While the scope of the BioShock franchise has grown since it was first introduced, players will always associate its name with the underwater city of Rapture. Many people will fondly remember getting in that first bathysphere ride as Jack and making their descent to the beautiful underwater city. This breathtaking moment would soon make way for terror as they get a firsthand look at what has become of this once-fine place.
Barring the city of Rapture, BioShock's other iconic symbol is without a doubt the Big Daddy. Tall, armored, and incredibly strong, these hulking behemoths are a result of multiple experiments by the city's own Dr. Yi Suchong and were made to protect the ADAM-harvesting Little Sisters. Despite their iconic appearance and popularity, however, it is highly unlikely that Big Daddies will ever make a return to the BioShock franchise.
BioShock's Rapture Is Effectively No More
Unable to see her daughter Eleanor follow in the footsteps of the player-controlled Subject Delta, Sofia Lamb sets off multiple bombs that turn Rapture into rubble. While some parts of the city may be habitable for some time, Rapture as a whole is done for. Soon, the Splicers will run out of breathable air, the electricity and other systems will stop working, and the ecosystem created by Andrew Ryan's vision will be gone. The same goes for the Big Daddies. Now that Sofia Lamb cannot abduct any more children from the surface world and Subject Delta has either saved or harvested the remaining Little Sisters, the Big Daddies have no purpose and will most likely aimlessly wander the empty halls and surrounding seabed of Rapture.
But all is not lost for the Big Daddies, as Eleanor Lamb was able to take Subject Delta's consciousness and ADAM into herself. This act not only allows her to carry his memories, ambitions, and drives, but also his instincts as a Big Daddy. Whether it be protecting the helpless, showing compassion, or being ruthless, the players' actions have influenced Eleanor and will remain with her for the rest of her life.
There Are Other Ways to Portray The Parental Relationship Of Big Daddies And Little Sisters
The whole concept of the Big Daddies relies heavily on their relationship with their Little Sisters. While the latter is fragile, innocent, and essential to the ecosystem of the BioShock setting, the former is strong, tortured, and expendable. It's this yin-yang connection that makes the Big Daddies stand out from other giant video game characters and makes them important to the overall story.
The most concrete example of the Big Daddy-Little Sister relationship making it to another game can be found in 2013's BioShock Infinite. Songbird is a massive character whose main drive is to guard and protect the game's secondary protagonist, Elizabeth. It was made through a collaboration between Jeremiah Fink and Dr. Yi Suchong via Tears that allowed them to communicate with each other. Songbird's relationship with Elizabeth, on the other hand, was forged organically. After crashing into her tower in Columbia, Elizabeth helped repair Songbird's oxygen supply, creating an inseparable bond between the two. Though it is much bigger than a Big Daddy, Songbird plays an integral role in Columbia's ecosystem as the protector of Elizabeth.
There are multiple ways developers can go about portraying the concept of Big Daddies in other games. A method similar to Songbird in BioShock Infinite is possible, as it provides more creative freedom. It would also be possible to create two characters that grow a similar bond throughout the story (similar to Joel and Ellie's relationship in The Last of Us). The latter choice would feel more organic and believable to players. The Big Daddies may have died alongside Rapture, but their legacy and symbolism can live through other means.
BioShock 4 is currently in development.