BioShock

BioShock takes place in Rapture,{{cite web|url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=138851 |title=Xbox Preview: BioShock |work=Computer and Video Games |date=May 3, 2006 |access-date=February 5, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080116175332/http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=138851 |archive-date=January 16, 2008 }} a large underwater city planned and constructed in the 1940s by individualist business magnate Andrew Ryan, who wanted to create a utopia for society's elite to flourish outside of government control and "petty morality". This philosophy resulted in remarkable advances in the arts and sciences, which included the discovery of "ADAM": a potent gene-altering substance which is created by a species of sea slug on the ocean floor. ADAM led to the creation of "Plasmids", mutagenic serums that grant users super-human powers such as telekinesis and pyrokinesis. To protect and isolate Rapture, Ryan outlawed any contact with the surface world.{{cite journal|last=John |first=Lanchester |date=January 1, 2009 |title=Is It Art? |url=http://www.lrb.co.uk/v31/n01/john-lanchester/is-it-art |journal=London Review of Books |publisher=Nicholas Spice |volume=31 |issue=1 |pages=18–20 |access-date=October 3, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161005125352/http://www.lrb.co.uk/v31/n01/john-lanchester/is-it-art |archive-date=October 5, 2016 }}

As Rapture flourished, wealth disparities grew, and criminal Frank Fontaine used his influence over the disenfranchised working class to establish illegal enterprises and obtain power—enough to rival Ryan. With doctors Brigid Tenenbaum and Yi Suchong, Fontaine created his own company dedicated to researching plasmids and gene tonics. As ADAM became addictive and demand skyrocketed, Fontaine secretly mass-produced ADAM through slugs implanted in the stomachs of orphaned girls, nicknamed "Little Sisters". Fontaine was killed in a shootout with police, and Ryan took the opportunity to seize his assets, including control of the Little Sisters.

In the months that followed, a man amongst the poor named Atlas rose up and began a violent revolution against Ryan, with both sides using plasmid-enhanced humans (known as "Splicers") to wage war on one another. To protect the Little Sisters, Ryan created the "Big Daddies": genetically enhanced humans surgically grafted into gigantic lumbering diving suits designed to escort the sisters as they scavenged ADAM from dead bodies. Tensions came to a head on New Year's Eve of 1958 when Atlas ordered an all-out assault on Ryan and his supporters. The conflict turns Rapture into a war-torn crumbling dystopia, resulting in societal collapse, countless deaths, many Splicers becoming disfigured and insane from ADAM abuse, and the few sane survivors barricading themselves away from the chaos.{{cite web |url=http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/813/813214p1.html |title=BioShock Review |work=IGN |last=Onyett |first=Charles |date=August 16, 2007 |access-date=August 16, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070817035302/http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/813/813214p1.html |archive-date=August 17, 2007 }}

{{see also|Characters of the BioShock series}}

File:Bioshock-rapture.jpg for much of its imagery.{{Cite web|url=https://www.unrealengine.com/en-US/blog/bioshock|title=Unreal Engine 3 Powers Critical and Commercial Success BioShock|website=Unreal Engine|access-date=December 30, 2020|archive-date=July 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709185344/https://www.unrealengine.com/en-US/blog/bioshock|url-status=live}}]]

In 1960, the protagonist, Jack, is a passenger on a plane that crashes in the Atlantic Ocean.{{cite web |url=http://au.pc.ign.com/articles/813/813641p1.html |title=BioShock Review: Welcome to Rapture; at IGN |access-date=October 7, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012044029/http://au.pc.ign.com/articles/813/813641p1.html |archive-date=October 12, 2007 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.bioshock-online.com/faq/#about |title=BioShock FAQs – What is the game about? |access-date=October 8, 2007 |date=December 30, 2006 |publisher=Through the Looking Glass |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011150416/http://bioshock-online.com/faq/ |archive-date=October 11, 2007 }} The only survivor, Jack makes his way to a nearby lighthouse; inside is a bathysphere that takes him to Rapture.{{cite web |url=http://au.xbox360.ign.com/objects/793/793105.html |title=BioShock |work=IGN |access-date=October 7, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012183719/http://au.xbox360.ign.com/objects/793/793105.html |archive-date=October 12, 2007 }} Jack is contacted via radio by Atlas, who helps guide him through the ruined city.

Atlas requests Jack's help in saving his family, who he says are in a docked bathysphere. When Jack first encounters the Little Sisters, Atlas urges him to kill them to harvest their ADAM. Dr. Brigid Tenenbaum intervenes and insists Jack should spare them, providing him with a plasmid that can remove the sea slug from their bodies and free them of their brainwashing.{{cite web|url=http://blogs.ign.com/Irrational_Games/2007/05/23/55572/ |title=IGN first look at the Little Sisters |work=IGN |date=May 23, 2007 |access-date=November 4, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071103135013/http://blogs.ign.com/Irrational_Games/2007/05/23/55572/ |archive-date=November 3, 2007 }} Jack works his way to the bathysphere, but Ryan destroys it before Jack can reach it. Infuriated, Atlas has Jack fight his way through various districts toward Ryan's lair, forcing Jack to contend with Rapture's deranged citizens along the way, such as the surgical doctor J.S. Steinman and artist and musician Sander Cohen.

Jack enters Ryan's office. Ryan reveals the truth of Jack's origins: he is actually Ryan's illegitimate son, sold by Ryan's mistress as an embryo to Fontaine, who had Tenenbaum and Suchong rapidly age Jack into adulthood and turned into an obedient assassin, capable of accessing any of Rapture's systems locked to Ryan's genetic code and thus ensure Fontaine's victory in the war. Jack was smuggled to the surface with false memories of a normal life, waiting to be called back to Rapture when needed. Ryan takes control of Jack's actions by asking, "Would you kindly?"; a phrase that has preceded many of Atlas' commands as a hypnotic trigger, forcing him to follow any orders without question. Jack also realizes he was responsible for the plane crash, having read a letter onboard containing the same trigger phrase.{{Cite web|url=https://www.vox.com/culture/2016/10/3/13112826/bioshock-video-games-art-choice |title=Bioshock proved that video games could be art |first=Peter |last=Suderman |date=October 3, 2016 |access-date=October 3, 2016 |work=Vox |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161003194002/http://www.vox.com/culture/2016/10/3/13112826/bioshock-video-games-art-choice |archive-date=October 3, 2016 }}

Ryan chooses to die by his own will and compels Jack to beat him to death with a golf club. Atlas reveals himself to be Fontaine, having faked his death and used "Atlas" as an alias to hide his identity while providing a heroic figure for the poor to rally behind. With Ryan dead, Fontaine takes control of the city and leaves Jack to be killed by hostile security drones. Jack is saved by Dr. Tenenbaum, who helps remove Fontaine's mental conditioning, including one that would have stopped Jack's heart. Jack pursues Fontaine to his lair, where Fontaine transforms himself into a hulking humanoid creature by injecting himself with a large supply of ADAM. The Little Sisters aid Jack in draining the ADAM from Fontaine's body and eventually kill him.

The ending depends on how the player interacts with the Little Sisters:

• If the player rescues all or all but one of the Little Sisters, Jack takes them back to the surface with him and adopts five of them as his daughters. Tenenbaum happily narrates how they go on to live full lives under his care, eventually surrounding him on his deathbed. This ending is considered canon in BioShock Infinite: Burial at Sea.
• If the player harvests more than one Little Sister, Jack turns on the Little Sisters to harvest their ADAM.{{cite web |url=http://guides.ign.com/guides/793105/page_4.html |title=Guides: BioShock Guide (Xbox 360), BioShock Walkthrough |access-date=January 21, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090206081731/http://guides.ign.com/guides/793105/page_4.html |archive-date=February 6, 2009 }} Tenenbaum sadly narrates what occurs, condemning Jack and his actions. A submarine comes across the plane's wreckage and finds itself surrounded by bathyspheres containing Splicers, who attack the crew and take control of it. The submarine is revealed to be carrying nuclear missiles, with Tenenbaum claiming that Jack has "stolen the terrible secrets of the world":{{cite web|url=http://www.gamebanshee.com/bioshock/walkthrough/fontaineslair.php |title=BioShock – Fontaine's Lair Walkthrough |publisher=GameBanshee |access-date=October 7, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071018040421/http://gamebanshee.com/bioshock/walkthrough/fontaineslair.php |archive-date=October 18, 2007 }} The more Little Sisters Jack harvests throughout the game, the harsher and more furious Tenenbaum's narrative becomes.{{cite web |title=BioShock – Little Sisters and Big Daddies (SPOILERS!) – Game Guide |url=https://guides.gamepressure.com/bioshock/guide.asp?ID=3351 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071024115707/http://guides.gamepressure.com/bioshock/guide.asp?ID=3351 |archive-date=October 24, 2007 |access-date=November 9, 2007 |publisher=GamePressure}}

File:Bioshock enemies.jpg defends a Little Sister (both on the right) from two Splicers, while the player watches.]]

BioShock is a first-person shooter with role-playing customization and stealth elements, and is similar to System Shock 2. The player takes the role of silent protagonist Jack as he is guided through Rapture towards various objectives. The player collects multiple weapons and plasmids as they work their way through enemy forces. The player can switch between one active weapon and one active plasmid at any time, allowing them to find combination attacks that can be effective against certain enemies, such as first shocking a Splicer then striking them down with a wrench. Weapons are limited by ammunition that the player collects; many weapons have secondary ammo types that can be used instead for additional benefits, such as bullets that inflict fire damage. Plasmid use consumes a serum called EVE which can be restored using EVE syringes collected by the player or by consuming cigarettes and alcohol.{{cite web|url=http://www.ggmania.com/full.php3?show=5856 |title=Gameguru reviews BioShock |access-date=November 4, 2007 |date=September 17, 2007 |publisher=Game Guru Mania |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071109125451/http://www.ggmania.com/full.php3?show=5856 |archive-date=November 9, 2007 }} The player has a health meter that decreases when they take damage. The player can restore their health with food or medical packs found throughout Rapture. If the player's health is reduced to zero, they will be regenerated at the last Vita-Chamber that they passed with limited amounts of health and EVE. A patch for the game allows the Vita-Chambers to be turned off, requiring players to restart a saved game if the character dies.{{cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2007/12/new-bioshock-content-patch-now-available.ars |title=New Bioshock content, patch now available |first=Frank |last=Caron |date=December 4, 2007 |access-date=September 24, 2011 |publisher=Ars Technica |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090531142047/http://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2007/12/new-bioshock-content-patch-now-available.ars |archive-date=May 31, 2009 }}

The game provides several options to face challenges. In addition to direct combat, the player can use plasmids to lure enemies into traps or to turn enemies against each other, or employ stealth tactics to avoid detection by hostiles including the security systems and turrets.{{cite web| url = http://www.ic-games.co.uk/index.php?location=1&&articleid=3877 | title = BioShock (Xbox 360/PC) at ic-games.com | access-date = November 4, 2007 | publisher = IC Games | first = James | last = Collins | date = August 22, 2007| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071011233114/http://ic-games.co.uk/index.php?location=1&&articleid=3877| archive-date = October 11, 2007}} The player can hack into any of Rapture's automated systems; the hacking process is done via a mini-game similar to Pipe Mania where the player must connect two points on opposite sides of a grid with a limited set of piping within a fixed amount of time, with failure to complete in time costing health and potentially sounding alarms.{{cite web|url=http://xbox.about.com/od/xbox360reviews/fr/bioshockrev.htm |title=BioShock Review (X360) at Xbox.about.com |access-date=November 4, 2007 |first=Eric |last=Qualls |publisher=About.com |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071025041435/http://xbox.about.com/od/xbox360reviews/fr/bioshockrev.htm |archive-date=October 25, 2007 }}{{cite web|url=http://gametz.com/Review/1654.html |title=BioShock (Xbox 360) review by Gametz |author=CenturionElite |access-date=November 16, 2007 |date=August 29, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071112093422/http://gametz.com/Review/1654.html |archive-date=November 12, 2007 }} Early in the game, the player is given a research camera; by taking photographs of enemies, the player will cumulatively gain knowledge about the individual foes which translates into attack boosts and other benefits when facing that enemy type in the future.{{cite web|url=http://www.gamebanshee.com/bioshock/weapons/researchcamera.php |title=Research Camera |access-date=November 10, 2007 |publisher=GameBanshee |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071217141921/http://www.gamebanshee.com/bioshock/weapons/researchcamera.php |archive-date=December 17, 2007 }}

The player collects money by exploring Rapture and from the bodies of defeated foes; this money can be used at vending machines to restock on ammunition, health and EVE, and other items; like security cameras, vending machines can be hacked to reduce the costs of items from it. The player will receive rewards in the form of ADAM from completing some tasks, as well as from either saving or killing the Little Sisters after defeating their Big Daddy guardian. ADAM is used to purchase plasmids from Gatherer's Garden machines scattered around Rapture.{{cite web|url=http://www.gamerswithjobs.com/node/32465?from=30&comments_per_page=30 |title=BioShock morality |first=Julian |last=Murdoch |access-date=November 4, 2007 |publisher=Gamers With Jobs |date=June 5, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071110232605/http://www.gamerswithjobs.com/node/32465?from=30&comments_per_page=30 |archive-date=November 10, 2007 }} In addition to plasmids, the player can collect and buy tonics that provide passive bonuses, such as increasing Jack's strength, using EVE more efficiently, or making Jack more resistant to damage. The player can only have a limited number of plasmids and tonics active at any time, and can swap between the various plasmids and tonics at certain stations located throughout Rapture.{{cite web|url=http://www.bit-tech.net/gaming/2007/08/21/bioshock_gameplay_review/3 |title=BioShock Gameplay Review (page 2) |access-date=November 4, 2007 |date=August 21, 2007 |first=Joe |last=Martin |publisher=Bit-tech |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011130758/http://www.bit-tech.net/gaming/2007/08/21/bioshock_gameplay_review/3 |archive-date=October 11, 2007 }}

Lead developer Ken Levine had created Irrational Games in 1997 out of former members from Looking Glass Studios.{{cite web|url=http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/bioshock/707256p1.html |title=GameSpy: BioShock Preview |date=May 10, 2006 |access-date=November 4, 2007 |publisher=Gamespy |first=Li C. |last=Kuo |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071030124504/http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/bioshock/707256p1.html |archive-date=October 30, 2007 }}{{cite web |url=http://au.pc.ign.com/articles/556/556421p1.html |title=IGN BioShock Interview |publisher=IGN |date=October 4, 2004 |access-date=October 7, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090315134513/http://au.pc.ign.com/articles/556/556421p1.html |archive-date=March 15, 2009 }} Their first game was System Shock 2, a sequel to Looking Glass's System Shock, and was met with critical success, though it did not prove a financial one. Levine had attempted to pitch a sequel to System Shock 2 to Electronic Arts, but the publisher rejected the idea based on the poor performance of the earlier game. Irrational developed other games, including Freedom Force, Tribes: Vengeance, the canceled title Deep Cover, and the completed The Lost which was never released due to legal complications. At this point, Levine wanted to return to a game in the same style as System Shock 2, a more free-form game with strong narrative.{{cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-04-17-the-true-story-of-bioshock |title=Rapture leaked: The true story behind the making of BioShock |publisher=Eurogamer |date=April 17, 2014 |access-date=April 22, 2014 |first=Simon |last=Parkin |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140421234418/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-04-17-the-true-story-of-bioshock |archive-date=April 21, 2014 }}{{Cite magazine | url = http://www.edge-online.com/features/making-bioshock/ | title = The Making Of: BioShock | date = July 23, 2012 | access-date = November 1, 2016 | magazine = Edge | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130531030452/http://www.edge-online.com/features/making-bioshock/ | archive-date=May 31, 2013 }}

