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Irrational's New Game Is BioShock Infinite

The next game from Ken Levine trades the sea for a floating city in the sky.

At a 2K press event in New York City, Irrational Games revealed its long-in-development followup to 2007's BioShock: BioShock Infinite. Helmed by series creator Ken Levine, BioShock Infinite looks to take the basic concepts of the franchise and transfer them into a new setting, outside the world of Rapture
 
 

 
 
In fact, according to the trailer and synopsis of the game on the main site, BioShock Infinite couldn't be farther from the underwater city of Rapture. BioShock Infinite takes place in 1912, on top the floating city of Columbia, a steampunk-looking sky city complete with blimps and floating balloons. Players will take the role of Booker DeWitt, a disgraced Pinkerton agent (a turn-of-the-century detective and protection agency) sent up to Columbia to rescue a girl named Elizabeth from the floating city.
 

No Caption Provided
 
== TEASER ==DeWitt will team up with Elizabeth over the course of the game, working together and augmenting each other's abilities in order to escape the city before it crashes into the ground (there's that Icarus connection from the teaser site). DeWitt will have to take down foes in the city of Columbia and in the clouds in "Sky-Line battles" in order to get Elizabeth out safely.
 
BioShock Infinte doesn't look to be a complete departure from the BioShock fiction, as the trailer features a monster that looks suspiciously like a Big Daddy battling DeWitt and preventing him from rescuing Elizabeth. 
 
Here's what Ken Levine himself has to say about Infinite, via the game's announcement press releease:

"But when it came to begin work on BioShock Infinite," said Ken Levine, creative director of Irrational Games, "we only had one rule: No sacred cows. This game is both true to what people love about the series and unafraid to question every assumption."

Levine continued, "In order to explore the floating city of Columbia, we needed an entirely new engine. To bring Elizabeth to life, we had to build brand-new animation and AI systems. To create wide-ranging indoor and outdoor firefights at 30,000 feet, we had to rethink, rebuild and expand the BioShock arsenal. The only thing gamers can be certain of is this: the rules of the BioShock universe are about to change."  
 
2K is planning the game as a 2012 release on PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360. Irrational has also stated that the full presentation from the unveiling will be made available in the near future, so look for a stream of new information on BioShock Infinite soon.

535 Comments

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Nintendude

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Edited By Nintendude

I'm gonna pre-order a special edition of this if the atmosphere of some future gameplay footage is anywhere comparable to Bioshock 1.

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Little_Socrates

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Edited By Little_Socrates

So what I'm gathering is that this is sort of the "real" BioShock 2 while the game that was previously released is by a different company (a la IW and Treyarch)? I didn't end up playing 2K Marin's BioShock 2, but I might pick it up now that it's cheaper...and as for this, depending on how it shows itself off through development, is not unlikely a buy-at-launch.

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AVANTxGARDE

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Edited By AVANTxGARDE

Interesting, very interesting...
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Sacerdos87

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Edited By Sacerdos87

Their trailer's always show the protagonist getting his ass beat by a big daddy or some other large monster. They did it for the original bioshock when the big daddy drilled a hole in that guy's hand then he got murdered.

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dprabon

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Edited By dprabon

looks cool, but has a dumb name.

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lawlerballer

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Edited By lawlerballer

so whats next bioshock on the moon lul

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queenulhu

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Edited By queenulhu

.................that looks sick!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Undeadpool

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Edited By Undeadpool

To quote Rifftrax: More falling down than Falling Down! More shattered glass than Shattered Glass!

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SenorTrampoline

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Edited By SenorTrampoline

The next games in the series will be Bioshock Returns and Bioshock Forever.

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captain_clayman

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Edited By captain_clayman

GET STOKED FOLKS!

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WickedCobra03

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Edited By WickedCobra03

I am not sure I am so excited.  I mean it is Irrational, but they have kind of been way too "hey, hey, guess what guys, we have a secret you are never going to guess" every few weeks, and now to announce an actual spiritual successor to Bioshock; it is almost a letdown.  Not saying that I am not going to buy this game, I am just saying, they kind of went over the top in their promontion of their UNANNOUNCED game...

