‘BioShock’ Not Coming To Next Gen, Is Coming To iOS

BioShock fans are not going to be getting a port of the popular game on the PS4 or Xbox One anytime soon. Last week, rumors surrounding the original BioShock started, thanks to a Twitter tease.

Today, we’ve found out what that BioShock tease actually meant. Instead of the series moving over to the next generation, BioShock is going to be available on the mobile platform, and apparently, it will be available very soon.

IGN is reporting the iPad and iPhone versions of BioShock will be complete ports, instead of brand new versions. This follows in the footsteps of other PC and console games that have found some success with full ports.

Perhaps the most successful port to predate BioShock is XCOM: Enemy Unknown. The biggest difference between the two games of course is that XCom’s mechanics made for it to be quite easy to play on the tablet.

BioShock’s controls are the kind that have already had problems finding purchase on mobile devices. 2K Games is hoping it has managed to accommodate those who hate joysticks on the touchpad by making the stick movable, depending on where a player lays his fingers.

According to reports, the graphics for this BioShock port won’t be anywhere near as sharp as it is on the console, but the tradeoff is that it hasn’t been remotely chuggy. Another concern that will likely meet BioShock fans is how much battery power this BioShock port pulls.

Digital Trends guesses and is probably correct that since this BioShock is going to be a full port, it will be carrying a heavy pricetag, especially when compared to other tablet games. XCOM cost $20 when it was release, and it seems likely that BioShock will be in that price range.

Digital Trends also added that BioShock for the iPad is said to have controller support, which would be better news if there were better controllers out there for iOS. There have been reports that the newest iOS will be better when it comes to Bluetooth controller support.

If this version of BioShock, set to hit store shelves later this month, is a success, it would seem to be a short jump to port the rest of the BioShock games in the series.

BioShock: Infinite has already been ported over to the Mac, something most AAA games want no part of, so it doesn’t seem like it would be a leap to head to the iOS. The real question is whether or not the much less popular BioShock 2 might find new success in tablet form.