In 2002, the team had come up with a core gameplay mechanic idea based on three groups of forces: drones that would carry a desirable resource, protectors that would guard the drones, and harvesters that would attempt to take the resource from the drones; these would eventually bear out as the Little Sisters, Big Daddies, and Splicers in the final game, but at the time of the concept, there was no set theme. They began working on creating a setting as to be able to pitch the idea to publishers. A 2002 demonstration version was based on the Unreal Engine 2 for the Xbox. This demonstration was primarily set aboard a space station overtaken with genetically mutated monsters; the main character was Carlos Cuello, a "cult deprogrammer"—a person charged with rescuing someone from a cult, and mentally and psychologically readjusting that person to a normal life.{{cite web|url=http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/48731 |title=Levine: BioShock Originally About Cult Deprogrammer (Updated) |date=August 30, 2007 |access-date=August 31, 2007 |first=Chris |last=Remo |publisher=Shacknews |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926235653/http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/48731 |archive-date=September 26, 2007 }} Ken Levine cites an example of what a cult deprogrammer does: "[There are] people who hired people to [for example] deprogram their daughter who had been in a lesbian relationship. They kidnap her and reprogram her, and it was a really dark person, and that was the [kind of] character that you were."{{cite web|title=Ken Levine on BioShock: The Spoiler Interview |url=http://www.shacknews.com/featuredarticle.x?id=539 |date=August 20, 2007 |access-date=August 31, 2007 |first=Chris |last=Remo |publisher=Shacknews |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091016213627/http://www.shacknews.com/featuredarticle.x?id=539 |archive-date=October 16, 2009 }} This story would have been more political in nature, with the character hired by a Senator. The team collectively agreed that this game was not what they had set out to make, and were having trouble finding a publisher. Levine found that publishers were wary of immersive sims as they did not sell well. They considered ending development, but as news about their efforts to create a spiritual successor to System Shock 2 began to appear in gaming magazines and websites, the team opted to continue development, performing a full revamp.

By 2004, 2K Games, a subsidiary of Take-Two Interactive, offered to publish the game primarily based on the drone/protector/harvester concept, giving Irrational the freedom to develop the story and setting.{{cite web|url=https://ign.com/articles/2008/10/29/13-scariest-games-of-this-generation?page=4 |title=13 Scariest Games of this Generation |date=October 29, 2008 |publisher=IGN |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808052223/http://www.ign.com/articles/2008/10/29/13-scariest-games-of-this-generation?page=4 |archive-date=August 8, 2014 }}{{cite web|url=https://gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2010/01/08/the-return-of-irrational-games.aspx |title=The Return Of Irrational Games |date=January 8, 2010 |publisher=Game Informer |access-date=January 20, 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100111215144/http://gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2010/01/08/the-return-of-irrational-games.aspx |archive-date=January 11, 2010 }} By this point, the story and setting had changed significantly, taking place in an abandoned World War II-era Nazi laboratory that had been recently unearthed by 21st-century scientists. Over the decades, the genetic experiments within the labs had gradually formed themselves into an ecosystem centered on the three groups.{{cite web | title = BioShock First Look – Exclusive First Impressions | url = https://www.gamespot.com/articles/bioshock-first-look-exclusive-first-impressions/1100-6110044/ | date = October 10, 2004 | access-date = August 2, 2008 | first = Andrew | last = Park | publisher = Gamespot | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141106120001/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/bioshock-first-look-exclusive-first-impressions/1100-6110044/ | archive-date = November 6, 2014 | url-status=live | df = mdy-all }} This version included many of the gameplay elements that would remain in the final BioShock, themselves influenced by concepts from System Shock 2. These elements included the use of plasmids and EVE, the need to use stealth or other options to deal with automated security systems, direction through the environment from a non-player character relayed over a radio, and story elements delivered through audio recordings and "ghosts" of deceased characters.{{cite web | url=http://www.gamespot.com/pc/action/bioshock/news.html?page=1&sid=6150533&tag=result;title;0 | title=E3 06: BioShock Gameplay Demo Impressions | publisher=Gamespot | date=May 10, 2006 | access-date=November 4, 2007 | author=Brad Shoemaker and Andrew Park | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120127063056/http://www.gamespot.com/bioshock/previews/e3-06-bioshock-gameplay-demo-impressions-6150533/ | archive-date=January 27, 2012 | url-status=live | df=mdy-all }}{{cite web|url=http://www.bit-tech.net/gaming/2007/08/21/bioshock_gameplay_review/6 |title=BioShock Gameplay Review – Overlooked details |access-date=November 4, 2007 |date=August 21, 2007 |first=Joe |last=Martin |publisher=Bit-Tech |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011122106/http://www.bit-tech.net/gaming/2007/08/21/bioshock_gameplay_review/6 |archive-date=October 11, 2007 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.gamebanshee.com/interviews/bioshock1.php |title=BioShock Interview |publisher=Gamebanshee |date=June 13, 2007 |access-date=November 4, 2007 |first=Jon |last=Birnbaum |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011195300/http://gamebanshee.com/interviews/bioshock1.php |archive-date=October 11, 2007 }} The funding provided by 2K Games in 2004 was a "modest budget", according to Levine, and when Irrational was acquired by 2K in 2006, the publisher put in a much larger set of funds to complete the game.{{cite web|last=Stanton|first=Rich|date=July 15, 2024|url=https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/ken-levine-says-bioshock-was-almost-cancelled-after-going-over-time-and-over-budget-while-all-publishers-cared-about-was-that-these-games-dont-make-any-money|title=Ken Levine says Bioshock was 'almost cancelled' after going over time and over budget, while all publishers cared about was that these games 'don't make any money'|website=PC Gamer|access-date=July 15, 2024|archive-date=July 15, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240715181942/https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/ken-levine-says-bioshock-was-almost-cancelled-after-going-over-time-and-over-budget-while-all-publishers-cared-about-was-that-these-games-dont-make-any-money/|url-status=live}}

While the gameplay with the 2004 reveal was similar to what resulted in the released version of BioShock, both design and story changed, consistent with what Levine says was then-Irrational Games' guiding principle of putting game design first. These areas were also issued due to some internal strife and lack of communication between the various teams within Irrational, part of the result of having to expand the team from six to sixty members for the scope of the project. The environment was considered bland, and there were difficulties by the team's artists to come up with a consistent vision to meet the level designer's goals. A critical junction was a short experiment performed by level designer Jean Paul LeBreton and artist Hoagy de la Plante, setting themselves aside to co-develop a level that became part of the "Tea Garden" area in the released game, which Levine used as a prime example of a "great BioShock space", emphasizing the need for departments to work together. Levine found that the cyberpunk theme had been overplayed considering their initial reject from Electronic Arts for System Shock 3, leading towards the underwater setting of Rapture.

The game's lead level designer was Bill Gardner.{{cite web |last1=Francis |first1=Bryant |title=Would you kindly join us and BioShock designer Bill Gardner today at 3PM EST? |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/would-you-kindly-join-us-and-i-bioshock-i-designer-bill-gardner-today-at-3pm-est- |website=Gamasutra |date=September 16, 2016 |access-date=May 30, 2019 |archive-date=November 21, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201121120245/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/281521/Would_you_kindly_join_us_and_BioShock_designer_Bill_Gardner_today_at_3PM_EST.php |url-status=live }} He cited Capcom's survival horror series Resident Evil as a significant influence on BioShock, stating there are "all these nods and all these little elements that I think you can see where Resident Evil inspired us". The team were particularly influenced by Resident Evil 4, including its approach to the environments, combat, and tools, its game design and tactical elements, its "gameplay fuelled storytelling" and inventory system, and its opening village level in terms of how it "handled the sandbox nature of the combat" and in terms of "the environment".{{cite web |title=How Resident Evil 4 Influenced BioShock |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/us/games/bioshock/268610/how-resident-evil-4-influenced-bioshock |website=Den of Geek |access-date=May 30, 2019 |date=October 29, 2018 |archive-date=November 21, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201121120245/https://www.denofgeek.com/games/how-resident-evil-4-influenced-bioshock/ |url-status=live }}

File:Atlas Statue 630 Fifth Ave (1).jpg and its statue of Atlas in New York City was the principal idea that led to the art deco stylings of BioShock.]]

The thematic core of BioShock was born when Levine was walking at Rockefeller Center near the GE Building in New York City. He saw the uniqueness of the art deco styling of the building along with imagery around the building such as the statue of Atlas near it, and recognized that these were spaces that had not been experienced in the first-person shooter genre. The history of the Rockefeller Center also fed into the story concept; Levine noted how the center had started construction prior to the Great Depression; when the primary financiers had pulled out, John D. Rockefeller Jr. backed the remaining construction to complete the project himself, as stated by Edge magazine "a great man building an architectural triumph against all the odds". The history of Rapture and the character of Andrew Ryan is loosely based on Rockefeller's story. He also considered that many of the characters of Rapture were all people who were oppressed once before in their lives and now free of that oppression, have turned around and become the oppressors, a fact he felt resonated throughout human history.

At this point in the development, the backdrop of Rapture had been fleshed out, but they had yet to come on how to represent the drones, protectors, and harvesters from their original game idea. The Big Daddy concept as the protector class was developed early in the process, but the team had yet to reach a satisfying design for the drones, having used several possible designs including bugs and dogs in wheelchairs. The team wanted to have the player care for the drones in some way and create pathos for these characters. The idea of using little girls came out of brainstorming, but was controversial and shocking within the team at first, recognizing that they could easily be killed and make the game more horrific in the style of Night Trap. However, as Levine worked on the story, he started to incorporate the ideas of dystopian and utopian thinkers from the 20th century, including Ayn Rand, Aldous Huxley, and George Orwell, and considered their ideas "fascinating".{{cite web |url=http://au.xbox360.ign.com/articles/704/704806p1.html |title=The Influence of Literature and Myth in Videogames |first=Douglass C. |last=Perry |publisher=IGN |date=May 26, 2006 |access-date=October 7, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090104025910/http://au.xbox360.ign.com/articles/704/704806p1.html |archive-date=January 4, 2009 }} He brought in the ideas of Objectivism that Rand primarily outlined in the book Atlas Shrugged, that man should be driven by selfishness and not altruism, and used this to inform the philosophy behind the city of Rapture and Andrew Ryan's work, viewing them as quite ludicrous, and primed to be applied to an antagonist, tied in with his previous observations on Rockefeller and his writings. This was extended to the use of the little girls as drones (now Little Sisters), particularly the question whether the player should try to save the girls or harvest the ADAM for their benefit. 2K Games expressed concern about the initial mechanic of the Little Sisters, where the player would actively prey on the Little Sister, which would have alerted a Big Daddy and set up the fight with the player. This approach did not sit well with Levine, and 2K Games asserted that they would not ship a game "where the player gets punished for doing the right thing". They altered this approach where the Little Sisters would be invulnerable until the player had dealt with their Big Daddy, though LeBreton considered this "a massive kludge" into the game's fiction. The idea of creating the Little Sisters and presenting the player with this choice became a critical part of the game's appeal to the broader gaming market, although it was met with criticism from some outlets. Levine desired only to have one ending to the game, something that would have left the fate of the characters "much more ambiguous", but publisher pressure directed them to craft multiple endings depending on the choice of harvesting Little Sisters. Levine also noted that "it was never my intention to do two endings for the game. It sort of came very late and it was something that was requested by somebody up the food chain from me."{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/qanda-diving-deeper-into-bioshocks-story/1100-6179423/ |title=Q&A: Diving deeper into BioShocks story |date=September 20, 2007 |access-date=September 20, 2007 |publisher=Gamespot |first=Brendan |last=Sinclair |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141011144853/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/qanda-diving-deeper-into-bioshocks-story/1100-6179423/ |archive-date=October 11, 2014 }}

Other elements came into the story design. Levine had an interest in "stem cell research and the moral issues that go around [it]". Regarding artistic influences, Levine cited the books Nineteen Eighty-Four and Logan's Run, representing societies that have "really interesting ideas screwed up by the fact that we're people".{{cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=77456 |title=Big Daddy speaks |publisher=Eurogamer |first=Johnny |last=Minkley |date=June 8, 2007 |access-date=June 21, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070821030637/http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=77456 |archive-date=August 21, 2007 }} The idea of the mind control used on Jack was offered by LeBreton, inspired by films like The Manchurian Candidate, as a means to provide a better reason to limit the player's actions as opposed to the traditional use of locked doors to prevent them exploring areas they should not. The team had agreed that Jack's actions would be controlled by a key phrase but struggled with coming up with one that would not reveal Atlas' true nature. Levine happened upon "Would you kindly" after working on marketing materials for the game that asked the reader hypothetical questions such as "Would you kill people, even innocent people, to survive?", later working that phrase into the first script for the game.