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Underwhelmed

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Edited By Underwhelmed
@babblinmule: 
 
Yes, but I am still waiting for System Shock 3
 
(IP hell or not)
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avidwriter

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Edited By avidwriter

Yes. I agree that not going back into the sea is good. I mean after 2 games how much of that city isn't destroyed or explored. I'm sure they can still do a Bioshock 3 and make it underwater again but I welcome the new change.

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4thHorseman

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Edited By 4thHorseman

I'm calling it right now. Your main character in this game dies by falling off off the sky city and hits the plane that the character from Bioshock is in causing it to crash, leading into the first game. 
 
Different years you say? 
 
Well guess what? He not only falls out of the city through the sky. He falls THROUGH TIME as well. All because of some time plasmids he has. Mark my words. 
 
 
 All kidding aside. The trailer has me more excited than the second one did, that 's for sure. Heard they've been working on it the past 2-3 years and we have to wait another 2? Have a feeling it's gonna be good.
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FlamingPizza

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Edited By FlamingPizza

 We dont know the state of the outside world in the bioshock universe. Who says it has to be in real life? Maybe giant cities in random locations is common place.

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gunningyoudown

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Edited By gunningyoudown

cant wait to find out what is happening here

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ArcSphere

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Edited By ArcSphere

With Ken and Irrational behind this, I'm stoked.
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SpliTTMark

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Edited By SpliTTMark

I don't know much about the game besides the pictures/vid. but if this city and game has nothing to do with rapture.. why must it have "bioshock" in its name? I agree with people here that say it should have its own name like i dont know skyshock/airshock. if they make a third game in space and call it bioshock, then I'll see that its part of a series and that the name belongs because the series represents utopia settings in general as a whole.

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Kilo720

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Edited By Kilo720

Damn y Cant 2012 get here soon enoguh i wanna play this & sf X tekken badly

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Ghosthead84

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Edited By Ghosthead84

OK, I'm interested.
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ry0wn

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Edited By ry0wn

Honestly I think the Bioshock series is going downhill. The first game was incredible, the second wasn't that bad, but this just looks bad. I don't think this is going to be Bioshock-like at all, especially since they're no longer in Rapture.

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Edited By Advertisement

MOAR LIEK SKIOSHOK HERP DERP

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fleischer444

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Edited By fleischer444

The name is a bit silly.

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hpv

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Edited By hpv

What the fuck kind of name for a game is "Infinite"?  Kind of cheesy if you ask me.

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SubwayD

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Edited By SubwayD

Am I the only one who feels a little of put by the excessive cleavage shot in the trailer? The video screen cap shows it off pretty well.  
I'm not going to be an asshole about it, just pointing out that it seems like a bit of a cheap move. It's a thinking persons shooter! Philosophy: Now with more exposed breasts!

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CactusJack

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Edited By CactusJack

I am glad that this is happening.  The trailer looks great, the original team is back behind it.  I realize there's going to be a lot of hate for this game, since this is the internet.  Two minutes of trailer is plenty of time to form an opinion on the final product that is 2 years away, right?
 
They probably put the Bioshock name on it to help the interest level on the game.  Most people want sequels, they don't want to try new IP's.  I don't mind the name, but Sky - o - Shock is hilarious.

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biggblack86

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Edited By biggblack86

DO WANT

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biggblack86

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Edited By biggblack86

do want

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Grillbar

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Edited By Grillbar

far from interested the first one was awsome the second was really bad or atleast not good, and this does not look good either but cant say anything yet
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striderno9

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Edited By striderno9

I can't stop watching this trailer. 

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Tryptophan

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Edited By Tryptophan

I am surprised that BIO is in the title. I figured with System, and Bio, that we would be getting another Shock, but with a different prefix. Oh well.
Trailer looks cool. I liked the hot mamma trying to break DeWitt's fall with a telekinesis(?) power. I wonder if that is Levine singing It's a Grand Old Flag on the phonograph, that would be funny.
Looks we get to see Big Daddy proto-types in this one. What we see here looks more mechanical.
Unless I missed something in the descriptions, I have to balk at the the purported altitude: 30,000 feet. Without an external oxygen supply and depressurization you would fall unconscious in seconds and die. Even 15,000 feet is pushing it oxygen wise. I had a hard time breathing while hiking at 7,000 feet in Washington.
The setting looks cool nonetheless.

