One major reveal at The Game Awards 2022 was a new title from Ken Levine, the creator of the acclaimed BioShock series. A trailer premiered this new project to the public for the first time, revealing it as a game called Judas coming to PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. Although Judas is not an entry in the BioShock series, it already promises to be a better successor to those games than the planned BioShock 4.
Fifteen years after the release of the first BioShock game, the title still looms large in the gaming industry. The underwater city of Rapture is a compelling, moody, and sometimes downright horrifying environment that sinks its teeth in and never lets go. BioShock through derelict halls and leaking chambers reveals a sophisticated balance of gunplay and survival elements. While BioShock creator Ken Levine had no involvement with the game's first sequel, he returned to transform the series with BioShock Infinite, and the influence is clear in Judas.
Ken Levine's Judas Reinvents BioShock
The Game Awards trailer for Judas reveals plenty of BioShock DNA. Characters wield both axes and guns, recalling BioShock's mix of combat techniques. Halfway through the trailer, the protagonist shoots a sparking blue beam out of her palm. Soon after, she opens a mechanical compartment in their hand, and up crackles fire, reinforcing the impression of this system as a successor to BioShock's array of Plasmids and BioShock Infinite's set of Vigors. Rust-worn interiors echo past grandeur and creatures of shuddering gears get shot to pieces in front of nostalgic images. The world of the game may be new, but the feelings it invokes will be very familiar to BioShock fans.
Why BioShock 4 Isn't As Promising
The BioShock series itself is not dead, and fans can look forward to a fourth entry confirmed to be in development from 2K Games. However, placing faith in BioShock 4 as the series's future seems questionable at the moment. Without Ken Levine's involvement, the game may be more interested in playing it safe than in pushing the series forward. 2K has kept its lips sealed about the game, although BioShock 4 leaks have suggested an Antarctica setting and the presence of two different cities. The lack of concrete information leaves fans in the dark regarding development progress, while Judas has just showcased a game that is definably real.
The release window for Judas has not yet been revealed, and fans may still have a wait ahead of them for Ken Levine's new title. For now, the trailer provides plenty of gorgeous visuals and gameplay clues to pore over. From the ripped-up craft spiraling out into space to the cryptic demand to "FIX WHAT YOU BROKE," there's no shortage of mysteries. Even as Judas recalls the familiar, it promises a new direction in a world that may not even have a lighthouse. The secretive BioShock 4 could have a story and world that propel it to the heights of its predecessors, but right now, betting on Judas feels like the safe choice for BioShock fans.