Numerous tensions within the team and from publisher 2K Games continued during the development process. According to LeBreton, Levine was distrustful of some of the more egotistical newer hires and was often arguing with them to enforce his vision of BioShock. 2K Games was concerned with the growing budget for the title, and told Levine to market the title more as a first-person shooter rather than the first-person shooter/role playing game hybrid they set out for. Near the targeted release date, Levine ordered the team into round-the-clock development, creating more strife in the team. Paul Hellquist, the game's lead designer, was often omitted from key design meetings, which he later recounted was due to his contrary nature to Levine, questioning several of his choices; he used his frustration to put into the design efforts for the Medical Pavilion level that he was in charge of at that time. Near the anticipated completion date, 2K decided to give Irrational another three months to polish up the game, extending the current crunch time the studio was already under. This left some hard-to-discover bugs and issues in the game undiscovered. One such case was an apparent Easter egg found in the remastered version in 2018, where under certain conditions, the player can end up looking at an object with the description "Paul Hellquist did not do his Job". Both Levine and Chris Kline, the game's lead programmer confirmed the message was a cheeky jab at Hellquist left as a debugging message; Kline and Hellquist were developing the systems to show descriptions of objects to players when looked at, and Hellquist offered to complete all the necessary descriptions in-game; to jokingly help prod Hellquist along, Kline put "Paul Hellquist did not do his Job" as the default message within the executable code. While the code message was changed for the original release, the remastered version likely used a pre-final version of the BioShock code, according to Kline.{{cite web | url = http://www.pcgamer.com/bioshock-developer-confirms-that-obscure-easter-egg-debug-message-is-real/ | title = BioShock developer confirms that obscure Easter egg debug message is real | first = Andy | last = Chalk | date = January 9, 2018 | access-date = January 9, 2018 | work = PC Gamer | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180109235001/http://www.pcgamer.com/bioshock-developer-confirms-that-obscure-easter-egg-debug-message-is-real/ | archive-date = January 9, 2018 | url-status=live | df = mdy-all }} Hellquist took the revelation in good humor and tweeted that other Easter eggs should have been added to the game to display: "If you are enjoying this, Paul Hellquist did his job."{{cite web |url=https://www.kotaku.com.au/2018/01/obscure-hidden-message-in-bioshock-re-surfaces-a-decade-after-release/ |title=Obscure Hidden Message In BioShock Re-Surfaces A Decade After Release |date=January 9, 2018 |publisher=Kotaku |access-date=January 9, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180110044506/https://www.kotaku.com.au/2018/01/obscure-hidden-message-in-bioshock-re-surfaces-a-decade-after-release/ |archive-date=January 10, 2018 |url-status=dead }}

A critical playtest of the game occurred in January 2007, where initial feedback from the players was mostly negative, including issues of the setting being too dark, having no idea where to go, and distrusting Atlas, who at the time was voiced in a southern drawl, described as a "lecherous Colonel Sanders". The team took this criticism to heart, revamping several elements during those extra months such as improving the lighting, implementing a quest marker, and using an Irish voice for Atlas to make him sound more trustworthy. During another late-stage playtest with the title "ninety-nine percent" complete according to Levine, the playtesters did not like the game at all as they felt no connection to the player-character Jack, and the person overseeing the tests told Levine that the game was likely to be a failure. At this point, BioShock did not have many cutscenes, as Levine was ideologically opposed to them. However, the following day, Levine and the lead group came up with a "cheap" way to correct this, by adding the initial cut scene within the plane and the subsequent plane crash, as this helped to set the time frame, place the player in the role of the character, and alluded to the "would you kindly" line later in the game.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/news/we-were-all-miserable-inside-bioshock-video-game-franchise-w439921 |title=Inside the Making of 'BioShock' Series With Creator Ken Levine |first=Chris |last=Suellentrop |date=September 14, 2016 |access-date=September 15, 2016 |magazine=Rolling Stone |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160916112859/http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/news/we-were-all-miserable-inside-bioshock-video-game-franchise-w439921 |archive-date=September 16, 2016 }} Levine likened this approach to the initial aircraft crash at the onset of the television show Lost to quickly establish character and setting.

The game was successfully released in August 2007 with a final budget of about $25 million. In a 2016 interview, Levine felt that the game could have used about six more months of development to improve the gun combat system and fix lagging issues that occurred during the final boss fight. Despite the critical success of the title, many of those on the team would leave Irrational to pursue other projects due to late development strife that occurred.

In an interview in 2018, Levine had come to recognize that BioShock reflected several Jewish themes, though this was not intentional. Levine, who considers himself culturally Jewish but does not follow Judaism, had grown up in New Jersey but spent much of his childhood time with his father who worked in Manhattan's Diamond District and visiting his grandparents in Queens, a neighborhood with a large proportion of Eastern European immigrants. Thus, Levine was exposed to much of the Jewish culture that flourished in the area following World War II and understood some of the anxiety Jewish people faced.{{cite web | url = https://kotaku.com/bioshocks-jewish-roots-run-deep-1827482206 | title = BioShock's Jewish Roots Run Deep | first = Cody | last = Mello-Klein | date = July 10, 2018 | access-date = July 10, 2018 | work = Kotaku | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180711021704/https://kotaku.com/bioshocks-jewish-roots-run-deep-1827482206 | archive-date = July 11, 2018 | url-status=live | df = mdy-all }} In the 2018 interview, Levine recognized several of the characters, including Andrew Ryan (who was inspired by Ayn Rand who was also Jewish), Sander Cohen, and Brigid Tenenbaum, were written all as Jewish, and all seeking to escape a world they felt they did not fit into by going to Rapture; Levine said: {{"'}}There's literal displacement and then there's a feeling of not fitting in, of 'I don't really belong here'. I think Jews are always going to feel a little bit like they don't belong wherever they are. There's always that 'what if we have to flee' mentality."

BioShock uses a heavily modified Unreal Engine 2.5 with some of the advanced technologies from Unreal Engine 3. Irrational had previous experience with modifying and expanding on the Unreal Engine in SWAT 4, and continued this advancement of the engine within BioShock. One significant improvement they added was improved water effects, given the nature of the game's setting, hiring a programmer and artist to focus on the water effects.{{cite web | url=http://360.advancedmn.com/article.php?artid=7461&pg=3 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011171901/http://360.advancedmn.com/article.php?artid=7461&pg=3 | archive-date=October 11, 2007| title=E3 06: BioShock Interview Transcript | date=May 18, 2006|access-date = May 18, 2007 | publisher = Advanced Media Network | first = Eric | last = Topf}} This graphical enhancement has been lauded by critics, with GameSpot saying: "Whether it's standing water on the floor or sea water rushing in after an explosion, it will blow you away every time you see it."{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/action/bioshock/review.html |title=Bioshock |date=August 21, 2007 |access-date=August 21, 2007 |first=Jeff |last=Gerstmann |publisher=Gamespot |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011093628/http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/action/bioshock/review.html |archive-date=October 11, 2007 }} BioShock also uses the Havok Physics engine that allows for an enhancement of in-game physics, the integration of ragdoll physics, and allows for more lifelike movement by elements of the environment.{{cite web|url=http://www.bioshock-online.com/faq/#engine |title=BioShock FAQs – What engine is BioShock using? |access-date=October 7, 2007 |date=December 30, 2006 |publisher=Through the Looking Glass |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011150416/http://bioshock-online.com/faq/ |archive-date=October 11, 2007 }} The Windows version was built to work in both Direct3D 10 (DirectX 10) and DirectX 9, with the DirectX 10 version supporting additional water and particle effects.{{cite web|url=http://au.gamespot.com/features/6177688/index.html |title=BioShock Hardware Performance Guide |first=Sarju |last=Shah |date=August 26, 2007 |access-date=March 3, 2008 |publisher=Gamespot AU |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071026023845/http://au.gamespot.com/features/6177688/index.html |archive-date=October 26, 2007 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.bit-tech.net/gaming/2007/08/30/bioshock_gameplay_graphics_and_performance/1 |title=BioShock: Graphics & Performance |date=August 30, 2007 |access-date=March 3, 2008 |first=Tim |last=Smalley |publisher=Bit-Tech |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080216102314/http://www.bit-tech.net/gaming/2007/08/30/bioshock_gameplay_graphics_and_performance/1 |archive-date=February 16, 2008 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.extremetech.com/computing/77486-bioshock-image-quality-dx9-vs-dx10 |title=BioShock Image Quality: DX9 Vs. DX10 |date=August 23, 2007 |publisher=ExtremeTech |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308211124/http://www.extremetech.com/computing/77486-bioshock-image-quality-dx9-vs-dx10 |archive-date=March 8, 2016 }}

{{Main|Music of the BioShock series}}

BioShock contains both licensed music and an original score. The licensed music from the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s can be heard playing on phonograph throughout Rapture. In total, 30 licensed songs can be heard throughout the game.{{cite web | url = http://www.majornelson.com/archive/2007/10/11/bioshock-music-list.aspx | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090604094249/http://majornelson.com/archive/2007/10/11/bioshock-music-list.aspx | archive-date = June 4, 2009 | title = BioShock Music list | date = October 11, 2007 | access-date = October 12, 2007 | publisher = Major Nelson's Blog | first = Larry | last = Hyrb }} The original score was composed by Garry Schyman. He composed his pieces to blend with the chosen licensed music as to keep the same feel, while also trying to bring out something that was "eerie, frightening and at times beautiful" to mesh well with Rapture's environments.{{Cite book | title = Soundtrack Nation: Interviews with Today's Top Professionals in Film, Videogame, and Television Scoring, 1st Ed. | isbn = 978-1435457621 | publisher = Cengage Learning | year = 2010 | first = Tom | last =Hoover | section = Chapter 1: Gerry Schyman }}

2K Games released an orchestral score soundtrack on their official homepage on August 24, 2007. Available in MP3 format, the score—composed by Garry Schyman—contains 12 of the 22 tracks from the game.{{cite web|url=http://www.2kgames.com/cultofrapture/article/orchestralscore |title=Introducing the BioShock Orchestral Score |publisher=2K Games |access-date=November 4, 2007 |date=August 24, 2007 |first=Elizabeth |last=Tobey |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928132152/http://www.2kgames.com/cultofrapture/article/orchestralscore |archive-date=September 28, 2011 }} The Limited Edition version of the game came with The Rapture EP remixes by Moby and Oscar The Punk.{{cite web|url=http://kotaku.com/gaming/its-free/a-bioshockep-with-period-remixes-290859.php |title=Limited Edition Rapture EP |publisher=Kotaku |access-date=September 24, 2011 |date=August 17, 2007 |first=Luke |last=Plunkett |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071112063230/http://kotaku.com/gaming/its-free/a-bioshockep-with-period-remixes-290859.php |archive-date=November 12, 2007 }} The three remixed tracks on the CD include "Beyond the Sea", "God Bless the Child" and "Wild Little Sisters"; the original recordings of these songs are in the game.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/gamelife/2007/08/a-tale-of-two-c/ |title=A Tale of Two Covers: BioShock |first=Susan |last=Ardant |date=August 21, 2007 |access-date=September 24, 2011 |magazine=Wired |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108072438/http://www.wired.com/gamelife/2007/08/a-tale-of-two-c/ |archive-date=November 8, 2012 }} BioShock{{'s}} score was released on a vinyl LP with the BioShock 2 Special Edition.{{cite web|url=http://www.2kgames.com/cultofrapture/article/bioshock2se |title=The BioShock 2 Special Edition |first=Elizabeth |last=Tobey |date=November 19, 2009 |access-date=January 28, 2010 |publisher=2k Games |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120228211429/http://www.2kgames.com/cultofrapture/article/bioshock2se |archive-date=February 28, 2012 }}

An initial demo of the game was made available in August 2007 for Xbox 360 and Microsoft Windows.{{cite web | url = http://www.majornelson.com/archive/2007/08/12/demo-bioshock.aspx | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081011221342/http://www.majornelson.com/archive/2007/08/12/demo-bioshock.aspx| archive-date=October 11, 2008| title = Demo: BioShock | publisher = Major Nelson's Blog | first = Larry | last = Hyrb | date = August 12, 2007 | access-date = November 4, 2007}}{{cite web | url = http://www.majornelson.com/archive/2007/08/12/show-239-wma-the-one-about-the-bioshock-demo-with-ken-levine.aspx | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090204040601/http://majornelson.com/archive/2007/08/12/show-239-wma-the-one-about-the-bioshock-demo-with-ken-levine.aspx | archive-date = February 4, 2009 | title = Show #239 (WMA) The one about the BioShock demo with Ken Levine | publisher = Major Nelson's Blog | first = Larry | last = Hyrb | date = August 12, 2007 | access-date = November 4, 2007 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/20/bioshock-pc-demo-is-now-available/ |title=BioShock PC demo is now available |first=Ross |last=Miller |date=August 20, 2007 |access-date=September 24, 2011 |publisher=Joystiq |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120715120404/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/20/bioshock-pc-demo-is-now-available/ |archive-date=July 15, 2012 }} This demo included cutscenes to introduce the player to Rapture, the game's tutorial section, and its first levels; the demo also included weapons, plasmids, and tonics that would otherwise be introduced later in the full title, as to give the player more of the features that would be found in the published game. The Xbox 360 demo was the fastest demo at that time to reach one million downloads on the Xbox Live service.{{cite web |url=http://www.xboxworld.com.au/news/bioshock-sets-new-xbox-live-marketplace-record.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121206030710/http://www.xboxworld.com.au/news/bioshock-sets-new-xbox-live-marketplace-record.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 6, 2012 |title=bioshock sets new Xbox live marketplace record |publisher=Xbox World Australia |access-date=November 4, 2007 |date=July 9, 2007 }} The full game was released for these platforms on August 21, 2007.

The first patch for the Xbox 360 version was released about two weeks after release to fix some of the game stability issues players had reported.{{cite web | url = http://www.majornelson.com/archive/2007/09/06/bioshock-title-update.aspx | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090202145901/http://majornelson.com/archive/2007/09/06/bioshock-title-update.aspx | archive-date = February 2, 2009 | title = BioShock Title update | publisher = Major Nelson's Blog | last = Hryb | first = Larry | date=September 6, 2007 | access-date = September 9, 2007}} The patch was found to introduce more problems to the game for some users, including occasional freezes, bad framerates, and audio-related issues, though methods to resolve these issues through the console's cache system were outlined by Irrational Games.{{cite web|url=http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/48832 |title=BioShock X360 Update Solves, Introduces Issues (Updated) |publisher=Shacknews |first=Chris |last=Faylor |date=September 7, 2007 |access-date=November 14, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071008162426/http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/48832 |archive-date=October 8, 2007 }}

In December 2007, a common patch was released for both the Xbox 360 and Windows version. The patch included additional content such as new Plasmids, new achievements for the Xbox 360 version, and additional graphics settings to address some of the field-of-view issues identified by players. (See below). The patch also added in an option to disable the use of Vita-Chambers, a feature requested by players to make the game more challenging, as well as an achievement to complete the game at its hardest setting without using a Vita-Chamber.{{cite web|url=http://www.2kgames.com/cultofrapture/article/patchavailtonight |title=BioShock PC Patch, Xbox 360 Title update and Downloadable Content |date=December 3, 2007 |access-date=December 3, 2007 |publisher=Cult of Rapture |first=Elizabeth |last=Tobey |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120228210855/http://www.2kgames.com/cultofrapture/article/patchavailtonight |archive-date=February 28, 2012 }}

