The future of BioShock has taken a major turn. 2K has announced that industry veteran Rod Fergusson, best known for his work on Gears of War, BioShock Infinite, and most recently Diablo IV, is returning to the publisher to take charge of the long-running franchise.

Fergusson will step in as Head of the BioShock Franchise, overseeing development at Cloud Chamber, the studio formed in 2019 to create the next entry in the series. His arrival comes during a turbulent period for the project, with reports confirming that Cloud Chamber has gone through a round of layoffs affecting more than 80 staff members. The restructuring has also pushed back the timeline for the next BioShock, which was originally targeting a late 2026 or early 2027 release window.

For fans who have followed the series since the original’s release in 2007, Fergusson’s appointment is more than a simple leadership shuffle. He has a reputation for being a “closer”-a figure often brought in when high-profile projects risk spinning out of control. That reputation was cemented back in 2012 when Irrational Games brought him on to help BioShock Infinite cross the finish line after years of development struggles. His steady hand ensured the game shipped in 2013, going on to win critical acclaim and commercial success.

After leaving 2K, Fergusson became a key figure at The Coalition, where he guided the Gears of War franchise into a new era. More recently, he moved to Blizzard to oversee the Diablo series, where he successfully launched Diablo IV in 2023. His return to 2K suggests that the publisher is doubling down on its commitment to ensure the next BioShock lives up to the legacy of the original trilogy.

“Rod has proven time and again that he knows how to take complex, ambitious games and get them into players’ hands at the highest level of quality,” 2K said in a statement. “We believe he’s the right person to guide BioShock into its next chapter.”

The news also comes as Netflix continues work on its upcoming BioShock movie, with Fergusson now expected to have some level of oversight on how the franchise is handled beyond games. With nearly twelve years having passed since BioShock Infinite, the pressure to deliver is immense.

While the layoffs at Cloud Chamber have raised concerns about the stability of the project, many fans see Fergusson’s appointment as a potential turning point. If history is any indication, his involvement could be exactly what the series needs to get development back on track.

For now, there’s still no firm release date for the next BioShock. But with Fergusson at the helm, expectations are likely to rise as the game pushes toward its long-awaited reveal.