM

Plus a sequel might be easier and faster to make because of the level designs being almost exactly the same.

I still need to finish up BioShock, but I'm already stoked for a sequel/prequel.

PhrawzT @ Jan 9th 2008 10:23AM

I would be all about a prequel. I want the ability to become a splicer, or even play as Atlas himself.

Jake11 @ Jan 8th 2008 1:38PM

i love that picture

Chris @ Jan 8th 2008 1:43PM

Urg Prequel!

The story was good in the first one. We know everything that happened in Rapture because of the great writing. I hate retreading information that I already know.

Please, No. More. Prequels.

Intentless @ Jan 8th 2008 1:48PM

Cept if they do it right we could find out the actual truth to what we were told in the frist game... Remember we heard things from different characters perspectives and potentially outright lies...

Eric @ Jan 8th 2008 2:04PM

How could you play Bioshock and not go "Man, I wish I was around when this place was normal, or quasi-normal, or at least everyone wasn't trying to kill everyone else."

Trev @ Jan 8th 2008 2:18PM

I worry about it falling into that self-referential pit. "Remember how cool this was the first time? Pretend it's cool again now." I don't want a suspenseful musical sting when someone says "would you kindly". Unfortunately, even good games and movies love to do shit like that; see the "it's a shame she won't live..." quote echoing in at the end of Blade Runner as an example.

On the other hand it could come out really good and take some unexpected turns. Maybe show us things related to those events that we've never even heard of because the characters didn't know. Maybe show things unraveling from a whole different point of view.

All in all, I think it would be best if it was written as though the first game didn't exist at all (which it wouldn't yet, story wise), then this se/pre-quel could be good in its own right while still adding to the story.

Chris @ Jan 8th 2008 2:43PM

I guess I was kind of hoping for a "second" Rapture, that is in the middle of Antartica with a Post Modern like design scheme (just kidding... sort of).

The first one is so beautiful and amazing looking, but that is really 90% of its draw. Once you cut away the atmosphere of Bioshock, what do you have? A really good Half-Life 2 impersonation. To make Bioshock 2 interesting it needs to capitalize on a NEW look and atmosphere.

Sure there was a lot of Rapture we didn't even go to, but really all of Rapture is pretty similar looking. If it were a PC game, I can see an expansion Pack add-on that uses all the same resources to tell a Prequel-type story. But a Bioshock 2: The Fall of Rapture. No thanks.

Vidikron (FU) @ Jan 8th 2008 3:38PM

HL2 impersonation? I didn't think the two games were anything alike beyond both being FPS.

Chris @ Jan 8th 2008 3:48PM

Plot driven FPS

Silent main character

Focus on side characters to tell story

No cut scenes, EVERYTHING happens in first person

Plasmid telekensis = Gravity Gun

Plasmid idea/concept/look = bug bait

They both have powerful crossbows... ok now I am reaching....

Brett from Atlanta @ Jan 8th 2008 1:44PM

I think this is a good idea. I mean, where else would you go, the ending of bioshock didn't really leave an option for you to return to rapture to fight more splicers. That wouldn't really make too much sense. I think the prequel route is the right way to go. I have a lot of questions, namely, who the character you play with would be, but I guess I'll just have to wait and see how it turns out.

Burritoclock @ Jan 8th 2008 2:33PM

What if the technology/science of rapture was released upon the rest of the world, that could be pretty goddamned crazy me thinks.

But a prequel will be cool to.

jynxycat @ Jan 8th 2008 1:52PM

Wouldn't a prequel be boring ? I mean, the city is going to be somewhat normal, with maybe a few people becoming addicts slowly. I doubt they would be full blown lunatics at that point though.

That and if you listened to most of the story tidbits, you would already know what happened to most of the people.

-shrug-

I'm just annoyed how EVERY successful game has to spawn more games, and can't just sit as a great title on it's own.

ThornedVenom @ Jan 8th 2008 1:55PM

Bioshock has been about the story, so I doubt that it's going to be that much of a letdown.

And I pretty sure that they can make the Rapture downfall pretty dramatic, with Splicers and Big Daddies starting to pop out and to create havok.

ScreamingSkull @ Jan 8th 2008 2:00PM

I posted on Kotaku that they should introduce a "flashforward" plasmid, something that can just drop you into crazy messed up rapture at the flick of a wrist. I like this idea.

ScreamingSkull @ Jan 8th 2008 2:00PM

I posted on Kotaku that they should introduce a "flashforward" plasmid, something that can just drop you into crazy messed up rapture at the flick of a wrist. I like this idea.

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Jan 8th 2008 2:22PM

If you'd been paying attention to the journals, you'd know that shit was going down between Fontain and Ryan. A prequel would work.

jynxycat @ Jan 8th 2008 4:00PM

But as the same game we know now ?