In an August 2007 interview, when asked about the possibility of a PlayStation 3 version of BioShock, Ken Levine had stated only that there was "no PS3 development going on" at the time;{{cite web |url=http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/24/levine-confirms-no-ps3-bioshock-and-does-mea-culpa-on-pc-issues/ |title=Levine confirms no PS3 BioShock and does mea culpa on PC issues – success hurts |publisher=Joystiq |date=August 24, 2007 |access-date=August 24, 2007 |first=Alexander |last=Sliwinski |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070827022955/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/24/levine-confirms-no-ps3-bioshock-and-does-mea-culpa-on-pc-issues/ |archive-date=August 27, 2007 }} however, on May 28, 2008, 2K Games confirmed that a PlayStation 3 version of the game was in development by 2K Marin, and it was released on October 17, 2008. On July 3, 2008, 2K Games announced a partnership with Digital Extremes and said that the PlayStation 3 version is being developed by 2K Marin, 2K Boston, 2K Australia, and Digital Extremes.{{cite web |url=http://www.2kgames.com/#/news/2k-games-announces-partnership-with-digital-extremes |title=2K Games Announces Partnership with Digital Extremes |access-date=August 26, 2010 |date=July 3, 2008 |publisher=Take-Two Interactive |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100701170800/http://www.2kgames.com/#/news/2k-games-announces-partnership-with-digital-extremes |archive-date=July 1, 2010 }} Jordan Thomas was the director for the PlayStation 3 version. While there were no graphical improvements to the game over the original Xbox 360 version,{{cite web |url=http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/22/bioshocks-ps3-graphics-identical-to-xbox-360/ |title=BioShocks PS3 Graphics Identical To Xbox 360 |publisher=Joystiq |date=July 22, 2008 |access-date=July 23, 2008 |first=Alexander |last=Sliwinski |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724110118/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/22/bioshocks-ps3-graphics-identical-to-xbox-360/ |archive-date=July 24, 2008 }} the PlayStation 3 version offered the widescreen option called "horizontal plus", introduced via a patch on the 360 version, while cutscene videos were of a much higher resolution than in the DVD version.{{cite video|people=Melissa Miller (Senior Producer, 2K Games) and Jake Ikten (Senior Programmer, 2K Games) |title=IGN Podcast Beyond, Episode 63 |url=http://ps3.ign.com/articles/918/918295p1.html?RSSwhen2008-10-09_133400&RSSid=918295 |format=MP3 |publisher=IGN |location=San Francisco, CA |access-date=October 10, 2008 |time=26:50 |quote=JI: "We did actually use the Blu-Ray for a few things... the movies are much higher res because they wouldn't exactly fit on the DVD" |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110921010337/http://ps3.ign.com/articles/918/918295p1.html?RSSwhen2008-10-09_133400&RSSid=918295 |archive-date=September 21, 2011 }} Additional add-on content was also released exclusively for the PlayStation 3 version.{{cite video|people=Melissa Miller (Senior Producer, 2K Games) and Jake Ikten (Senior Programmer, 2K Games) |title=IGN Podcast Beyond, Episode 63 |url=http://ps3.ign.com/articles/918/918295p1.html?RSSwhen2008-10-09_133400&RSSid=918295 |format=MP3 |publisher=IGN |location=San Francisco, CA |access-date=October 10, 2008 |time=15:40 |quote=JI: "We added a lot of new things to the PlayStation 3 version. The main one is the Survivor Mode and the DLC." MM: "...as far as that add-on content coming to the 360, it is PS3 exclusive" |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110921010337/http://ps3.ign.com/articles/918/918295p1.html?RSSwhen2008-10-09_133400&RSSid=918295 |archive-date=September 21, 2011 }} One addition was "Survivor Mode", in which the enemies were made tougher, and Vita-Chambers provided less of a health boost when used, forcing the player to be more creative in approaching foes and to rely more on the less-used plasmids in the game.{{cite web|url=http://www.2kgames.com/cultofrapture/article/survivormode |title=All About Survivor Mode |publisher=The Cult of Rapture |date=August 5, 2008 |access-date=August 6, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120310055910/http://www.2kgames.com/cultofrapture/article/survivormode |archive-date=March 10, 2012 }} BioShock also supports Trophies and PlayStation Home. A demo version was released on the PlayStation Store on October 2, 2008.{{cite web|url=http://kotaku.com/5048840/ps3-bioshock-demo-out-on-october-2 |title=PS3 BioShock Demo Out On October 2 |date=September 8, 2008 |access-date=September 24, 2011 |publisher=Kotaku |first=Luke |last=Plunkett |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018232136/http://kotaku.com/5048840/ps3-bioshock-demo-out-on-october-2 |archive-date=October 18, 2012 }} An update for the PlayStation 3 version was released on November 13, 2008, to fix some graphical problems and occasions where users experienced a hang and were forced to reset the console. This update also incorporated the "Challenge Rooms" and "New Game Plus" features.{{cite web |last=Romano|first=Sal|date=November 13, 2008|url= https://www.gematsu.com/2008/11/bioshock-ps3-texture-update-now-live|title=BioShock PS3 Texture Update Now Live|website=Gematsu|access-date=April 2, 2025}} BioShock was bundled with The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion as a double pack on PC and Xbox 360 on July 7, 2009.{{cite web|title=Shippin' Out July 5–11: The Bigs 2, Tales of Monkey Island|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/shippin-out-july-5-11-the-bigs-2-tales-of-monkey-island/1100-6212885/ |publisher=Matthew Peters |work=GameSpot |date=July 6, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019114251/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/shippin-out-july-5-11-the-bigs-2-tales-of-monkey-island/1100-6212885/ |archive-date=October 19, 2013}}

A port to OS X systems was made by Feral Interactive and released in October 2009.{{Cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/apple/2009/01/feral-interactive-supposedly-bringing-bioshock-to-the-mac/ |title=Feral Interactive supposedly bringing BioShock to the Mac |first=Justin |last=Berka |date=January 13, 2009 |access-date=August 29, 2014 |publisher=Ars Technica |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903110459/http://arstechnica.com/apple/2009/01/feral-interactive-supposedly-bringing-bioshock-to-the-mac/ |archive-date=September 3, 2014 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/24/bioshock-for-mac-on-october-7th |title=Bioshock for Mac on October 7 |access-date=November 12, 2009 |date=September 24, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091026163841/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/24/bioshock-for-mac-on-october-7th |archive-date=October 26, 2009 }}

In early 2008, IG Fun secured the rights to develop and publish a mobile phone version of BioShock.{{cite press release

|url=http://wireless.ign.com/articles/851/851478p1.html

|title=Mobile Gamers: Welcome to Rapture – IG Fun to Bring the Award Winning "BioShock" to Mobile

|date=February 11, 2008

|access-date=September 23, 2011

|publisher=IG Fun

|url-status=dead

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120403011441/http://wireless.ign.com/articles/851/851478p1.html

|archive-date=April 3, 2012

}} This version was developed as a top-down, two-dimensional platformer that attempted to recreate most of the plot and game elements of the original title; IG Fun worked with Irrational to determine the critical story elements they wanted to keep in the game. IG Fun recognized they would not be able to include the full storyline within a single mobile title, and so planned to split the title into three "episodes". Only the first episode was released.{{cite web|url=http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/r/Mobile/BioShock+%282D%29/news.asp?c=12293 |title=IG Fun explains how it brought the crumbling opulence of BioShock to mobile |first=Jon |last=Mundy |date=March 24, 2009 |access-date=August 29, 2014 |publisher=Pocket Gamer |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140904004702/http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/r/Mobile/BioShock%2B%282D%29/news.asp?c=12293 |archive-date=September 4, 2014 }}{{Cite web|url=http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/r/Mobile/BioShock+(2D)/review.asp?c=12247 |title=BioShock |first=Keith |last=Andrew |date=March 9, 2009 |access-date=August 29, 2014 |publisher=Pocket Gamer |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140904004706/http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/r/Mobile/BioShock%2B%282D%29/review.asp?c=12247 |archive-date=September 4, 2014 }}

Another mobile port was developed by Tridev, known as BioShock 3D, released in 2010. Several parts of the game were reduced to single image graphics and the main gameplay engine had to use low-resolution and low-polygon models due to the limitations of mobile phones at the time of its release.{{cite web | url = https://www.ign.com/articles/bioshock-mobile-game-2k-tridev-development | title = 2K Wanted BioShock on Phones, Here's How One Dev Team Pulled it Off | first = Issy | last = van der Velde | date = September 25, 2021 | access-date = September 25, 2021 | work = IGN | archive-date = October 20, 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211020233500/https://www.ign.com/articles/bioshock-mobile-game-2k-tridev-development | url-status = live }}

A port to iOS devices done by the 2K China studio was released on August 27, 2014.{{Cite web|url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/473063/original-bioshock-coming-to-ios-devices-this-summer/ |title=Original BioShock coming to iOS devices this summer |first=Tom |last=Ivan |date=August 4, 2014 |access-date=August 4, 2014 |publisher=Computer and Video Games |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140806224758/http://www.computerandvideogames.com/473063/original-bioshock-coming-to-ios-devices-this-summer/ |archive-date=August 6, 2014 }} The iOS version is content complete and functionally equivalent to the original Xbox 360 and Windows version, featuring either the use of touch-screen virtual gamepad controls or the use of a Bluetooth-enabled controller, and with a graphics engine optimized for iOS devices.{{Cite web|url=http://www.anandtech.com/show/8440/a-look-at-bioshock-for-ios |title=A Look at Bioshock for iOS and How it Compares to its PC Counterpart |first=Brandon |last=Chester |date=August 28, 2014 |access-date=August 29, 2014 |publisher=Anandtech |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140831042910/http://www.anandtech.com/show/8440/a-look-at-bioshock-for-ios |archive-date=August 31, 2014 }} The game was later delisted from the App Store in September 2015; the game had become unplayable for many that upgraded to iOS 8.4 on their devices, and while a patch had been discussed, a 2K representative stated that the decision to remove the game came from the developer.{{Cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2015-09-24-bioshocks-iphone-ipad-port-no-longer-available |title=BioShock's iPhone/iPad port no longer available |date=September 24, 2015 |access-date=September 24, 2015 |publisher=Eurogamer |first=Tom |last=Philips |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924231929/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2015-09-24-bioshocks-iphone-ipad-port-no-longer-available |archive-date=September 24, 2015 }} 2K later clarified that they will be working on resolving the issues with the game's compatibility with the new firmware and will re-release the title once that has been completed.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2015/09/24/bioshock-removal-from-ios-app-store-leaves-owners-out-in-the-cold.aspx |title=[Update] 2K Says BioShock Will Return To iOS App Store After It's Fixed |magazine=Game Informer |date=September 24, 2015 |access-date=September 24, 2015 |first=Mike |last=Futter |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150926220958/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2015/09/24/bioshock-removal-from-ios-app-store-leaves-owners-out-in-the-cold.aspx |archive-date=September 26, 2015 }} However, by January 2017, 2K officially stated that it will no longer working to support the game's compatibility with newer iOS system.{{cite web|url=https://www.destructoid.com/2k-games-has-officially-dropped-support-for-the-ios-port-of-bioshock-415224.phtml |title=2K Games has officially dropped support for the iOS port of BioShock |first=Dennis |last=Carden |date=January 27, 2017 |access-date=January 28, 2017 |work=Destructoid |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170128210356/https://www.destructoid.com/2k-games-has-officially-dropped-support-for-the-ios-port-of-bioshock-415224.phtml |archive-date=January 28, 2017 }}

{{Video game reviews

| MC = PC: 96/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/bioshock/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |title=BioShock for PC Reviews |website=Metacritic |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=April 9, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120416053016/http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/bioshock |archive-date=April 16, 2012}}
X360: 96/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/bioshock/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox-360 |title=BioShock for Xbox 360 Reviews |website=Metacritic |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=April 9, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419090908/http://www.metacritic.com/game/xbox-360/bioshock |archive-date=April 19, 2012}}
PS3: 94/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/bioshock/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-3 |title=BioShock for PlayStation 3 Reviews |website=Metacritic |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=April 9, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419111729/http://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-3/bioshock |archive-date=April 19, 2012}}
iOS: 68/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/bioshock/critic-reviews/?platform=ios-iphoneipad |title=BioShock for iPhone/iPad Reviews |website=Metacritic |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=August 17, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180710133540/http://www.metacritic.com/game/ios/bioshock |archive-date=July 10, 2018 |url-status=live}}

| 1UP = A+{{cite web|url=http://www.1up.com/do/reviewPage?cId=3162017 |title=REVIEWS: BIOSHOCK "We emerge from the deep for our BioShock review" |date=August 16, 2007 |last=Pfister |first=Andrew |publisher=1UP.com |access-date=August 16, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121210050948/http://www.1up.com/reviews/bioshock_3 |archive-date=December 10, 2012 }}

| Edge = 8/10{{cite magazine|url=http://www.next-gen.biz/reviews/bioshock-review |title=Reviews = BioShock // Xbox 360 |date=October 15, 2007 |access-date=October 15, 2007 |magazine=Edge|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604061754/http://www.next-gen.biz/reviews/bioshock-review |archive-date=June 4, 2011 }}

| EGM = 10/10{{cite web|url=http://egm220.1up.com |title=Reviews = BioShock // Xbox 360 |date=August 30, 2007 |last=Hsu |first=Dan |publisher=Electronic Gaming Monthly |access-date=August 30, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140904081517/http://egm220.1up.com/ |archive-date=September 4, 2014 }}

| EuroG = 10/10

| GI = 10/10

| GSpot = 9/10{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/action/bioshock/review.html |title=Reviews = BioShock // Xbox 360 |date=August 20, 2007 |access-date=August 20, 2007 |last=Gerstmann |first=Jeff |publisher=Gamespot |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011093628/http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/action/bioshock/review.html |archive-date=October 11, 2007 }}

| GT = 9.5/10{{cite web|url=http://www.gametrailers.com/game/2610.html |title=Reviews = BioShock // Xbox 360 |publisher=GameTrailers |access-date=November 4, 2007 |date=August 21, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071102170040/http://www.gametrailers.com/game/2610.html |archive-date=November 2, 2007 }}

| IGN = 9.7/10

| OXM = 10/10

| PCGUK = 95%{{cite web | url = http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=169983 | title = Review: BioShock | work = PC Gamer | last = Francis | first = Tom | access-date = August 1, 2015 | date = August 21, 2007 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070910141247/http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=169983 | archive-date = September 10, 2007 | url-status=dead}}

| PCZone = 96%{{cite web|url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=169992 |title=PC Review: BioShock |work=PC Zone |last=Hogarty |first=Steve |access-date=November 4, 2007 |date=August 21, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090315114115/http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=169992 |archive-date=March 15, 2009 }}

| TA = 4/5{{cite web |url=https://toucharcade.com/2014/09/03/bioshock-review/ |title='Bioshock' Review – Is An iOS Gamer Not Entitled To A Mobile Rapture? |last=Ford |first=Eric |date=September 3, 2014 |website=TouchArcade |access-date=August 17, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180818052259/https://toucharcade.com/2014/09/03/bioshock-review/ |archive-date=August 18, 2018 |url-status=live}}

| award1 = Art Direction, Original Music Composition, Sound Design, Story Development{{cite web|url=http://www.shacknews.com/article/51219/aias-honors-call-of-duty |title=AIAS Honors Call of Duty 4, BioShock, The Orange Box in GOTY Awards |first=Chris |last=Faylor |date=February 8, 2008 |access-date=September 24, 2016 |work=Shacknews |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160927161717/http://www.shacknews.com/article/51219/aias-honors-call-of-duty |archive-date=September 27, 2016 }}

| award1Pub = AIAS

| award2 = (2007) Best Game

| award2Pub = BAFTA

| award3 = (2007) Game of the Year

| award3Pub = Game Informer

| award4 = (2007) PC Game of the Year

| award4Pub = IGN

| award5 = (2007) Best Game

| award5Pub = Spike TV

| award6 = (2007) Game of the Year

| award6Pub = X-Play

| Destruct = 10/10{{cite web |last1=Linde |first1=Aaron |title=Destructoid review: Bioshock |url=https://www.destructoid.com/reviews/destructoid-review-bioshock/ |website=Destructoid |date=17 August 2007 |access-date=24 November 2021 |archive-date=November 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211125180108/https://www.destructoid.com/reviews/destructoid-review-bioshock/ |url-status=live }}

| GSpy = 5/5{{cite web |last1=Graziani |first1=Gabe |title=Bioshock |url=http://xbox360.gamespy.com/xbox-360/bioshock/813243p1.html |website=GameSpy |date=16 August 2007 |access-date=25 November 2021 |archive-date=August 20, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070820072325/http://xbox360.gamespy.com/xbox-360/bioshock/813243p1.html |url-status=live }}

