Well now it's pretty obvious that the BioShock: The Collection is a real thing. We have a new listing for the anthology of BioShock titles over on the Electronic Software Rating Board, detailing that the game is rated 'M' for Mature and that it's coming for the Xbox One, PS4 and PC.
Destructoid picked up the story after the listing was originally spotted by Gematsu. The interesting thing about it is that if you attempt to click through the link and head to the ESRB listing for BioShock: The Collection, it will turn up an empty page. You can check out the original link for the listing right here.
Nada.
However, the reporting is not false. There really was a listing on the ESRB's page for the collection of BioShock games. Gamers these days are savvy sons of guns and they archived the ESRB's original listing before it was removed, which you can check out right here. Remember folks, whatever goes up on the internet is there forever.
As you can see, it describes the package as having blood and gore, drug references, intense violence, sexual themes, strong language, and use of alcohol and tobacco.
The core description of the game's content reads...
This is a collection of three first-person shooters in which players assume the role of characters uncovering the mysteries behind the dystopian societies of Rapture and Columbia.
I can see why the listing was removed because it not only inadvertently announces the game but it also gives away a few spoilers as well if you read through some of the descriptions of the game's mature themes.
Of course, some might presume another aspect of the story: The ESRB played an April Fool's day joke on everyone.
As plausible as that might be given that this is April 1st, the reality is that two other ratings boards have already rated BioShock: The Collection. The game's box art was also leaked ahead of its announcement. This also comes after Take-Two Interactive's CEO Strauss Zelnick had mentioned that they still had some plans for the BioShock franchise, along with GTA and Red Dead Redemption.
Combining the comments from Take-Two's CEO with three ratings boards outing the collection, I suppose it's safe to say that the collection is coming for PC, PS4 and Xbox One.
The next big question, of course, is if this means that they're re-releasing these games as a stepping stone for the announcement of a new game? While Take-Two haven't been all that vociferous at events like E3 when it comes to announcements, it would be kind of cool if they announced a new BioShock along with the The Collection for home consoles and PC. We'll definitely find out when the time is ready.
For now, we just have plenty of ratings board evidence to point to the fact that BioShock: The Collection is coming... soon. Now all we have to do is wait for Take-Two to officially announce when the package containing the three FPS titles will launch and at what price.
