BioShock ships 1.5M, sequels being discussed

Take-Two execs toast PC/360 action-adventure's success, say IP now a "very important franchise" for the publisher.

Last week, newly installed president of EA Sports Peter Moore told GameSpot that August sales of one title would prove third-party publishers aren't being squeezed out by console-maker-made exclusives. Ironically, the game in question wasn't an EA title. Instead, it was BioShock, a PC and Xbox 360 action adventure game made by bitter EA rival Take-Two Interactive.

It turns out these comments by the former Xbox 360 and Games for Windows marketing chief were prescient. Today during a post-earnings report conference call with analysts, Take-Two Interactive Chairman Strauss Zelnick said BioShock was already a runaway success for the controversial publisher, which has been set back by the Grand Theft Auto IV and Manhunt 2 delays.

"I'm particularly pleased with the tremendous market response to 2K's BioShock," said Zelnick. "It is reported we are the top-selling title at GameStop, less than a month since launch. We have already shipped more than 1.5 million units. Clearly we have a new hit franchise on our hands. And this one was developed internally, and we own the IP. We're proving our ability to diversify Take-Two's product portfolio."

While he did not reveal actual sales numbers for the game, Zelnick also made much of the fact that BioShock has the best aggregate review score on GameSpot sister site Metacritic. He also said the company is considering sequel-izing the action adventure along the same lines as Grand Theft Auto.

While opining on the GTA development cycle, Zelnick said, "I would say probably roughly an every-three-year [release] schedule would be optimal... I expect we would apply roughly the same strategy to BioShock, because BioShock is shaping up to be a very important franchise. I don't want to say more than that about BioShock because I certainly don't want to jinx it, but I feel awfully good about where that is going."

489 Comments

  • VillageIdiot51

    Posted Nov 21, 2007 7:38 pm PT

    A prequel would be more appropriate; I don't think a sequel should be made, because I think that the story tied up pretty nicely. It's like for movies, there's only one reason they make sequels: $

  • shamashayde

    Posted Oct 14, 2007 7:49 pm PT

    hmmmmm a prequel would be cool 20 years or so prior trying to send a child out of rapture or something... But a sequel would also be pretty awesome I would personally wanna explore a different environment maybe on land this time and yeah I agree with Honchy about a harder boss the next time round or even multiple super boss'

  • xployt268

    Posted Sep 21, 2007 7:03 am PT

    HOW SWELL GOOD NEWS

  • Honchy

    Posted Sep 20, 2007 8:48 pm PT

    i think they should make a different story like on the moon or something, cause a prequel wouldn't make sense cause you'd just pick up wheat when sum1 says would you kindly lol! i hope the story is as great as this one! I hope they mae a final boss that has you finnish up all yur EVE and med packs and weapons so u kill him like with ur last hope bullet, this one was a bit too easy...

  • lovetheblindone

    Posted Sep 19, 2007 11:25 pm PT

    Sequel or prequel, I just want to splice up again .

  • sw_and_wet

    Posted Sep 18, 2007 9:15 am PT

    Having sequel is not a bad thing.... but people ususlly have high expectation on those sequels games like GoW2, Halo3 etc... But regarding what they said, seems like quality in bioshock 2 is not important, but tricking people to buy this game.... I hope they will come up with a better story next time. Maybe better graphic, more weapon choices and more varieties of enemies.,

  • Thorpe89 Site moderator

    Posted Sep 17, 2007 9:18 am PT

    Bring on a sequel. Awesome game.

  • Palantas

    Posted Sep 17, 2007 8:04 am PT

    Omigod, everything's about money these days? In game development? When did this happen? I thought games were made by groups of troubadours, traveling from village to village spreading art and enlightenment to the people, and taking nary a copper piece for their trouble. Naturally, publicly-traded companies who put millions of dollars into game development should be concerned with something other than money. They should worry about making artsy games that don't sell as well as games people actually want to play. Amazingly, good games sell well. And good sequels to good games sell well. Why is a sequel to a game people liked a bad thing? I want to play more Bioshock, but there's some dumbass out there saying, "No, there shouldn't be a Bioshock sequel, 'cause sequels are bad." Well, screw you. I want to play a Bioshock 2, and a Gears 2, and more Rainbow Six Vegas. Hey, here's an idea: If sequels are bad, boycott sequels! They should make a game where the objective is to come up with the most ridiculous complaint about the gaming industry. You get points to your Gamerscore everytime you trump yourself on stupidity. Then they can make a sequel to that game.