}}

BioShock has received "universal acclaim", according to review aggregator Metacritic, with the game receiving an average review score of 96/100 for Xbox 360 and Microsoft Windows, and 94/100 for PlayStation 3. {{As of|October 2020}}, it is one of the highest-rated games on Metacritic, tied with several other games for the fourth-highest aggregate score.{{Cite web|url=http://metro.co.uk/2013/09/17/gta-v-is-joint-highest-rated-game-ever-on-metacritic-4038143/ |title=GTA V is joint highest-rated game ever on Metacritic |work=Metro |date=September 17, 2013 |access-date=September 30, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151001210345/http://metro.co.uk/2013/09/17/gta-v-is-joint-highest-rated-game-ever-on-metacritic-4038143/ |archive-date=October 1, 2015 }} Mainstream press reviews have praised the immersive qualities of the game and its political dimension. The Boston Globe described it as "a beautiful, brutal, and disquieting computer game ... one of the best in years",{{cite web|url=https://www.boston.com/ae/games/articles/2007/08/27/bioshock_lets_users_take_on_fanaticism_through_fantasy/ |title=BioShock lets users take on fanaticism through fantasy |work=The Boston Globe |date=August 27, 2007 |first=Hiawatha |last=Bray |access-date=November 9, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071014004508/http://www.boston.com/ae/games/articles/2007/08/27/bioshock_lets_users_take_on_fanaticism_through_fantasy/ |archive-date=October 14, 2007 }} and compared the game to Whittaker Chambers' 1957 riposte to Atlas Shrugged, "Big Sister Is Watching You". Wired also mentioned the Ayn Rand connection (a partial anagram of Andrew Ryan) in a report on the game which featured a brief interview with Levine.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/gaming/gamingreviews/magazine/15-09/pl_games |title=BioShock owes more to Ayn Rand than Doom |first=Kieron |last=Gillen |date=August 21, 2007 |magazine=Wired |access-date=November 4, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080709002750/http://www.wired.com/gaming/gamingreviews/magazine/15-09/pl_games |archive-date=July 9, 2008 }} The Chicago Sun-Times review said "I never once thought anyone would be able to create an engaging and entertaining video game around the fiction and philosophy of Ayn Rand, but that is essentially what 2K Games has done ... the rare, mature video game that succeeds in making you think while you play".{{cite news | title = BioShock |first = Misha | last = Davenport | date = August 24, 2007 | work = The Chicago Sun-Times}}

The Los Angeles Times review concluded: "Sure, it's fun to play, looks spectacular and is easy to control. But it also does something no other game has done to date: It really makes you feel."{{cite web|url=http://www.game.co.uk/News/?lid=8845&ad=12_03_2008 |title=Los Angeles Times review |access-date=June 10, 2008 |publisher=Game.co.uk |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090213022541/http://www.game.co.uk/News/?lid=8845&ad=12_03_2008 |archive-date=February 13, 2009 }} The New York Times reviewer described it as: "intelligent, gorgeous, occasionally frightening" and added: "Anchored by its provocative, morality-based story line, sumptuous art direction and superb voice acting, BioShock can also hold its head high among the best games ever made."{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/08/arts/television/08shoc.html?ex=1346904000&en=f4891059b252959b&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink |title=Genetics gone haywire and predatory children in an undersea metropolis |first=Seth |last=Schiesel |work=The New York Times|date=September 8, 2007 |access-date=September 27, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071113181138/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/08/arts/television/08shoc.html?ex=1346904000&en=f4891059b252959b&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink |archive-date=November 13, 2007 }}

GameSpy praised BioShock{{'s}} "inescapable atmosphere",{{cite web|url=http://xbox360.gamespy.com/xbox-360/bioshock/813243p1.html |title=BioShock (X360) |publisher=Gamespy |date=August 16, 2007 |first=Gabe |last=Granziani |access-date=August 17, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070820072325/http://xbox360.gamespy.com/xbox-360/bioshock/813243p1.html |archive-date=August 20, 2007 }} and Official Xbox Magazine lauded its "inconceivably great plot" and "stunning soundtrack and audio effects".{{cite web|url=http://www.oxm.co.uk/article.php?id=1182 |title=Official Xbox Magazine BioShock review |publisher=Official Xbox Magazine |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071007024828/http://www.oxm.co.uk/article.php?id=1182 |archive-date=October 7, 2007 }} The gameplay and combat system have been praised for being smooth and open-ended,{{cite web | url = http://www.gameinformer.com/NR/exeres/41497688-5BCB-4C0A-B952-A1B1440E2139.htm | title = BioShock review | publisher = Game Informer | last = Reiner | first = Andrew | access-date = August 16, 2007 |date=August 2007| url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070822013757/http://www.gameinformer.com/NR/exeres/41497688-5BCB-4C0A-B952-A1B1440E2139.htm| archive-date = August 22, 2007}} and elements of the graphics, such as the water, were commended for their quality. It has been noted that the combination of the game's elements "straddles so many entertainment art forms so expertly that it's the best demonstration yet how flexible this medium can be. It's no longer just another shooter wrapped up in a pretty game engine, but a story that exists and unfolds inside the most convincing and elaborate and artistic game world ever conceived."{{cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=81479 |title=Reviews = BioShock // Xbox 360 |date=August 16, 2007 |access-date=August 16, 2007 |last=Reed |first=Kristan |publisher=Eurogamer |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070822073731/http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=81479 |archive-date=August 22, 2007 }}

Reviewers did highlight a few negative issues in BioShock, however. The recovery system involving "Vita-Chambers", which revive a defeated player at half-health, but do not alter the enemies' health, makes it possible to wear down enemies through sheer perseverance, and was criticized as one of the most significant flaws in the gameplay.{{cite web|url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=170293 |title=BioShock Review |work=Computer And Video Games |agency=Xbox World 360 |access-date=July 24, 2007 |date=August 16, 2007 |first=Alex |last=Dale |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090315114522/http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=170293 |archive-date=March 15, 2009 }} IGN noted that both the controls and graphics of the Xbox 360 version are inferior to those of the PC version, in that switching between weapons or plasmids is easier using the PC's mouse than the 360's radial menu, as well as the graphics being slightly better with higher resolutions. The game has been touted as a hybrid first-person shooter, but two reviewers found advances from comparable games lacking, both in the protagonist and in the challenges he faces.{{cite web | url = http://www.yaledailynews.com/articles/view/21212 | title = Bioshock review | publisher = Yale Daily News | access-date = November 4, 2007 | date = September 7, 2007 | author = S.T. Hedgehog| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071211035626/http://www.yaledailynews.com/articles/view/21212| archive-date = December 11, 2007}}{{cite web|url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/editorials/zeropunctuation/1394-Zero-Punctuation-BioShock |title=BioShock review |work=The Escapist |first=Ben |last=Croshaw |date=September 5, 2007 |access-date=November 4, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071102132608/http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/editorials/zeropunctuation/1394-Zero-Punctuation-BioShock |archive-date=November 2, 2007 }} Some reviewers also found the combat behavior of the splicers lacking in diversity (and their A.I. behavior not very well done),{{cite web

|url=http://www.mygamer.com/index.php?page=gameportal&mode=reviews&id=552512

|title=BioShock

|publisher=mygamer.com

|date=August 21, 2007

|quote="Unfortunately, once the splicers become aware of the player, they almost invariably rush forward, heedless of their own mortality, right into the path of the player's plasmid powers and guns"

|access-date=December 6, 2008

|url-status=live

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081208185137/http://www.mygamer.com/index.php?page=gameportal&mode=reviews&id=552512

|archive-date=December 8, 2008

}} and the moral choice too much "black and white" to be interesting.{{cite web

|author=Moke Dootitle

|url=http://www.gamecritics.com/bioshock-review

|title=BioShock – Review

|publisher=gamecritics.com

|date=July 12, 2007

|quote="Sure, there are splicers that run around maniacally, crawl on the ceiling or teleport, but there is little to differentiate them aside from their theatrics(...)The game also presents a "moral" choice that feels promising early in the game, but ultimately falls into the cliché traps of black and white extremes"

|access-date=December 6, 2008

|url-status=live

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090124223718/http://gamecritics.com/bioshock-review

|archive-date=January 24, 2009

}} Some reviewers and essayists such as Jonathan Blow also opined that the "moral choice" the game offered to the player (saving or harvesting the little sisters) was flawed because, to them, it had no real impact on the game, which ultimately led them to think that the sisters were just mechanics of no real importance.{{cite web

|url=http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=16392

|title=MIGS 2007: Jonathan Blow On The 'WoW Drug', Meaningful Games

|publisher=gamasutra.com

|date=November 28, 2007

|quote=Blow turned to BioShock as his example of flawed architecture (...) "The very idea of this save or kill dilemma is an architected idea imposed from the top", he explained (...) "The game rules determine the actual meaning of life in the game, and it says whatever you do to the Little Sisters doesn't matter, no matter how much the game tries to convince you that it does". The "Meta-message", according to Blow, is that "the designers of this game are trying to manipulate your emotions in a clumsy way".

|access-date=December 21, 2008

|url-status=dead

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081221122915/http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=16392

|archive-date=December 21, 2008

}} Daniel Friedman for Polygon concurred with Blow, noting that the player only loses 10% of the possible ADAM rewards for saving the Little Sisters rather than killing them, and felt that this would have been better instituted as part of the game difficulty mechanic.{{Cite web|url=http://www.polygon.com/2016/9/19/12972940/bioshock-little-sisters-adam |title=BioShock bungled its best chance to make play meaningful |first=Daniel |last=Friedman |date=September 19, 2016 |access-date=September 21, 2016 |work=Polygon |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160921023843/http://www.polygon.com/2016/9/19/12972940/bioshock-little-sisters-adam |archive-date=September 21, 2016 }} Former LucasArts developer Clint Hocking wrote a noted essay that claimed that BioShock exhibited "ludonarrative dissonance" between its story and mechanics, as while he saw the story as advocating selflessness in helping others, its gameplay encourages what he views as selfishness by preying on Little Sisters.{{Cite web|url=https://www.destructoid.com/ludonarrative-dissonance-the-roadblock-to-realism-235197.phtml |title=Ludonarrative dissonance: The roadblock to realism |first=Brett |last=Makedonski |date=September 26, 2012 |access-date=September 21, 2016 |work=Destructoid |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160923014932/https://www.destructoid.com/ludonarrative-dissonance-the-roadblock-to-realism-235197.phtml |archive-date=September 23, 2016 }}

At E3 2006, BioShock was given several "Games of the Show" awards from various online gaming sites, including GameSpot,{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/features/6151435/p-28.html |title=E3 2006 Editors' Choice Awards |access-date=November 4, 2007 |date=May 20, 2006 |publisher=Gamespot |author=Gamespot Staff |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071030084554/http://www.gamespot.com/features/6151435/p-28.html |archive-date=October 30, 2007 }} IGN,{{cite web |url=http://games.ign.com/articles/709/709355p7.html |title=IGN's Overall Best of E3 2006 Awards |date=May 19, 2006 |access-date=November 4, 2007 |publisher=IGN |author=IGN Staff |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071118205814/http://games.ign.com/articles/709/709355p7.html |archive-date=November 18, 2007 }} GameSpy{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespy.com/articles/709/709100p16.html |title=E3 2006 Best of Show |access-date=November 4, 2007 |date=May 18, 2006 |publisher=GameSpy |author=GameSpy Staff |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071023064612/http://www.gamespy.com/articles/709/709100p16.html |archive-date=October 23, 2007 }} and GameTrailers's Trailer of the Year.{{cite web|url=http://www.gametrailers.com/player/16075.html |title=GameTrailers Game of the Year 2006: Best Trailer |publisher=GameTrailers |access-date=January 27, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080107021812/http://www.gametrailers.com/player/16075.html |archive-date=January 7, 2008 }} BioShock received an award for Best Xbox 360 Game at the 2007 Leipzig Games Convention.{{cite web|url=http://www.dmwmedia.com/news/2007/08/27/leipzig-games-convention-best-of-awards-announced |title=Leipzig Games Convention "Best of" Awards Announced |date=August 27, 2007 |access-date=November 4, 2007 |publisher=Digital Media Wire |first=Mark |last=Hefflinger |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303190437/http://dmwmedia.com/news/2007/08/27/leipzig-games-convention-best-of-awards-announced |archive-date=March 3, 2016 }} After the game's release, the 2007 Spike TV Video Game Awards selected BioShock as Game of the Year, Best Xbox 360 Game, and Best Original Score, and nominated it for four awards: Best Shooter, Best Graphics, Best PC Game, and Best Soundtrack.{{cite web | url = https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/107504/Bioshock_Wins_Spike_TV_Game_of_the_Year.php | title = Bioshock Wins Spike TV Game of the Year | first = David | last = Jenkins | date = December 10, 2007 | access-date = November 16, 2019 | work = Gamasutra | archive-date = November 21, 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201121120305/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/107504/Bioshock_Wins_Spike_TV_Game_of_the_Year.php | url-status = dead }}{{cite web |url=http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/08/bioshock-drowns-competition-at-2007-vgas/ |title=BioShock drowns competition at 2007 VGAs |publisher=Joystiq |date=December 8, 2007 |access-date=December 8, 2007 |first=James |last=Dobson |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071212235556/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/08/bioshock-drowns-competition-at-2007-vgas/ |archive-date=December 12, 2007 }} The game also won the 2007 BAFTA "Best Game" award.{{cite web |url=http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/24/bafta-bioshock-game-of-the-year-wii-sports-wins-most-awards/ |title=BAFTA: BioShock game of the year, Wii Sports wins most awards |date=October 24, 2007 |access-date=October 24, 2007 |publisher=Joystiq |first=Alexander |last=Sliwinski |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071025051816/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/24/bafta-bioshock-game-of-the-year-wii-sports-wins-most-awards/ |archive-date=October 25, 2007 }} X-Play also selected it as "Game of the Year", "Best Original Soundtrack", "Best Writing/Story", and "Best Art Direction".{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/18/arts/television/18game.html |title=BioShock Triumphs at TV Video Game Awards |work=The New York Times|first=Seth |last=Schielsel |date=December 18, 2007 |access-date=July 16, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081210202554/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/18/arts/television/18game.html |archive-date=December 10, 2008 }} Game Informer named BioShock its Game of the Year for 2007.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2017/01/02/looking-back-at-25-years-of-game-informer-s-goty-awards.aspx|title=Check Out 25 Years Of Game Informer's GOTY Awards|first=Jeff|last=Marchiafava|magazine=Game Informer|date=January 2, 2017|access-date=November 16, 2019|archive-date=November 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201121120247/https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2017/01/02/looking-back-at-25-years-of-game-informer-s-goty-awards.aspx|url-status=live}}