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Lonely_Misanthrope

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One of the greatest things about the Bio/System shock series has always been the great ways they flesh out their unique game environments, imbuing them with an almost overwhelming sense of both isolation and claustrophobia.  This time they're trying to create a game where the surroundings will evoke a visceral altophobic reaction but in order to do so they're sacrificing the brooding and oppressive environment that has always been part of the series for a sunny, open-air one.  This is just a sneak peak and undoubtedly a lot of the game will take place indoors so I guess I'll just wait and see.  One thing that's for certain though, flower magic and escort quests are a stupid, stupid idea.  

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AndyAce83

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Edited By AndyAce83

Would you kindly stop ditching Bioshock 2? 
It was great. 
More of the same, but with a twist! 
 
This one seems less of the same but with a... idunno... asian manga fun? I interpreted the roses scene as the use of the telekinesis plasmid, not "roses bridge" or whatever. I will not judege this game up or down until I know more. But my intution tells me it will be less of a strange sequel when played. So I hope it will in some way be Rapture-cannon or to me it would seem strange to make it a sequel to an established franchise.

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brandt

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Edited By brandt

Looks like a breath of fresh air. Wasn't excited at all until I saw the trailer, but this could be good. 
Was hoping for something entirely new, but then again, I wasn't a huge fan of the original Bioshock.  
Should've named it Skyshock or something if the needed to drag Bioshock into the mix though.

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LoggerRythm

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Edited By LoggerRythm

Why isn't it called Aeroshock? I know it's kinda goofy but it makes more sense than Bioshock Infinite. Hell they could go Systemshock with it and make it some kind of different shock all together. Shockshock.   lol

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ItalianStallion

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Edited By ItalianStallion

This looks amazingly beautiful.

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patbaer

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Edited By patbaer

terrible name. 

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xxxlynchxxx

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Edited By xxxlynchxxx

The art style is quite striking.  It will be interesting to see how it fares with fans, considering the second caught a lot of flak for being made under a different developer.

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BlackHeronBlue

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Edited By BlackHeronBlue

it's like "ok, there was underwater.... now let's make it up in the sky!! AHA THIS IS OUR CHANCE!!"

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pimsy

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Edited By pimsy

why the hell is everyone cumming in their pants for this game???????????? 
Bioshock was a great game because underlying story was you basicly could not escape from 
rapture because you are under the ocean. whats so good about being in the sky its not as if you cant find a way to the ground safly with the things at your disposal......................................oh wait

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AleM

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Edited By AleM

The game mechanics argument doesn't convince me. Essentially, "Infinite" is a new game that keeps the "Bioshock" name in order to drink from its fountain.

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robeywan

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Edited By robeywan
@patbaer: i guess it beats 'skyoshock'
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Bionicicide

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Edited By Bionicicide

I hope rumors are right for gameplay at GamesCom.

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mspainhour

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Edited By mspainhour

Easily one of the most disappointing game titles of all time. Really? That's all you could come up with?

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Petruccio

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Edited By Petruccio

And in the end this city will fall in th Ocean? 
Prequel?

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Dreamfall31

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Edited By Dreamfall31

Definately has me interested...now if that intrest can last TWO whole years before  its even released is another mystery...

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Number1

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Edited By Number1

Man Jeff Canatta from the weekend confirmed podcast said Bioshock 2 should of been in the sky like last week... He must of known about this

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face15

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Edited By face15

Fuuuuuuuuuck. Can't  wait till 2012.

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luthorcrow

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Edited By luthorcrow

Who cares what they call it.  They could call it "PoopShock" for all I care.  The game looks incredible and Irrational makes good games.  I am looking forward to it.

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Cincaid

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Edited By Cincaid

2012
 
Nnnngggh...