  • Eggie37

    Posted Sep 17, 2007 2:08 am PT

    i say they should make a bunch of sequels.... not stuffing up the story... and to finish the series of make a prequel

  • CowbellFanatic

    Posted Sep 16, 2007 9:07 pm PT

    A prequel to Bioshock would be better than a sequel imo.

  • playstation_wii

    Posted Sep 16, 2007 7:06 pm PT

    I want anoother Bioshock

  • High_Spy

    Posted Sep 16, 2007 5:22 pm PT

    "Take Two" "takes" a turn for the worst here. Bioshock 2 is clearly going to be money driven, and while I never liked BS (funny abbreviation, lol), I will admit it was a great game. And when benjamins are the sole reason you plan to make a sequel, the game tends to be watered down, sometimes exactly the same as the first, just to get a quick buck.

  • alex-_3

    Posted Sep 16, 2007 4:42 pm PT

    i agree HyperMetaDragon, money does drive many game sequels these days.

  • 0678

    Posted Sep 16, 2007 12:48 pm PT

    not all sequels are bad hell bioshock is here because its a spiritual sequel! but what the hell take two the dust aint even settled from bioshocks landing! lol

  • HyperMetaDragon

    Posted Sep 16, 2007 12:03 pm PT

    It seems that no game can go without a sequel today...everything is just about money, nothing about reputation anymore.

  • Death_Masta187

    Posted Sep 16, 2007 9:16 am PT

    Will it be called "Bioshock 2: The search for more money" ?

  • just_lester

    Posted Sep 15, 2007 7:59 pm PT

    Everyone is jumping on it too fast. "Bioshock 2" doesnt have to be a direct sequel, it could be like Bioshock is to Systemshock.

  • Mr_Jaminson

    Posted Sep 15, 2007 6:13 pm PT

    I havent finished it yet but this doesn't seem like the kind of game that should have a sequel. To me it seems they are just capitalizing on great sales with their first game from what I have heard. I could also be totally wrong.

  • qwrqwr

    Posted Sep 15, 2007 2:55 pm PT

    Re edit:

    If BioShock 2 is based on the evil ending that would be cool.

    The beggining : Your a Military operative whos has retired and then on the news, you here a missle is coming to the city (you decide on which city) So you run into your basement then you here a big boom and then your knocked unconcious. You wake up to a bunch of people outside that a shooting Ice,eletric,etc outside they see you and freeze you then lock in a jail. Then you wake up and you thought it was a dream but then all of of a sudden the door opens of the jail cell and theres a weird syringe on the table and you grab it and take it with you. Then you get shot shot outside and stab your self with the syringe and think it heals you. But the you feel a pain and then notice you hand turned into (which ever plasmid you want to pick).

    Then add a good story to that and you got a good sequel!

  • ageofemperor

    Posted Sep 15, 2007 4:05 am PT

    A Prequel Wud Be nice ... How the city destroyed ....

  • KhanhAgE

    Posted Sep 14, 2007 10:55 pm PT

    BioShock a new "franchise"? For some reason I don't like the sound of that. But when you think about it, a prequel would be pretty sweet. As long as they let K. Levine and the boys do their thing and don't dumb it down, it should be fine.

    But still it just sounds so soon.

  • sideoftheham

    Posted Sep 14, 2007 5:44 pm PT

    i really didint like bioshock that much, but this sounds like PS3

  • The_Consequence

    Posted Sep 14, 2007 4:54 pm PT

    Actually Corruption is supposed to have surpassed Bioshock in total sales.

  • ObiKKa

    Posted Sep 14, 2007 3:52 pm PT

    Great! I'm so happy for Irrational (They're now named differently)! Most of their old games, or, say, even all of them before Bioshock had dismal sales. Vivendi has sure let them down so horrendously (Tribes 3: Vengeance, SWAT 4, Freedom Force 1, 2), & EA (System Shock 2), who probably wasn't somehow confident enough about SS 2's allure.

    Take-Two, & THQ are some of the few big publishers that sells original games, & comfortably spaces out the release dates between each sequel/instalment of each franchise, AND KNOWS how to market effectively. Vivendi has in the past been seemingly so shied away from outlandish marketing for some strange reasons, & EA, well... you just know what they're like - always, always mind-numbingly, & annoying-for-the-every-time-that-it-happens CRAP, & dumbed-down gameplay.