At IGN's "Best of 2007" BioShock was nominated for Game of The Year 2007,{{cite web|url=http://bestof.ign.com/2007/overall/25.html |title=IGN Best of 2007: Overall Game of the Year |publisher=IGN |date=January 11, 2008 |access-date=January 27, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080113203707/http://bestof.ign.com/2007/overall/25.html |archive-date=January 13, 2008 }} and won the award for PC Game of the Year,{{cite web|url=http://bestof.ign.com/2007/pc/22.html |title=IGN Best of 2007: PC Game of the Year |publisher=IGN |access-date=January 27, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080129133905/http://bestof.ign.com/2007/pc/22.html |archive-date=January 29, 2008 }} Best Artistic Design,{{cite web|url=http://bestof.ign.com/2007/overall/13.html |title=IGN Best of 2007: Best Artistic Design |publisher=IGN |date=January 11, 2008 |access-date=January 27, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080405014111/http://bestof.ign.com/2007/overall/13.html |archive-date=April 5, 2008 }} and Best Use of Sound.{{cite web|url=http://bestof.ign.com/2007/overall/16.html |title=IGN Best of 2007: Best Use of Sound |publisher=IGN |date=January 11, 2008 |access-date=January 27, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080405151930/http://bestof.ign.com/2007/overall/16.html |archive-date=April 5, 2008 }} GameSpy chose it as the third-best game of the year{{cite web|url=http://goty.gamespy.com/2007/overall/11.html |title=GameSpy's Overall Top Ten of 2007: #3 BioShock |publisher=GameSpy |access-date=January 27, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080124152845/http://goty.gamespy.com/2007/overall/11.html |archive-date=January 24, 2008 }} and gave BioShock the awards for Best Sound, Story, and Art Direction.{{cite web|url=http://goty.gamespy.com/2007/special/29.html |title=GameSpy's Game of the Year 2007: Special Awards |publisher=GameSpy |access-date=January 27, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029200206/http://goty.gamespy.com/2007/special/29.html |archive-date=October 29, 2013 }} GameSpot awarded the game for Best Story,{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/best-of/specialachievement/index.html?page=5 |title=GameSpot's Best and Worst of 2007–Special Achievements: Best Story |publisher=GameSpot |access-date=January 27, 2008 }}{{cbignore}} while GamePro gave BioShock the Best Story, Xbox 360 and Best Single-Player Shooter awards.{{cite web|url=http://gamepro.com/gamepro/domestic/games/features/154431.shtml|title=GamePro's Editor's Choice 2007|date=December 27, 2007|access-date=January 27, 2008|publisher=GamePro|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071231114627/http://www.gamepro.com/gamepro/domestic/games/features/154431.shtml|archive-date=December 31, 2007}} BioShock won the "Best Visual Art", "Best Writing", and "Best Audio" awards at the 2008 Game Developers Choice Awards.{{cite web|url=http://uk.gamespot.com/news/6186460.html?action=convert&om_clk=latestnews&tag=latestnews;title;3 |title=Portal BioShocks GDC Awards |publisher=GameSpot |access-date=February 21, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120104224043/http://uk.gamespot.com/news/6186460.html?action=convert&om_clk=latestnews&tag=latestnews%3Btitle%3B3 |archive-date=January 4, 2012 }} During the AIAS' 11th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards, BioShock received the most nominations of the ceremony with twelve, including notable categories such as "Outstanding Innovation in Gaming", "Action Game of the Year", and "Overall Game of the Year"; it was ultimately awarded with outstanding achievement in "Art Direction", "Original Music Composition", "Sound Design", and "Story Development".{{cite web |url=https://www.interactive.org/games/video_game_details.asp?idAward=2008&idGame=914 |title=D.I.C.E. Awards By Video Game Details BioShock |publisher=Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences |access-date=19 July 2023 |archive-date=June 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220601135107/https://www.interactive.org/games/video_game_details.asp?idAward=2008&idGame=914 |url-status=live }} Guinness World Records awarded the game a record for "Most Popular Xbox Live Demo" in the Guinness World Records: Gamer's Edition 2008. BioShock is ranked first on Game Informer{{'s}} list of The Top 10 Video Game Openings.{{Cite magazine |title=The Top Ten Video Game Openings |url=https://archive.org/details/game-informer-issue-187-november-2008/page/38/mode/2up |access-date=2024-10-25 |magazine=Game Informer |page=38 |issue=187|date=November 2008}} GamesRadar placed Bioshock as the 12th best game of all time.{{cite web|author=GamesRadar US & UK |date=March 31, 2011 |url=https://gamesradar.com/f/the-100-best-games-of-all-time/a-20110330182119708031/p-10 |title=The 100 best games of all time |page=10 |publisher=Future Publishing |access-date=April 3, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811101010/http://www.gamesradar.com/f/the-100-best-games-of-all-time/a-20110330182119708031/p-10 |archive-date=August 11, 2011 }} In 2011 BioShock was awarded the number 1 spot in GameTrailers' "Top 100 Video Game Trailers of All Time", for submerging the viewer into the BioShock universe and its enduring impact.{{cite web|url=http://www.gametrailers.com/users/GT100Trailers/gamepad/?action=viewblog&id=563203 |title=GameTrailers |access-date=July 19, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111209101458/http://www.gametrailers.com/users/GT100Trailers/gamepad/?action=viewblog&id=563203 |archive-date=December 9, 2011 }} In August 2012, IGN gave it the top spot on their list of the Top 25 Modern PC Games, a ranking of the best PC games released since 2006.{{cite news|title=The Top 25 Modern PC Games |url=https://ign.com/articles/2012/08/07/the-top-25-modern-pc-games-2?page=1 |work=IGN |publisher=IGN Entertainment, Inc. |date=August 6, 2012 |access-date=January 2, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140916175948/http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/08/07/the-top-25-modern-pc-games-2?page=1 |archive-date=September 16, 2014 }} In November 2012, Time named it one of the 100 greatest video games of all time.{{cite magazine|title=All-Time 100 Video Games |url=https://techland.time.com/2012/11/15/all-time-100-video-games/slide/all/ |magazine=Time |date=November 15, 2012 |access-date=November 15, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121116214206/http://techland.time.com/2012/11/15/all-time-100-video-games/slide/all/ |archive-date=November 16, 2012 |url-status=live }} In July 2015, the game placed 9th on USgamer{{'s}} The 15 Best Games Since 2000 list.{{cite web|last1=Parish|first1=Jeremy|title=The 15 Best Games Since 2000, Number 9: BioShock|url=http://www.usgamer.net/articles/the-15-best-games-since-2000-number-9-bioshock|website=USgamer|publisher=Gamer Network|access-date=July 30, 2015|date=July 29, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150730121127/http://www.usgamer.net/articles/the-15-best-games-since-2000-number-9-bioshock|archive-date=July 30, 2015|url-status=live}}

The Xbox 360 version was the third best-selling game of August 2007, with 490,900 copies.{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/news/6178770.html |last=Thorsen |first=Tor |title=US August game-industry haul nearly $1B |publisher=GameSpot |date=September 14, 2007 |access-date=January 27, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090318205927/http://www.gamespot.com/news/6178770.html |archive-date=March 18, 2009 }} The Wall Street Journal reported that shares in Take-Two Interactive "soared nearly 20%" in the week following overwhelmingly favorable early reviews of the game.{{cite web |url=https://www.wsj.com/public/article/SB119024844874433247-EnpxM1F6fI9YZDofC7VnyPzVrGQ_20070920.html?mod=todays_free_feature |title=High Scores Matter To Game Makers, Too |first=Nick |last=Wingfield |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=September 20, 2007 |access-date=September 29, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626144044/http://www.wsj.com/public/article/SB119024844874433247-EnpxM1F6fI9YZDofC7VnyPzVrGQ_20070920.html?mod=todays_free_feature |archive-date=June 26, 2015 }} Take-Two Interactive announced that by June 5, 2008, over 2.2 million copies of BioShock had been shipped.{{cite press release |url=http://ir.take2games.com/External.File?t=2&item=g7rqBLVLuv81UAmrh20Mp1oXuhSOzyvNLw7b9gsFWOFEcjdXvnkuQsRd4z1F+6UjdeP00J7LAY65LCFFFXhNWg== |title=Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. Reports Strong Second Quarter Fiscal 2008 Financial Results |publisher=Take-Two Interactive |date=June 5, 2008 |access-date=June 6, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160110100137/http://ir.take2games.com/External.File?t=2&item=g7rqBLVLuv81UAmrh20Mp1oXuhSOzyvNLw7b9gsFWOFEcjdXvnkuQsRd4z1F+6UjdeP00J7LAY65LCFFFXhNWg== |archive-date=January 10, 2016 |url-status=live }} In a June 10, 2008 interview, Roy Taylor, Nvidia's VP of Content Business Development, stated that the PC version has sold over one million copies.{{cite web |author=Rob Fahey |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=148824&page=2 |title=NVIDIA's Roy Taylor |publisher=Eurogamer |date=June 10, 2008 |access-date=September 8, 2008 |archive-date=November 21, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201121120250/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/nvidias-roy-taylor-interview?page=2 |url-status=live }} According to Take-Two Interactive's chairman Strauss Zelnick, the game had sold around 3 million copies by June 2009.{{cite magazine|author=Tom Ivan |url=http://www.next-gen.biz/news/take-two-targets-five-million-bioshock-2-sales |title=Take-Two Interactive Targets Five Million BioShock 2 Sales |magazine=Edge |date=June 18, 2009 |access-date=December 20, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101003165615/http://www.next-gen.biz/news/take-two-targets-five-million-bioshock-2-sales |archive-date=October 3, 2010 }} By March 2010, BioShock had sold 4 million copies.{{cite web |url=http://www.el33tonline.com/past/2010/3/4/original_bioshock_sells_4_million/ |title=Original Bioshock sells 4 million units, GTA IV tops 15 million |publisher=El33tonline |date=March 4, 2010 |access-date=July 31, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710175914/http://www.el33tonline.com/past/2010/3/4/original_bioshock_sells_4_million/ |archive-date=July 10, 2011 |url-status=live }}

File:Bioshock widescreen.jpg differences (tinted areas seen in 4:3 only)]]

The initial Windows release was criticized by players for several perceived shortcomings. The game was shipped with SecuROM copy protection that required activation from 2K Games' servers over the Internet; the unavailability of these servers was reported as the reason for the cancellation of the game's midnight release in Australia.{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/news/6177330.html?action=convert&om_clk=latestnews&tag=latestnews;title;0 |title=Bioshock PC Launch Shortcircuts |date=August 23, 2007 |access-date=August 23, 2007 |first=Randolph |last=Ramsey |publisher=Gamespot |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930014637/http://www.gamespot.com/news/6177330.html?action=convert&om_clk=latestnews&tag=latestnews%3Btitle%3B0 |archive-date=September 30, 2007 }} Players found that the SecuROM limited the number of times the game could be activated to two; user feedback led to 2K Games to increase the activation count to five,{{cite web|url=http://www.maxconsole.net/archive/index.php/t-77804.html |title=2K: Tell your brother to buy his own Bioshock, you didn't buy it for the whole family |date=September 4, 2007 |publisher=maxconsole.net |access-date=November 12, 2007 }}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}{{cite web|url=https://neoseeker.com/news/story/7091/ |title=One copy of BioShock per family (member)? |publisher=Neoseeker |date=September 5, 2007 |access-date=November 12, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070907180345/http://www.neoseeker.com/news/story/7091/ |archive-date=September 7, 2007 }} and later offer a tool that allowed users to revoke previous activations on their own.{{cite web|url=http://www.2kgames.com/bioshock/support/revoketool/ |title=2K Revocation tool download page |date=November 3, 2007 |access-date=November 3, 2007 |publisher=Cult of Rapture |first=Elizabeth |last=Tobey |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724120803/http://www.2kgames.com/bioshock/support/revoketool |archive-date=July 24, 2008 }} Ultimately 2K Games removed the activation limit, though retail versions of the game still required the activation process.{{cite web|url=http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/53236 |title=2K Games Lifts BioShock PC Install Limit, DRM |publisher=Shacknews |first=Aaron |last=Linde |date=June 19, 2008 |access-date=June 19, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080626224630/http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/53236 |archive-date=June 26, 2008 }} Levine admitted that their initial approach to the activation process was malformed, harming their reputation during the launch period.{{Cite web |url=http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/24/joystiq-interviews-bioshocks-ken-levine-about-success-and-harve/ |title=Joystiq interviews BioShock's Ken Levine about success and harvesting Little Sisters |first=Alexander |last=Sliwinski |date=August 24, 2007 |access-date=August 29, 2014 |publisher=Joystiq |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141007170507/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/24/joystiq-interviews-bioshocks-ken-levine-about-success-and-harve/ |archive-date=October 7, 2014 }}

The SecuROM software also caused some virus scanners and malware detector to believe the software was malicious. 2K Games assured players that the software installation process did not install any malicious code or rootkit.{{cite web|url=http://www.2kgames.com/cultofrapture/article/securombioshock |title=The Cult of Rapture FAQ |date=August 23, 2007 |access-date=August 23, 2007 |publisher=Cult of Rapture |first=Elizabeth |last=Tobey |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120228211113/http://www.2kgames.com/cultofrapture/article/securombioshock |archive-date=February 28, 2012 }}{{cite web | url = http://www.gamingbob.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=300 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081224110509/http://www.gamingbob.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=300 | archive-date = December 24, 2008| title = BioShock Demo Installs SecuROM Service | date = August 23, 2007 | access-date = August 25, 2007 | url-status = usurped | publisher = GamingBOB.com}}{{cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070826-clearing-the-air-bioshock-does-not-contain-a-rootkit.html |title=Clearing the air: Bioshock does not contain a rootkit |publisher=Ars Technica |first=Ken |last=Fisher |date=August 26, 2007 |access-date=August 26, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070831024753/http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070826-clearing-the-air-bioshock-does-not-contain-a-rootkit.html |archive-date=August 31, 2007 }} However, players observed that some of the SecuROM software was not entirely removed on uninstallation of the game.{{cite news|url=http://www.extremetech.com/computing/77560-bioshock-controversies-continue |title=BioShock Controversies Continue |first=Joel |last=Durham |newspaper=ExtremeTech |date=August 27, 2007 |access-date=September 24, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120120054215/http://www.extremetech.com/computing/77560-bioshock-controversies-continue |archive-date=January 20, 2012 }}