Do we want some hero running around with 40 different plasmid abilities ?

Meh, I think it'll only turn out bad. Just leave the game be with its awards, and make something new.

ThornedVenom @ Jan 8th 2008 1:53PM

I wonder if we would be able to play as Andrew Ryan.

Cyro @ Jan 8th 2008 1:55PM

How about a sequel in which the character returns many years after to find out someone else made another Rapture but much more modern than this one. And of course everything goes to hell again.

NATO_Duke @ Jan 8th 2008 2:02PM

Does that really sound viable to you?

I think the prequel idea sounds great. To play through the city as everything is falling apart, and to see how things went down would add a lot to the story.

Cyro @ Jan 8th 2008 2:25PM

You are right. A sequel might be better. But they should show different part of Rapture this time around. Parts we never got to see.

One thing is for sure. I dont want a crappy Bioshock 2 just to make a quick buck.

Cyro @ Jan 8th 2008 2:27PM

I meant prequel. sorry..

ridestowe @ Jan 8th 2008 2:00PM

OH MY GOD I FUCKING HOPE THIS ISN'T JUST A RUMOR

deaftly @ Jan 8th 2008 2:03PM

"Do the Czechs balance?"

ba dum pshh

Jack @ Jan 8th 2008 2:06PM

I'd much rather have a BioShock prequel than sequel. Rapture is interesting enough to revisit on a different timeline, much like the recurring planets in the Metroid series.

Also, that last line reminds why Joystiq is unmatched in the game-writing sphere in its writers' mastery of pundom.

Twist @ Jan 8th 2008 2:14PM

Come on 2K one of our favorite things about BioShock was that it was an original game lost in a sea of sequels. A sequel or prequel won't be an original game and we won't like it as much. Let the BioShock team get to work on a new IP.

flameofdoom666 @ Jan 8th 2008 2:18PM

What if they did work on a new IP and the idea's arent as good? Then the Bioshock ideas would just die out? I think it is smart to make great games a series.

Its justl ike the movies, and I want moreeee!

flameofdoom666 @ Jan 8th 2008 2:16PM

I got the Bioshock Limted Edition, and loved the bonus content/bigdaddy and of ocurse the game. I would buy a sequal/prequal, instantly.

NukeAssault @ Jan 8th 2008 2:34PM

Wow a prequel eh. Id hit it.

Poisoned Al @ Jan 8th 2008 2:56PM

It does sound like a lot of posters blundered though Bioshock without exploring everywhere and missing a lot of plot.

A prequel could work, and you could ditch the ropey "good vs evil" crap for who you decide to work for. Ryan for one ending, Fontaine the other. Personally I would add a "screw both of you guys, I'm getting the hell out of dodge" ending too.

Macroy @ Jan 8th 2008 2:58PM

Well, I guess that gives me some time to finish BioShock :(

Jeff @ Jan 8th 2008 3:01PM

I don't see any way a prequel, or anything else set in the same BioShock universe, can be good.

BioShock wasn't amazing for the gameplay-- it was amazing for the story and the atmosphere. Reusing that same stuff again won't make an amazing game.

why not the LS2LS7? @ Jan 8th 2008 4:17PM

It wasn't amazing for the story either. The story is ripped from System Shock 2, and the characters are just a loose collection of racial stereotypes and funny accents.

It's beautiful, it plays reasonably well and the atmosphere is good.

Brian @ Jan 8th 2008 3:59PM

A steampunk styled mob game?

why not the LS2LS7? @ Jan 8th 2008 4:16PM

I found a link to the plot for the prequel to Bioshock.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/System_shock#Plot

Dan CiTi @ Jan 8th 2008 5:21PM

Yeah because 2072 & 2114 happen way before 1960. Seriously, that joke isn't even funny. System Shock is a different genre than BioShock anyway. One's an RPG the other is an FPS. All three(and in like 18 months, four) are great games. probably some of the best of all-time. Good god. You know, I wonder if people didn't like the idea of System Shock continuation. Wonder what they got? O RITE!

why not the LS2LS7? @ Jan 8th 2008 8:59PM

All of your comments don't change that BioShock copies the story from System Shock 2 and thus System Shock 2 would be a natural model for the prequel to BioShock.

Eh, why am I arguing with a fanboy? Already counting a game that hasn't even been written as a great game. Blind faith.

Mutant @ Jan 8th 2008 4:52PM

I think a prequel could work here.

Wouldn't it be interesting to have some sane people mixed in with the insane ones. Not knowing if they were going to help you or attack you would add tension. In Bioshock you basically kill everyone you come across, well except for maybe the little sisters.