Cloud Chamber Archives

AppWizard

May 8, 2026

2K Games confirms layoffs at Project Ethos shooter studio and hints at new design direction: ‘It’s become clear that changes need to be made’

31st Union, a studio under 2K Games, has confirmed layoffs affecting an undisclosed number of employees as it continues development on Project Ethos, a free-to-play hero shooter unveiled in 2024. Studio head Ben Brinkman indicated that changes were necessary to achieve the studio's goals. Project Ethos was initially described as a "roguelike hero shooter," but it allows players to choose randomized buffs during matches and features gameplay similar to Fortnite. The studio's previous head, Michael Condrey, was dismissed shortly after the game's announcement, and updates on Project Ethos have been limited since then. The layoffs at 31st Union follow similar cuts at 2K Games' Cloud Chamber in 2025. Take-Two Interactive's CEO has expressed disappointment over the lengthy development timelines for new titles, including the BioShock installment. Despite these challenges, Brinkman remains optimistic about the future of Project Ethos and the team's direction.

AppWizard

May 7, 2026

Take-Two chief is ‘deeply disappointed’ that we still don’t have a new BioShock game

The BioShock franchise has not released a new installment since BioShock Infinite in 2013. In 2018, Hangar 13 began preliminary work on a new title, but it did not progress into a full project. Strauss Zelnick, CEO of Take-Two Interactive, expressed disappointment over the delays but was not surprised. The franchise is currently under the management of Cloud Chamber, which has appointed a new director and is reworking fundamental elements of the series. Following restructuring, over 80 employees, about one-third of Cloud Chamber's workforce, were laid off. The development of the next BioShock installment is still in its early stages.

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.

AppWizard

August 20, 2025

Rod Fergusson is Cloud Chamber’s new studio head

Rod Fergusson has become the studio head at Cloud Chamber, the studio behind the BioShock franchise, following the departure of former studio head Kelley Filmore and creative director Hogarth de la Plante. The studio is undergoing restructuring and facing an undisclosed number of layoffs, although no WARN notice has been filed by parent company 2K Games. Fergusson previously worked at Blizzard Entertainment on Diablo 4 and has experience at The Coalition and Irrational Games. He expressed enthusiasm for returning to 2K and leading the BioShock franchise, acknowledging the challenges posed by the studio's restructuring while committing to the team's efforts on the upcoming BioShock title and overseeing franchise extensions, including a Netflix movie adaptation.

AppWizard

August 4, 2025

2K changes Cloud Chamber leadership for BioShock project

Kelley Gilmore, the head of Cloud Chamber, has been let go, and Hogarth de la Plante has moved to a new role in the publishing division as part of a leadership restructuring at 2K Games. This change aims to address concerns about the narrative quality of the upcoming BioShock title and to promote a more efficient development process. 2K Games has expressed its commitment to delivering a high-quality BioShock game that meets fan expectations. Cloud Chamber has been developing the next installment of the BioShock franchise since its establishment in 2019, following the release of BioShock Infinite in 2013.

AppWizard

July 11, 2025

BioShock maestro Ken Levine says Judas is ‘very old school’ because ‘you buy the game and you get the whole thing… no online component, no live service’

More than a decade has passed since the release of Bioshock Infinite's expansion, Burial at Sea. The development of Infinite led to significant restructuring within Irrational Games, which transformed into Ghost Story Games. Ghost Story's first title, Judas, aims to revive single-player narrative-driven shooters. Ken Levine expressed optimism about the demand for such games despite a shift in the industry towards multiplayer and monetization strategies. He cited recent successful single-player games like Baldur's Gate 3, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 as evidence that traditional single-player experiences can still thrive. The latest trailer for Judas, released in January 2024, emphasizes player choices. A fourth installment of the Bioshock franchise is in development at Cloud Chamber, featuring a team from Irrational and 2K Marin.

AppWizard

July 15, 2024

This leaked screenshot may be our first glimpse of BioShock 4, and it sure looks like a BioShock game

A new BioShock sequel is in the works, with rumors suggesting it is set in 1960s Antarctica. A screenshot of the game has been revealed, showing a retro-futuristic tower and a character wielding a "Ricochet Shotgun". The game is still in development, with Cloud Chamber recruiting new team members. The fate of the series was uncertain after creator Ken Levine left, but the new team includes veterans of the first game, giving hope for a worthy revival.

AppWizard

July 11, 2024

Bioshock 4 studio is now ‘recruiting like mad’ but the game’s nature remains a mystery

BioShock 4 is currently under development at Cloud Chamber, a studio established by publisher 2K specifically to work on the series. The game is a singleplayer shooter set in a 1960s Antarctic city called Borealis. The development team has been granted latitude to get the game right, and the studio is currently recruiting game developers in San Francisco and Montreal. Ken Levine, the creative director of BioShock and BioShock Infinite, is not involved in the project.