Some of the graphic capabilities of BioShock were criticized by players. The initial release of the game was found to have cut off the top and bottom of the field of view in order to fit widescreen monitors, resulting in less vertical view instead of more horizontal view compared to 4:3 monitors,{{cite web|url=http://www.shacknews.com/laryn.x?story=48555 |title=BioShock Widescreen Slices Vertical View |date=August 21, 2007 |access-date=August 21, 2007 |publisher=Shacknews |first=Nick |last=Breckon |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926235615/http://www.shacknews.com/laryn.x?story=48555 |archive-date=September 26, 2007 }} conflicting with original reports from a developer on how widescreen would have been handled.{{cite web|url=http://forums.2kgames.com/forums/showthread.php?t=659 |title=How will the widescreen image be displayed? |publisher=2K Games Forum |access-date=August 21, 2007 |date=May 27, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070823134331/http://forums.2kgames.com/forums/showthread.php?t=659 |archive-date=August 23, 2007 }} 2K Games later stated that the choice of the field of view was a design decision made during development.{{cite web|url=http://www.2kgames.com/cultofrapture/article/truthwidescreen |title=The Truth About Widescreen |first=Elizabeth |last=Tobey |publisher=2K Games |date=August 22, 2007 |access-date=August 22, 2007 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120228211117/http://www.2kgames.com/cultofrapture/article/truthwidescreen |archive-date=February 28, 2012 }}{{cite web|url=http://kotaku.com/gaming/wider-is-better/bioshock-widescreen-+-the-sad-conclusion-292269.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930183533/http://kotaku.com/gaming/wider-is-better/bioshock-widescreen-%2B-the-sad-conclusion-292269.php |archive-date=September 30, 2007 |title=Wider Is Better: BioShock Widescreen |date=August 22, 2007 |access-date=August 22, 2007 |publisher=Kotaku |first=Mike |last=Fahey |url-status=dead }} Irrational included an option for "Horizontal FOV Lock" in the December 2007 patch that allows widescreen users a wider field of view, without cutting anything off the image vertically.{{cite web|url=http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/48621 |title=Simultaneous Installgate 07: 2K Ups BioShock Install Limit, Plans FOV Adjustment Patch |first=Chris |last=Remo |publisher=Shacknews |date=August 23, 2007 |access-date=August 23, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071006200258/http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/48621 |archive-date=October 6, 2007 }} BioShock was also criticized for not supporting pixel shader 2.0b video cards (such as the Radeon X800/X850), which were considered high-end graphics cards in 2004–2005, and accounted for about 24% of surveyed hardware collected through Valve's Steam platform at the time of BioShock{{'s}} release.{{cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/journals/hardware.ars/2007/08/23/no-bioshock-rapture-in-sight-for-ati-x800x850-users |title=No Bioshock Rapture in sight for ATI X800/X850 users |date=August 23, 2007 |access-date=September 26, 2007 |publisher=Ars Technica |last=Hruska |first=Joel |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011154949/http://arstechnica.com/journals/hardware.ars/2007/08/23/no-bioshock-rapture-in-sight-for-ati-x800x850-users |archive-date=October 11, 2007 }}

On July 8, 2014, 2K Games released a DRM-free version of BioShock on the Humble 2K Bundle,{{cite web |url=http://blog.humblebundle.com/post/91169765649/bioshock-for-a-penny-plus-more-games-in-the |title=BioShock for a penny, plus more games in the Humble 2K Bundle |date=July 8, 2014 |publisher=Humble Bundle |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304130241/http://blog.humblebundle.com/post/91169765649/bioshock-for-a-penny-plus-more-games-in-the |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |access-date=May 30, 2015 }} and then re-released on the Humble Store.

On December 17, 2018, BioShock and BioShock 2 remastered were released DRM-free on GOG.{{cite web |url=https://www.gog.com/news/release_bioshock_bioshock_2_remastered |title=Release: BioShock & Bioshock 2 Remastered |date=December 17, 2018 |publisher=GOG.com |access-date=January 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190102094639/https://www.gog.com/news/release_bioshock_bioshock_2_remastered |archive-date=January 2, 2019 |url-status=live }}

{{Clear}}

BioShock has received praise for its artistic style and compelling storytelling. In their book, Digital Culture: Understanding New Media, Glen Creeber and Royston Martin perform a case study of BioShock as a critical analysis of video games as an artistic medium. They praised the game for its visuals, sound, and ability to engage the player into the story. They viewed BioShock as a sign of the "coming of age" of video games as an artistic medium.{{cite book|last=Creeber|first=Martin|title=Digital Culture: Understanding New Media|year=2008|publisher=Open University Press|isbn=978-0-335-22197-4}} John Lanchester of the London Review of Books recognized BioShock as one of the first video games to break into coverage of mainstream media to be covered as a work of art arising from its narrative aspects, whereas before video games had failed to enter into the "cultural discourse", or otherwise covered due to moral controversies they created. Peter Suderman for Vox in 2016 wrote that BioShock was the first game that demonstrated that video games could be a work of art, particularly highlighting that the game plays on the theme of giving the illusion of individual control.

In February 2011, the Smithsonian Institution announced it would hold an exhibit dedicated to the art of video games.{{cite web|title=Exhibitions: The Art of Video Games |url=http://americanart.si.edu/exhibitions/archive/2012/games/ |publisher=Smithsonian American Art Museum |access-date=February 21, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110110015838/http://americanart.si.edu/exhibitions/archive/2012/games/ |archive-date=January 10, 2011 }} Several games were chosen by the Smithsonian's curators; when the public voted for additional games they felt deserved to be included in the exhibition, BioShock was among the winners.{{cite web |title=The Art of Video Games |url=https://americanart.si.edu/exhibitions/games |publisher=Smithsonian American Art Museum |access-date=January 21, 2021 |archive-date=September 1, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170901125429/http://americanart.si.edu/exhibitions/archive/2012/games/ |url-status=live }}

{{anchor|Would you kindly}}

The game's plot twist, where the player discovers that the player-character Jack has been coerced into events by the trigger phrase, "Would you kindly...", is considered one of the strongest narrative elements of video games to that point, in part that it subverted the expectation that the player has control and influence on the game.{{Cite web | url = https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/exqb7p/would-you-kindly-read-this-article-on-gamings-greatest-plot-twist-915 | title = Would You Kindly Read This Article on Gaming's Greatest Plot Twist? | first = Mike | last = Diver | date = February 23, 2015 | access-date = October 18, 2017 | work = Vice | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171019060137/https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/exqb7p/would-you-kindly-read-this-article-on-gamings-greatest-plot-twist-915 | archive-date = October 19, 2017 | url-status=live | df = mdy-all }}{{Cite web | url = https://www.avclub.com/choosing-the-impossible-did-bioshock-define-the-last-1-1798346366 | title = Choosing the impossible: Did BioShock define the last 10 years of video games? | author1 = Gerardi, Matt |author2=Barsanti, Sam |author3=Hughes, William |author4=Purdom, Clayton | date = August 21, 2017 | access-date = October 18, 2017 | work = The A.V. Club | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171019055540/https://games.avclub.com/choosing-the-impossible-did-bioshock-define-the-last-1-1798346366 | archive-date = October 19, 2017 | url-status=live | df = mdy-all }}{{cite web | url = https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2016/09/bioshock-remastered/501809/ | title = How BioShock Mocked Video-Game Morality | first = David | last = Sims | date = September 27, 2016 | access-date = October 18, 2017 | work = The Atlantic | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171019060424/https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2016/09/bioshock-remastered/501809/ | archive-date = October 19, 2017 | url-status=live | df = mdy-all }} In homage to BioShock, Black Mirror{{'s}} video game-centric episode "Playtest" includes the phrase.{{cite magazine | url = https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/features/black-mirror-playtest-horrific-take-on-hololens-gaming-w446236 | title = 'Black Mirror': 'Playtest' Episode Is Horrific Take on HoloLens, Gaming | first = Rachel | last = Weber | date = October 21, 2016 | access-date = October 15, 2017 | magazine = Rolling Stone | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171016070225/https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/features/black-mirror-playtest-horrific-take-on-hololens-gaming-w446236 | archive-date = October 16, 2017 | url-status=live | df = mdy-all }}

{{Main|BioShock 2|BioShock Infinite}}

In response to the game's high sales and critical acclaim, Take-Two Interactive chairman Strauss Zelnick revealed in a post-earnings report call that the company now considered the game part of a franchise.{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/news/6178502.html |title=BioShock ships 1.5M, sequels being discussed |date=September 10, 2007 |publisher=GameSpot |first=Tor |last=Thorsen |access-date=November 4, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071016095730/http://www.gamespot.com/news/6178502.html |archive-date=October 16, 2007 }} He also speculated that any follow-ups would mimic the release cadence of Grand Theft Auto, with a new release expected every two years.{{cite web|url=http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2007/09/11/bioshock_sequel_coming_1_5m_copies_shipped/1 |title=BioShock sequel coming, 1.5 m copies shipped |access-date=October 7, 2007 |first=Tim |last=Smalley |date=September 11, 2007 |publisher=Bit-Tech |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011132006/http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2007/09/11/bioshock_sequel_coming_1_5m_copies_shipped/1 |archive-date=October 11, 2007 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.next-gen.biz/features/levine-talks-bioshocks-checkered-launch |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120907103705/http://www.next-gen.biz/features/levine-talks-bioshocks-checkered-launch |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 7, 2012 |title=Levine Talks BioShock's Checkered Launch |access-date=November 4, 2007 |date=August 24, 2007 |publisher=Next Generation |first=Joe |last=Keiser }} 2K's president Christoph Hartmann stated that BioShock could have five sequels, comparing the franchise to the Star Wars movies.{{cite web|url=http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/56633 |title=BioShock Could Have Five Sequels, Suggests 2K |first=Chris |last=Faylor |date=January 7, 2009 |access-date=January 7, 2009 |publisher=Shacknews |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090204054758/http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/56633 |archive-date=February 4, 2009 }}

BioShock 2 was announced in 2008, with its development led by 2K Marin. Levine stated that Irrational (then 2K Boston) was not involved in the game's sequel because they wanted to "swing for the fences" and try to come up with something "very, very different", which was later revealed as BioShock Infinite.{{cite web|url=http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/ken-levine-part-one |title=Interview: Ken Levine – Part One |publisher=GamesIndustry.biz |date=August 5, 2008 |access-date=August 5, 2008 |first=Phil |last=Elliott |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080808053320/http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/ken-levine-part-one |archive-date=August 8, 2008 }} BioShock 3 was also announced, with its release assumed to likely coincide with the BioShock film.{{cite web |url=http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/879/879727p1.html |title=BioShock 3 Announced |publisher=IGN |date=June 5, 2008 |access-date=June 5, 2008 |first=Ryan |last=Geddes |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080607135953/http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/879/879727p1.html |archive-date=June 7, 2008 }} BioShock 2 takes place about ten years following the events of the first game. The player assumes the role of Subject Delta, a precursor of the Big Daddies who must search the fallen city of Rapture for his former Little Sister, Eleanor. BioShock 2 was released for Windows PC, Mac, Xbox 360, and the PlayStation 3 worldwide on February 9, 2010.

While BioShock Infinite, developed by Irrational Games and released in 2013, shares the name and many similar gameplay concepts with BioShock, the title is not a sequel or prequel of the original story, but instead takes place aboard the collapsing air-city of Columbia in the year 1912. It follows former Pinkerton agent Booker DeWitt as he attempts to rescue a young woman, Elizabeth, from the angelic tower in which her father has imprisoned her.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/gamelife/2010/08/bioshock-infinite/ |title=First Look: BioShock Infinite Satirizes American Imperialism, in the Sky |first=Olivia |last=Koski |date=August 12, 2010 |access-date=September 23, 2011 |magazine=Wired |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110821114854/http://www.wired.com/gamelife/2010/08/bioshock-infinite/ |archive-date=August 21, 2011 }} Infinite involves the possibilities of multiple universes. In one scene, the game take place at the lighthouse and bathysphere terminus of Rapture as part of this exploration. However, no direct canonical connection is given in the main game.{{Cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/insertcoin/2013/03/27/an-attempt-to-understand-bioshock-infinites-brilliant-and-bizarre-ending |title=An Attempt to Understand BioShock Infinite's Brilliant and Bizarre Ending |first=Paul |last=Tassi |date=March 27, 2013 |access-date=March 28, 2013 |work=Forbes |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130329203638/http://www.forbes.com/sites/insertcoin/2013/03/27/an-attempt-to-understand-bioshock-infinites-brilliant-and-bizarre-ending/ |archive-date=March 29, 2013 }} The episodic expansion, Burial at Sea, takes place in Rapture in 1959, before the war between Atlas and Ryan, while continuing the story of Booker and Elizabeth. This content links the two stories while providing expansion on the causes and behind-the-scenes events alluded to by the in-game background from BioShock.

After completing BioShock Infinite and its expansion, Levine announced that he was restructuring Irrational Games to focus on smaller, narrative-driven titles. 2K Games continues to hold on to the BioShock intellectual property and plans to continue to develop games in this series, considering the framework set by Levine and his team as a "rich creative canvas" for more stories.{{Cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/bioshock-universe-a-rich-creative-canvas-for-many-new-stories/1100-6417894/ |title=BioShock universe a "rich creative canvas" for many new stories |first=Eddie |last=Makuch |date=February 21, 2014 |access-date=August 29, 2014 |publisher=GameSpot |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140404130354/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/bioshock-universe-a-rich-creative-canvas-for-many-new-stories/1100-6417894/ |archive-date=April 4, 2014 }}

Following the creation of a fan petition for a special edition, Take-Two Interactive stated that they would publish a special edition of BioShock only if the petition received 5,000 signatures;{{cite web|url=http://www.2kgames.com/cultofrapture/article/lepetition |title=Will There Be a Limited Collector's Edition? |first=Elizabeth |last=Tobey |date=March 27, 2007 |access-date=November 4, 2007 |publisher=Cult of Rapture |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120310053723/http://www.2kgames.com/cultofrapture/article/lepetition |archive-date=March 10, 2012 }} this number of signatures was reached after just five hours.{{cite web|url=http://www.2kgames.com/cultofrapture/article/bioshockleannounce |title=There Will Be A Limited Collector's Edition! |first=Elizabeth |last=Tobey |date=March 28, 2007 |access-date=November 4, 2007 |publisher=Cult of Rapture |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120310055716/http://www.2kgames.com/cultofrapture/article/bioshockleannounce |archive-date=March 10, 2012 }} Subsequently, a poll was posted on the 2K Games operated Cult of Rapture community website in which visitors could vote on what features they would most like to see in a special edition; the company stated that developers would take this poll into serious consideration.{{cite web|url=http://www.2kgames.com/cultofrapture/article/designthele |title=Design the BioShock Limited Edition Box |first=Elizabeth |last=Tobey |date=April 18, 2007 |access-date=November 4, 2007 |publisher=Cult of Rapture |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120228211220/http://www.2kgames.com/cultofrapture/article/designthele |archive-date=February 28, 2012 }} To determine what artwork would be used for the Limited Edition cover, 2K Games ran a contest, with the winning entry provided by Crystal Clear Art's owner and graphic designer Adam Meyer.{{cite web|url=http://www.2kgames.com/cultofrapture/article/bioartbookcoverwinners |title=The BioShock Cover Art Contest Winners |access-date=October 20, 2007 |date=May 28, 2007 |publisher=Cult of Rapture |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110815202614/http://www.2kgames.com/cultofrapture/article/bioartbookcoverwinners |archive-date=August 15, 2011 }}

