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How It Works • Games & Tech

BioShock

BioShock is a 2007 first-person shooter video game developed by 2K Boston, later known as Irrational Games, and 2K Australia, and published by 2K.

Updated July 30, 20261 min readCited sources

BioShock is a 2007 first-person shooter video game developed by 2K Boston and 2K Australia, published by 2K. It is the first game in the BioShock series, set in the underwater city of Rapture.

What it is

BioShock is a first-person shooter with role-playing and stealth elements. The player controls Jack, who survives a plane crash and explores Rapture, a fictional underwater city created by Andrew Ryan as an isolated utopia. The game revolves around ADAM, a genetic material that grants special powers but also drives the city's collapse.

Key details

Released in August 2007 for Windows and Xbox 360, with a PlayStation 3 version in 2008, BioShock blends weapons and genetic powers in combat. The story takes place in 1960, revealing a dystopian society after a civil war. It was developed by 2K Boston (later Irrational Games) and 2K Australia, led by designer Ken Levine.

Why it matters

BioShock received strong critical acclaim for its story and design, and is widely regarded as an influential title in the first-person shooter genre. It launched a franchise that includes BioShock 2 and BioShock Infinite, and has a Canadian connection through its publisher 2K, which distributes the game to Canadian players across multiple platforms.

In short

  • First-person shooter with role-playing and stealth elements, set in underwater city Rapture.
  • Player controls Jack, exploring a dystopian society after a plane crash.
  • Released in 2007 on Windows and Xbox 360; later on PlayStation 3, Mac, and Switch.
  • Widely acclaimed and influential, launching a major franchise.
Canadian angle

BioShock has a Canadian connection through its major publisher, 2K, whose games business includes Canadian-market releases and distribution, and the title is widely available to Canadian players across multiple platforms.[1][6]

Quick questions

What is BioShock?
BioShock is a 2007 first-person shooter video game published by 2K, set in the underwater city of Rapture.
Who is the main character?
The player controls Jack, who explores Rapture after surviving a plane crash.
What platforms is BioShock on?
It first released on Windows and Xbox 360 in 2007, with later versions on PlayStation 3, Mac OS X, and Nintendo Switch.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BioShock
    Supports: Original game development, 2007 release, setting, protagonist, and ADAM plot context.
  2. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BioShock_(series)
    Supports: Series overview, genre framing, and thematic context.
  3. Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/topic/BioShock
    Supports: Release year, genre blend, protagonist, critical acclaim, and awards.
  4. The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction — https://sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/bioshock
    Supports: Developer, designer, platforms, and first-person shooter classification.
  5. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BioShock_2
    Supports: Series continuation and sequel context.
  6. BioShock Wiki (Fandom) — https://bioshock.fandom.com/wiki/BioShock
    Supports: Release dates, plot details, and later platform releases.