Rod Fergusson is back, but don't hold your breath for the arrival of BioShock 4 anytime soon.

According to a report from Bloomberg on the 21st (local time), BioShock 4, which was initially slated for a late 2026 to early 2027 release, is now facing an indefinite delay. This follows 2K’s decision to restructure its subsidiary, Cloud Chamber, impacting over 80 out of 250 staff members—a significant one-third of the development team.

BioShock 4 has been marred by turbulence since its inception. Following the 2013 launch of BioShock Infinite, the original studio shuttered, and key creative leads departed, effectively dissolving the team. Take-Two Interactive eventually established Cloud Chamber, recruiting a mix of original BioShock veterans and fresh talent to helm the project.

Progress, however, has been sluggish. The team spent a considerable amount of time migrating from Unreal Engine 4 to Unreal Engine 5 to address aging engine issues. Compounding these technical woes, the departure of core staff, such as Art Director Scott Sinclair, further hindered development. During an internal review in early August, 2K executives reportedly criticized the narrative quality, resulting in the dismissal of Main Director Kelley Gilmore.

Following this, Rod Fergusson, who previously managed the Diablo series, returned to 2K on the 20th, piquing the interest of weary BioShock fans. Having directed BioShock Infinite to a successful launch, Rod Fergusson is seen by many as a potential catalyst to regain momentum. However, given the state of the project that led to the dismissal of the main director, industry insiders are now projecting a release no earlier than 2028.

Meanwhile, upon returning to oversee the franchise, Rod Fergusson stated, "I am thrilled to lead the BioShock franchise. I am grateful for the team's hard work, and we will build a game that we are all proud of and that the fans will love."