On April 23, 2007, the Cult of Rapture website confirmed that the Limited Collector's Edition would include a {{convert|6|in|mm|adj=on}} Big Daddy figurine (many of which were damaged due to a dropped shipping container; a replacement initiative is in place), a "Making Of" DVD, and a soundtrack CD.{{cite web|url=http://www.2kgames.com/cultofrapture/article/latestlenews |publisher=Cult of Rapture |title=The Latest News on the BioShock LE |date=April 23, 2007 |access-date=November 4, 2007 |first=Elizabeth |last=Tobey |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120228211315/http://www.2kgames.com/cultofrapture/article/latestlenews |archive-date=February 28, 2012 }} Before the special edition was released, the proposed soundtrack CD was replaced with The Rapture EP.{{cite web | url = http://kotaku.com/gaming/its-free/a-bioshockep-with-period-remixes-290859.php | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071112063230/http://kotaku.com/gaming/its-free/a-bioshockep-with-period-remixes-290859.php | archive-date = November 12, 2007 | title = A BioShock...EP? With "Period" Remixes? | date = August 17, 2007 | access-date = September 24, 2011 | publisher = Kotaku | first = Luke | last = Plunkett }}

{{main|BioShock: The Collection|l1=BioShock: The Collection}}

BioShock was remastered to support 1080p and higher framerates as part of the 2016 BioShock: The Collection release for Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One systems. The remastering was performed by Blind Squirrel Games and published by 2K Games. A standalone version of BioShock Remastered was released for macOS by Feral Interactive on August 22, 2017.{{cite web|last1=Broussard|first1=Mitchel|url=https://www.macrumors.com/2017/08/22/bioshock-remastered-macos/|website=MacRumors|title='BioShock Remastered' Launches for macOS Computers on Steam, Mac App Store Coming Soon|date=August 22, 2017 |access-date=September 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170927052416/https://www.macrumors.com/2017/08/22/bioshock-remastered-macos/|archive-date=September 27, 2017|url-status=live}} The standalone version of the remastered version of BioShock along with The Collection were released on May 29, 2020, on the Nintendo Switch.{{cite web | url = https://www.polygon.com/nintendo/2020/3/26/21195331/nintendo-switch-direct-mini-release-date-announcements-bioshock-borderlands | title = BioShock, Borderlands games coming to Nintendo Switch in May | first = Nicole | last = Carpenter | date = March 26, 2020 | access-date = March 26, 2020 | work = Polygon | archive-date = November 21, 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201121120249/https://www.polygon.com/nintendo/2020/3/26/21195331/nintendo-switch-direct-mini-release-date-announcements-bioshock-borderlands | url-status = live }}

BioShock: Breaking the Mold, a book containing artwork from the game, was released by 2K Games on August 13, 2007. It is available in both low and high resolution, in PDF format from 2K Games' official website.{{cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/journals/thumbs.ars/2007/08/14/bioshock-art-book-available-for-free-download |title=High-resolution Bioshock art book available for free download |publisher=Ars Technica |date=July 14, 2007 |access-date=August 21, 2007 |first=Ben |last=Kuchera |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070814211444/http://arstechnica.com/journals/thumbs.ars/2007/08/14/bioshock-art-book-available-for-free-download |archive-date=August 14, 2007 }}{{cite web|url=http://forums.2kgames.com/showthread.php?44569-BioShock-Breaking-the-Mold-Developer-s-Edition-Artbook |title=BioShock: Breaking the Mold |publisher=2K Games |access-date=August 21, 2007 |date=July 13, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324083810/http://forums.2kgames.com/showthread.php?44569-BioShock-Breaking-the-Mold-Developer-s-Edition-Artbook |archive-date=March 24, 2012 }} Until October 1, 2007, 2K Games was sending a printed version of the book to the owners of the collector's edition whose Big Daddy figurines had been broken, as compensation for the time it took to replace them.{{cite web|url=http://www.2kgames.com/cultofrapture/article/bustedbd |title=Big Daddy Figurine Issue |publisher=2K Games |date=August 20, 2007 |access-date=August 23, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120228211340/http://www.2kgames.com/cultofrapture/article/bustedbd |archive-date=February 28, 2012 }} On October 31, 2008, the winners of "Breaking the Mold: Developers Edition Artbook Cover Contest" were announced on cultofrapture.com.{{cite web|url=http://www.2kgames.com/cultofrapture/article/developereditionartbook |title=Winners of the "Breaking the Mold: Developers Edition Artbook Cover Contest" |publisher=2K Games |access-date=October 31, 2008 |date=October 31, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120228211345/http://www.2kgames.com/cultofrapture/article/developereditionartbook |archive-date=February 28, 2012 }}

A prequel novel, titled BioShock: Rapture written by John Shirley, was published July 19, 2011. The prequel book details the construction of Rapture and the events leading to its demise. The book follows multiple BioShock characters.{{cite web|url=http://www.bit-tech.net/gaming/pc/2011/07/30/bioshock-rapture-book-review/1 |title=BioShock: Rapture Book Review |first=Joe |last=Martin |date=July 30, 2011 |access-date=September 23, 2011 |publisher=Bit-Tech |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110809122731/http://www.bit-tech.net/gaming/pc/2011/07/30/bioshock-rapture-book-review/1 |archive-date=August 9, 2011 }}

Industry rumors after the game's release suggested a film adaptation of the game would be made, utilizing similar green screen filming techniques as in the movie 300 to recreate the environments of Rapture.{{cite web |url=http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/08/rumor-bioshock-movie-murmurs-in-hollywood/ |title=Rumor: BioShock movie murmurs in Hollywood |publisher=Joystiq |first=Ludwig |last=Keitzmann |date=January 8, 2008 |access-date=January 10, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080109132945/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/08/rumor-bioshock-movie-murmurs-in-hollywood/ |archive-date=January 9, 2008 }} On May 9, 2008, Take-Two Interactive announced a deal with Universal Studios to produce a BioShock movie, to be directed by Gore Verbinski and written by John Logan.{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2008/digital/features/gore-verbinski-to-direct-bioshock-1117985365/ |title=Gore Verbinski to direct 'Bioshock' |date=May 9, 2008 |access-date=May 9, 2008 |work=Variety |first1=Michael |last1=Flemming |first2=Ben |last2=Fritz |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509153832/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117985365.html?categoryid=13&cs=1 |archive-date=May 9, 2008 }} The film was expected to be released in 2010, but was put on hold due to budget concerns.{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2009/digital/markets-festivals/universal-halts-verbinski-s-bioshock-1118002851/ |title=Universal halts Verbinski's 'Bioshock' |date=April 24, 2009 |access-date=April 29, 2009 |work=Variety |first=Michael |last=Fleming |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090429082758/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118002851.html?categoryid=13&cs=1&nid=2854 |archive-date=April 29, 2009 }} On August 24, 2009, it was revealed that Verbinski had dropped out of the project due to the studio's decision to film overseas to keep the budget under control. Verbinski reportedly feels this would have hindered his work on Rango. Then Juan Carlos Fresnadillo was in talks to direct with Verbinski as producer.{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2009/biz/markets-festivals/universal-picks-bioshock-helmer-1118007622/ |title=Universal picks 'Bioshock' helmer |publisher=Variety |first=Michael |last=Flemming |date=August 23, 2009 |access-date=August 23, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090827103827/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118007622.html?categoryid=13&cs=1 |archive-date=August 27, 2009 }}

In January 2010 the project was in the pre-production stage, with director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo and Braden Lynch, a voice artist from BioShock 2 both working on the film.{{cite web|url=http://www.bradenlynch.com/Home.html |title=Bioshock film status |date=January 1, 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708090448/http://www.bradenlynch.com/Home.html |archive-date=July 8, 2011 }} By July, the film was facing budget issues, but producer Gore Verbinski said they were working it out. He also said the film would be a hard R.{{cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/bioshock-film-budget-extraordinarily-high |title=BioShock film bill "extraordinarily high" |publisher=Eurogamer |first=Robert |last=Purchese |date=July 1, 2010 |access-date=July 13, 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100704051053/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/bioshock-film-budget-extraordinarily-high |archive-date=July 4, 2010 }} Ken Levine, during an interview on August 30, 2010, said: "I will say that it is still an active thing and it's something we are actively talking about and actively working on."{{cite web|url=http://bigoanddukes.com/index.asp?bid=3&podcastId=19 |title=Chad Dukes Interviews Ken Levine |date=August 30, 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170313033658/http://www.bigoanddukes.com/index.asp?bid=3&podcastId=19 |archive-date=March 13, 2017 }} Verbinski later cited that by trying to maintain the "R" rating, they were unable to find any studios that would back the effort, putting the film's future in jeopardy.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/gamelife/2011/02/bioshock-movie-2/ |title='R' Rating Killed the BioShock Movie |first=Jason |last=Schrier |date=February 15, 2011 |access-date=February 15, 2011 |magazine=Wired |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110217134857/http://www.wired.com/gamelife/2011/02/bioshock-movie-2/ |archive-date=February 17, 2011 }}

Levine confirmed in March 2013 that the film had been officially canceled. Levine stated that after Warner's Watchmen film in 2009 did not do as well as the studio expected, they had concerns with the $200 million budget that Verbinski had for the BioShock film. They asked him to consider doing the film on a smaller $80 million budget, but Verbinski did not want to accept this. In February 2017, Verbinski said that his crew was about eight weeks from starting filming, with plans for many elaborate sets given that the setting of Rapture could not be something easily shot on existing locations, requiring the $200 million budget. Verbinski was anticipating on releasing the film with an R-rating when Universal approached him about changing the film's direction. Universal requested that he tone down the film and aim instead for a PG-13 movie, which would be able to draw more audiences to the film and recoup the larger budget he asked for. Verbinski insisted on keeping the R-rating and refused the smaller budget Universal offered to make the R-rated version. Universal felt that expensive a film with the limited R-rating would be too much of a risk, and pulled him from the film.{{Cite web|url=http://www.polygon.com/2017/2/16/14635490/bioshock-director-deadpool |title=BioShock film could have been made today, director says |first=Julia |last=Alexander |date=February 16, 2017 |access-date=February 16, 2017 |work=Polygon |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170216202222/http://www.polygon.com/2017/2/16/14635490/bioshock-director-deadpool |archive-date=February 16, 2017 }} Universal then subsequently brought in a new director to work with the smaller budget, but Levine and 2K Games did not feel that the new director was a good fit with the material. Universal then let Levine decide to end the project, which he did, believing that the film would not work with the current set of compromises they would have had to make.{{cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-03-12-ken-levine-personally-killed-off-the-bioshock-film-heres-why |title=Ken Levine personally killed off the BioShock film – here's why |publisher=Eurogamer |date=March 12, 2013 |access-date=March 12, 2013 |first=Martin |last=Robinson |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130315091122/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-03-12-ken-levine-personally-killed-off-the-bioshock-film-heres-why |archive-date=March 15, 2013 }}

In January 2014, artwork from the canceled film surfaced online, showing what an adaptation could have looked like.{{cite web|url=https://wegotthiscovered.com/movies/return-rapture-concept-art-cancelled-bioshock-film/ |title=Return To Rapture With This Concept Art For The Cancelled BioShock Film |date=January 14, 2014 |access-date=July 19, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160708040721/http://wegotthiscovered.com/movies/return-rapture-concept-art-cancelled-bioshock-film/ |archive-date=July 8, 2016 }} Verbinski said that there is "all kinds of crazy stuff" from the pre-production stage that still exists, such as screen tests for characters.{{cite web|url=https://ign.com/articles/2017/02/27/bioshock-movie-was-literally-8-weeks-from-shooting |title=Bioshock Movie Was "Literally 8 Weeks" From Shooting |first=Joe |last=Skrebels |date=February 27, 2017 |access-date=February 27, 2017 |work=IGN |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170227171511/http://www.ign.com/articles/2017/02/27/bioshock-movie-was-literally-8-weeks-from-shooting |archive-date=February 27, 2017 }} He noted in the 2017 Reddit piece that with the success of the 2016 film Deadpool, he believes that there is now justification for his vision of the BioShock film.

In February 2022, Netflix announced it would be adapting the BioShock franchise into a film with Vertigo Entertainment and 2K, a subsidiary of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc producing.{{cite web|title='BioShock' Movie in the Works at Netflix|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/bioshock-movie-neflix-1235093896/|last=Kit|first=Borys|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=February 15, 2022|access-date=February 15, 2022|archive-date=June 23, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220623152024/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/bioshock-movie-neflix-1235093896/|url-status=live}} Francis Lawrence was slated to direct with Michael Green to write, as of August 2022.{{cite news|last=Kroll|first=Justin|title=BioShock: Francis Lawrence To Direct Netflix's Feature Adaptation Of Popular Video Game; Michael Green Writing Script|url=https://deadline.com/2022/08/bioshock-francis-lawrence-michael-green-netflix-1235099488/|work=Deadline Hollywood|date=August 25, 2022|access-date=August 25, 2022|archive-date=August 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220825180248/https://deadline.com/2022/08/bioshock-francis-lawrence-michael-green-netflix-1235099488/|url-status=live}} Green and Lawrence were collaborating on a new draft as of October 2023.{{Cite web |url=https://collider.com/bioshock-movie-update-michael-green-comments/ |title='BioShock' Movie Writer Gives an Exciting Update About Live-Action Adaptation |website=Collider |date=October 18, 2023 |access-date=October 18, 2023 |archive-date=December 18, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231218101657/https://collider.com/bioshock-movie-update-michael-green-comments/ |url-status=live }} While producer Roy Lee affirmed the work was still in development during the 2024 San Diego Comic Con, he said that changes at Netflix management reduced the budget for the BioShock film, so they have reworked the film; "It's going to be a more personal point of view, as opposed to a grander, big project", Lee said.{{cite web | url = https://www.eurogamer.net/netflixs-bioshock-adaptation-will-be-a-more-personal-film-as-opposed-to-a-grander-big-project | title = Netflix's BioShock adaptation will be a 'more personal' film 'as opposed to a grander, big project' | first = Vikki | last = Blake | date = July 26, 2024 | accessdate = July 26, 2024 | work = Eurogamer | archive-date = July 26, 2024 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240726120758/https://www.eurogamer.net/netflixs-bioshock-adaptation-will-be-a-more-personal-film-as-opposed-to-a-grander-big-project | url-status = live }}

• List of underwater science fiction works
• Ludonarrative dissonance—a term coined to describe conflict between narrative aspects of BioShock's story and gameplay

; Notes

{{notelist}}

; Footnotes

{{Reflist}}

• BioShock: Rapture, by John Shirley (2011), {{ISBN|0-7653-2484-9}},

{{Wikiquote}}

• {{official website|https://www.bioshockgame.com}}
• [https://www.2kgames.com/cultofrapture/ The Cult of Rapture]
• {{MobyGames|id=/bioshock}}
• {{IMDb title|id=1094581|title=BioShock}}

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