    I'm sure sales of Bioshock will exceed 4.5 million units total.

  • king-micky207

    Posted Sep 14, 2007 4:25 am PT

    yes i really REALLY want a sequel/prequel .

  • fkholmes

    Posted Sep 14, 2007 3:32 am PT

    I love the game so much, haven't finished it yet though so I can't comment on whether or not I want a sequel

  • the_bi99man

    Posted Sep 13, 2007 11:25 pm PT

    To MarcoSnow06: Holy freaking crap, thank you so much. I was sitting here reading over this story trying to decide the best way to say just that, and you just saved me all that time. That's so true. I would love to see the same dev team make another stand-alone game with a similar setting (the same way that Bioshock is spiritually linked to System Shock 2), because these guys are absolutely amazing at making creepy, yet action-packed games with deep stories like that, but a straight up "Bioshock 2" would only cheapen everthing that made Bioshock great.

  • VGLeo34

    Posted Sep 13, 2007 8:53 pm PT

    Make a mini sequel or prequel for download

  • spaceball3

    Posted Sep 13, 2007 6:23 pm PT

    there should be a prequel, that would be way better than a sequel

  • Adam_the_Nerd

    Posted Sep 13, 2007 4:58 pm PT

    BioShock is an amazing game and while a sequel would be nice, it certainly would not live up to its predecessor. I mean, the games story and all its elements are specific to where it takes place, the underwater "utopia" of Rapture. By GTA-ing it, you would not only ruin the story driven, actiony/rpgish experience but totally ruin the Bioshock name. Make another spiritual successor. Just like this game wasn't System Shock 3, it was the spiritual succesor. Mysuggestion: Geoshock or something like that.

  • MarcoSnow06

    Posted Sep 13, 2007 4:49 pm PT

    Make no mistake: I am a huge fan of Bioshock, but turning Bioshock into full-blown franchise like GTA (with one game being released according to an artificial 3-year timetable) would only cheapen the game experience that make Bioshock 1 so special.

    Bioshock was a genuinely beautiful game that told a rich, compelling story and had a truly memorable cast of characters. I realize that Bioshock has become an extremely profitable IP, but to make a sequel in an attempt to add on to the story would border on folly. The tale told during Biohock is a self-contained story unto itself: it needs no further explanation. Everything that we (as the player) didn't experience firsthand was relayed effectively through superb voice-acting. A sequel would not only be completely unecessary, Enjoy Bioshock for what it is, don't undermine the game's accomplishments for financial gain. Be proud of the fact that you've created a video game that truly blurs the line between game and art, and tells a story of decadence and collapse into anarchy that captures the imagination of the player and genuinely makes you think.

  • spitfireM21

    Posted Sep 13, 2007 4:02 pm PT

    I'd love to see a prequel to see how the city looked before the war, and also to see how everything happened that ruined the place. I think it would be a definite buy, unless it came out half-assed. But it has potential.

  • jdbrie

    Posted Sep 13, 2007 3:59 pm PT

    That game wasn't developed internally at all! It's Irrational who made it and they deserve the credit for it! That 2K Boston stuff really sucks to me. But a sequel would still be great.

  • bignick217

    Posted Sep 13, 2007 2:25 pm PT

    Oh, but if they are going to do a sequel or turn it into a franchise, they better be willing to do it right. No half-ass sequels, if they're going to do it, do it right, even if that means they extend the deadlines and we have to wait longer. No gamer hates anything more than half-ass crap sequels from great titles to make a quick buck.

  • bignick217

    Posted Sep 13, 2007 2:19 pm PT

    Quote

    @ F4ll3n_1 I wouldnt see much potential for "Bioshock 2" - Rapture is just one world. But if they gave it a spiritual successor, with similar gameplay elements and setting, then it'll shoot to AAA for sure

    end Quote

    What do you mean there isn't much potential for a Bioshock 2. You see how big the game was, but you also look at how much bigger the city they show is compared to what you've seen. There's a lot of potential for a sequel.... or at the very least, a LARGE expansion pack. Or maybe even a badass Prequel to show how it started and show how rapture looked in it's full original glory.

    No matter how you look at it, there is a lot of potential as to what they could do with this huge and original world they've created.

  • xmg0

    Posted Sep 13, 2007 1:57 pm PT

    Rapture is done with tho.

    Unless, you and a team gets sent down to reclaim it, but suddenly, your all alone! TMed!

