BioShock Archives

AppWizard

October 29, 2025

When Irrational picked a new writer for BioShock Infinite, it didn’t realise he was in the next room, already working at the studio

Joe Fielder is the senior narrative designer for The Outer Worlds 2 and has worked in the gaming industry for over two decades in various roles, including level designer, producer, and director. He was a producer on BioShock Infinite, where he contributed as an art and narrative producer. Fielder's writing for BioShock Infinite included crafting the initial walk into Columbia, focusing on combat dialogue and worldbuilding elements. He emphasized non-expositional writing, allowing players to organically learn about the game's world through character conversations. Fielder has a strong focus on incorporating humor into games, which he has been doing for years, and he is now being paid for it in The Outer Worlds 2. He previously embedded comedic slogans into BioShock's in-fiction brands, such as a slogan for a fictional cigarette brand aimed at children.

AppWizard

October 4, 2025

Chill city-builder Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles just got a massive update that adds an ‘OP AF’ new airship, as the developer urges players to check out his game: ‘Any review helps, even the critical ones’

Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles has received an update that introduces the Behemoth, a large, heavily armed airship with three upgrade tiers. The update also adds new locations, including the Entagon, which unlocks subterfuge diplomacy events allowing players to acquire settlements, corrupt faction commanders, undo vassalizations, and disrupt settlement defenses. Additionally, Arbologies that grow trees when supplied with workers and curved walls for construction have been added. Quality-of-life features include a limited fast-travel system and antialiasing settings. The game is currently on sale for £7.19 until October 6.

AppWizard

October 3, 2025

Amnesia creator Frictional Games teases its next game, and it may be something new but it sure feels like SOMA

Frictional Games, known for horror titles like Penumbra, Amnesia, and SOMA, has teased their next project through a YouTube clip titled FrictionalNextProject.mp4, following an alternate reality game (ARG) that started with a SOMA update on September 22. This update addressed technical issues and hinted at deeper mysteries. Frictional Games is collaborating with Kepler Interactive for this project, marking a shift from their previous self-publishing model. The Hotel Samsara website, linked to the teaser, presents a narrative about a luxury experience gone wrong, featuring a character named Felix. The teaser suggests themes of neo-luxury and horror, reminiscent of SOMA's psychological horror elements. There is currently no official release timeline for the new game, but fans can sign up for updates on the Hotel Samsara website.

AppWizard

September 27, 2025

The Witcher’s forgotten minigame gets a grisly revival where you bet your own digits trying to roll high-scoring poker hands against demonic billionaires

Dead Finger Dice is a roguelike game that combines digital tabletop gaming with a horror narrative, where players use their character's fingers as currency for betting. Players can wager multiple fingers per round and use a finger-guillotine to enhance their betting strategy. The objective is to liberate a demon from its digits, but failure results in starting over with a new character. Between rounds, players can explore their cell to gather items and craft new dice using fingers collected from defeated demons. The game features a 1-bit art style and is in development, with no release date announced. Additionally, The Killing Stone, another demon-themed virtual board game, has been announced by the creators of Bioshock.

AppWizard

September 14, 2025

With Baldur’s Gate 3’s DnD roleplaying and the tactical battles of Into the Breach, I’ve never played anything like this Art Deco RPG

Players are transported to a reimagined New York in 1939, featuring anti-gravity technology, in the debut role-playing game Aether and Iron by Seismic Squirrel. Players assume the role of Gia, a smuggler, who embarks on a mission with a young scientist named Nellie. The game utilizes a unique dice mechanic for decision-making, allowing players to specialize in attributes like Brass, Hustle, or Smarts. Choices made during gameplay can have significant consequences, creating a sense of tension. The game includes vehicle combat in a turn-based format, inspired by fast-paced car chases, and offers customization options for vehicles. Aether and Iron combines turn-based strategy with visual novel elements and features a richly crafted world with a captivating art style and branching narrative. The game is set to be released in 2026.

AppWizard

September 13, 2025

The BioShock movie is still in the works, but scheduling conflicts mean it likely can’t come out before 2027, maybe even later

The screen adaptation of BioShock is in progress at Netflix, but the release date is delayed due to director Francis Lawrence's busy schedule. Producer Roy Lee indicated that the project has faced delays as the script is undergoing further refinement. Lawrence is currently focused on the next Hunger Games film, which means BioShock will remain on hold until that project is completed. The film will be based on the original BioShock game, potentially allowing for a more thoughtful interpretation of Rapture.

AppWizard

September 13, 2025

I was ready to be a crab about Silksong in the face of its memetic hype, but the game is simply too good

The release date for Hollow Knight: Silksong was announced, generating significant hype in the gaming community, particularly on platforms like Steam. The author experienced a decline in enthusiasm due to the overwhelming buzz surrounding the game, reminiscent of the hype for Bioshock: Infinite. Despite initial skepticism, revisiting the original Hollow Knight rekindled the author's excitement for the sequel. The author found Silksong's combat, platforming, aesthetic detail, and soundtrack captivating, leading to a reevaluation of their earlier doubts. The anticipation for the game had grown to overshadow other titles the author intended to play before its release.

AppWizard

September 6, 2025

I’m a gamer. The NO FAKES Act could get me in trouble.

Congress is considering the NO FAKES Act of 2025, which aims to combat AI-generated deepfakes by establishing property rights over one's "digital replica." This legislation could negatively impact the gaming community by making it illegal to create realistic representations of individuals without consent, potentially affecting games that rely on accurate likenesses. The act introduces liability for unauthorized digital replicas, which could lead to censorship and discourage developers from offering diverse customization options. Existing laws already provide protections related to publicity rights and intellectual property, but the NO FAKES Act may disproportionately affect small developers and non-commercial fan projects. Valve has announced plans to require developers to disclose AI use in games, promoting transparency.

AppWizard

August 30, 2025

The 10 best games of all time on PC

Video games have evolved significantly, with the personal computer playing a crucial role in the industry's growth. PC gaming is appreciated for its flexibility, diverse hardware configurations, extensive modability, and nearly 40 years of backwards compatibility. A selection of the best PC games based on Metacritic scores includes: - Disco Elysium: Score 97/100, known for its narrative design and player choices. - Half-Life 2: Score 96/100, celebrated for its innovative physics and storytelling. - Grand Theft Auto 5: Score 96/100, features a compelling single-player narrative and a vast online world. - Baldur's Gate 3: Score 96/100, recognized as a masterclass in role-playing games with community-driven updates. - BioShock: Score 96/100, blends first-person shooting with action-adventure elements and a strong morality system. - Persona 5 Royal: Score 95/100, balances dungeon exploration with a social life in a turn-based RPG format. - Portal 2: Score 95/100, known for its innovative puzzle design and engaging narrative. - The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim: Score 94/100, offers vast replayability and extensive modding options. - Mass Effect 2: Score 94/100, noted for its impactful storytelling and memorable ending. - Sid Meier's Civilization 2: Score 94/100, a classic strategy game that remains popular despite its limited availability on modern platforms.

AppWizard

August 21, 2025

2K cuts over 80 jobs at Cloud Chamber

2K Games has announced a workforce reduction at Cloud Chamber, impacting over 80 employees, or about one-third of the studio's staff, as part of a strategy to refine the development of the next BioShock installment. Rod Fergusson has been appointed to lead the studio and oversee the project. 2K president David Ismailer stated the importance of respecting the BioShock legacy while meeting fan expectations and noted the decision to downsize was made to rework certain core aspects of the game. Affected employees will receive communication regarding severance packages and support resources.