BioShock 4 is experiencing a delay. Cloud Chamber is cutting the team by 80 people!

BioShock 4, one of the most anticipated games in recent years, is facing serious issues. Just before Gamescom ONL 2025, reports emerged of layoffs at Cloud Chamber studio – and now we have official confirmation. A total of 80 out of 250 employees have lost their jobs, which is nearly one-third of the entire team. According to internal sources, the original plan was for a release at the end of 2026 or early 2027, but the restructuring has forced a delay of the debut to the second half of 2027, and possibly even later.

2K confirms: prioritising gameplay quality

The president of 2K, David Ismailer, has admitted that cuts are necessary for the studio to focus on the key elements of the game. – We want BioShock 4 to meet fan expectations and not be a compromise – he emphasised. It’s a tough decision, but according to the company, it will help the team focus on what matters most.

ChooseTV and difficult beginnings

It’s undeniable that Cloud Chamber's problem from the start was trying to reconcile two huge challenges: creating a new studio from scratch while simultaneously developing a AAA game. The history of the industry shows that many companies have failed at such a combination, and the BioShock 4 project is no exception.

Successes of previous installments of the series

The BioShock series is a cornerstone of modern gaming and one of the most important examples of how to combine narrative with gameplay. BioShock from 2007 dazzled with the atmosphere of underwater Rapture and the philosophical depth of its story. BioShock 2 expanded on this vision, and BioShock Infinite transported players to the flying Columbia, winning over 80 "Game of the Year" awards. These successes have led to enormous expectations for the fourth installment – players want a title that will once again go down in gaming history.

Fans need to brace themselves for patience...

Despite the issues, Take-Two is not planning to abandon the project. BioShock 4 is still in development, and Fergusson and his team are set to create a game worthy of legend. Unfortunately, we will have to wait much longer for the release than initially expected.