  • SgtNemo

    Posted Sep 13, 2007 11:37 am PT

    X-tract = You mean like the start of it all? that sound awsome. Take the game to the first time it wen't wrong

    I think that if the release date is first about 3 yeah then is okay too start now! the game is awsome, one of the best games this yeah !

  • X-tract

    Posted Sep 13, 2007 11:07 am PT

    They could make the game revolve about that civil war? see how rapture turned out as it is

  • WiiNut6493

    Posted Sep 13, 2007 11:04 am PT

    In bioshock 2. i dont know what the setting could be cuz of the ending i got from the game. where you save the little sisters. but MORE WEAPON CUSTOMIZATION IS NEED! make the weapons out of this world crazy!

  • F4ll3n_1

    Posted Sep 13, 2007 10:35 am PT

    I wouldnt see much potential for "Bioshock 2" - Rapture is just one world. But if they gave it a spiritual successor, with similar gameplay elements and setting, then it'll shoot to AAA for sure

  • shadow_17705

    Posted Sep 13, 2007 10:14 am PT

    Depends on how you make the sequel. Anyway, I don't mind about a BioShock sequel. Just don't make for the PS3. It will ruin it.

  • barkera0

    Posted Sep 13, 2007 4:16 am PT

    Thats all games seem to be these days.... MMORPGs and Sequels.... ORIGINALITY PEOPLE!

  • Sailor1sun

    Posted Sep 13, 2007 2:47 am PT

    I am estatic about the possible sequel to bioshock, and I say "go ahead", just, take your time, you don't want to pull off a halo 2 now would you.

  • dbgarfield

    Posted Sep 13, 2007 12:21 am PT

    I'm thrilled to hear news of a possible sequel. I sincerely hope they let 2K Boston (aka Irrational) take the lead on it since they're clearly a superb development house. I think the original Rapture plot line is pretty much concluded in BioShock so the sequel would have to be either a prequel taking place in the middle of the Fontaine/Ryan war of 1958 or would be yet another "spiritual sequel" in the same way that BioShock is a spiritual sequel to System Shock 2. Personally I'd favor the spiritual sequel route because as interesting as Rapture was to romp around in I feel pretty well satisfied to never go back, it was a pretty thorough adventure. Any number of other possible settings would make for a great game. How about a massive city-sized starship en route on a 5 year flight to Alpha Centauri? How about another pseudo-historical setting like Victorian England or the American Wild West? Lots of really interesting possibilities that could be made into a great game.

  • Pointer-Duke

    Posted Sep 12, 2007 11:48 pm PT

    No I dont think they need 2 make a sequal cuse the chance that it will be Perfect is impossible, look at Bioshock now its a great game why the hell you wanna make a sequal only for a bigger budget for there next game??

  • ambles235

    Posted Sep 12, 2007 7:59 pm PT

    They should make it so all or most of Rapture is explorable, with a load to different plasmids that modify into specifics, like a more powerful-eve costing electrobolt, or the opposite...or maybe invent-a-tonic with a large number (like about 50) that would give it an outstanding amount to replay value

  • Lord_DoDo56

    Posted Sep 12, 2007 6:20 pm PT

    I would like to see another Bioshock! The story is sort of limited but you could do a GTA style franchise and make in in a different time setting or different theme.

  • Penguinboy7777

    Posted Sep 12, 2007 5:34 pm PT

    i'd want to see what the former Irrational guys had to say about this. usually these guys aren't too hot on franchising. that said, system shock 2 was loads better than ss1, so as long as they keep it in boston and australia, bioshock 2 looks good. i hope they'll make the RPG element a bit more complex in a sequel, and not dumb it down even more.

  • MoogleDragoon

    Posted Sep 12, 2007 1:54 pm PT

    This could be a good thing or a bad thing, Bioshock just seemed to me after finishing it that it really couldn't do much, what made the game what was done already. But, that is why I am not on a creative dev team...I am sure they could come up with something that would make sense. I would like sequel, but like I said I got the feeling this would be stand alone.

  • jgartland

    Posted Sep 12, 2007 1:22 pm PT

    How can it be too soon for a sequal? After making a successful game, it can be a matter of days before the developers right up ideas for a sequal and get it in the pipeline. Halo2 was being made practically a few weeks after the release of Halo.

    Its a hard game to sequal while keeping unqiue, theres only so many ways you can change an underwater city.

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