Legendary producer Rod Fergusson has been appointed as the brand new franchise head for the BioShock sequence, following the fourth sport’s well-documented manufacturing struggles.
Fergusson introduced his new place on social media earlier at this time, declaring that he’ll be heading up BioShock 4 developer Cloud Chamber and “overseeing growth of the subsequent BioShock sport, together with franchise extensions just like the in-development Netflix film”.
He goes on to say that whereas he is excited to begin his new position, he understands that “the studio restructuring is a tough time for the group”, and that he is “deeply grateful” for the work accomplished on BioShock 4 by Cloud Chamber up to now (though we nonetheless do not know precisely how a lot work that’s).
In case you’re questioning to what Fergusson is referring, it was reported lately {that a} remake of the primary BioShock sport was canceled internally at writer 2K, and that growth on the still-unannounced fourth main BioShock sport is in a tough patch.
In keeping with Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier, 2K execs are sad with the way in which BioShock 4’s story was progressing, resulting in the ousting of Cloud Chamber head Kelley Gilmore and a change in artistic director Hogarth de la Plante’s position to a extra “publishing”-focused place.
The interior evaluation that led to those selections additionally apparently resulted in layoffs at Cloud Chamber, which is probably going what Fergusson is referring to when he talks about “studio restructuring”. It is one other company time period for employees cuts.
Rod Fergusson has one thing of a status as a “nearer”, a producer who’s introduced in to carry struggling tasks over the end line. It is a trick he carried out earlier than with 2013’s BioShock Infinite, which might be why 2K execs really feel like they’re in secure fingers with him now.
It is price noting that amid all of this upheaval, BioShock 4 hasn’t really been formally introduced but, so we do not even know what route the sport will take.
Nonetheless, with Fergusson on the helm, maybe the large, lumbering Large Daddy that’s the franchise at this level can begin juddering into movement once more. Keep tuned for extra on this one.
