Guess this was the big surprise behind this image,2K is bringing the 2007 classic – in its entirety – to iOS devices.
2K Games has announced that Irrational Games’ 2007 classic BioShock is being ported to iOS devices – in its entirety, and with no in-app microtransactions – later this summer. We recently spent an hour with a preview build of Bioshock on iPad Air. While some graphical and interface compromises are made based on the restrictions of the hardware, the near-final build we played (which you can see in the video above) delivered on the cinematic immersion and imaginative production design of the PC and console releases.
Rapture retains much of its muted, atmospheric drabness, occasionally interspersed by flashes of colorful neon lighting. The framerate appears to clock somewhere below 30 FPS, noticeably slower than console versions, but movement doesn’t feel chuggy. We weren’t able to test battery consumption rates, so we’re not sure just how much portable Bioshock you’ll be able to play without access to an AC adapter.
A pair of thumb touchpad controls dynamically re-aligned their centers based on where we pressed our fingertips on the screen. 2K confirmed that some aim assistance tweaks have been added to balance out the new controls. Ducking, firing, and plasmids were all managed by an array of touchscreen buttons fanned out across a wrap-around HUD on the lower edges of the screen. The virtual control panel doesn’t crowd the view on a tablet, but it’s hard to imagine being able to see much on an iPhone screen through the clutter. Since we were only provided with an iPad build, we had no way of telling for sure.
Pricing details aren’t available yet, although 2K confirmed that Bioshock will be available as a “premium†single purchase (2K wouldn’t cop to a price, but we’re guessing $10 or $20) rather than doled out through any free-to-play model. Bioshock is compatible only with 4th generation iPads and iPhone 5 or above, and works with a number of third-party wireless controllers. 2K representatives stated that there are currently no plans for an Android version.
Poor Vita.
