Irrational Games have revealed BioShock Infinite, the third game in the BioShock series. Previously known as 'Project Icarus', the game swaps the underwater city of Rapture for Columbia, a floating city in the sky. Set in 1912, players assume the role of Booker DeWitt, a former Pinkerton agent sent to rescue Elizabeth, a woman trapped in the city since birth.
“We are excited to expand the world of BioShock, which is one of the industry’s most critically acclaimed and beloved franchises,” says Christoph Hartmann, president of 2K. “We believe that Irrational Games will lend their meticulous attention to detail and unique storytelling expertise to make BioShock Infinite an incredible entertainment experience that will immerse new and diehard fans of BioShock alike."
The game will feature indoor and outdoor combat, the move from an underwater setting to one in the sky necessitating a brand new engine.
"In order to explore the floating city of Columbia, we needed an entirely new engine." explains Ken Levine, creative director of Irrational Games. "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."
The game is in development for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC. Irrational Games is aiming for a 2012 release.