The lights are on
BioShock Infinite was surely going to be one of the buzzed-about games of E3, but unfortunately, not only will the game not be at the convention, but it's being delayed as well.
The game is being pushed out of 2012 and into 2013. February 26 to be exact. Furthermore, the title won't be shown at events like E3 or Gamescom in Germany.
The following message hit our inboxes this morning:
A MESSAGE FROM KEN LEVINE
When we announced the release date of BioShock Infinite in March, we felt pretty good about the timing.
Since then, we’ve come to realize that some specific tweaks and improvements will make Infinite into something even more extraordinary. Therefore, to give our talented team the time they need, we’ve decided to move the game’s release to February 26, 2013. We wanted to let our loyal (and very patient!) fans know this as soon as possible.
I won’t kid you: BioShock Infinite is a very big game, and we’re doing things that no one has ever done in a first-person shooter. We had a similar experience with the original BioShock, which was delayed several months as our original ship date drew near. Why? Because the Big Daddies weren’t the Big Daddies you’ve since come to know and love. Because Andrew Ryan’s golf club didn’t have exactly the right swing. Because Rapture needed one more coat of grimy Art Deco.
The same principle now applies to BioShock Infinite.
What does this mean for you? It means a bit more waiting, but more importantly, it means an even better BioShock Infinite. The great can be made greater, and we owe it to both ourselves and to you, our fans, to take this opportunity. Irrational Games is one of those rare developers lucky enough to ask the people who sign the checks: “Hey, can we have a few more of those checks?”
We are also going to hold off on showing BioShock Infinite at the big events of the summer, like E3 and Gamescom. That way, the next time you see our game, it will be essentially the product we intend to put in the box. Preparing for these events takes time away from development, time we’re going to use instead to get the best version of Infinite into your hands in February.
The previous October date just felt too good to be true.
Email the author Matthew Kato, or follow on Twitter, and Game Informer.
5 dollars says the end product features reduction mammoplasty for Elizabeth.
NOOOOOOO.
I'm fine with waiting.
Well, what can you do? Wait, we shall.
Initial reaction: Surprise! Disappointment...
After Levine's explanation: Hesitant rationality. Calm acceptance.
It really is a rare thing for a developer to be able to delay release, not because the game isn't on track to completion, but because the completed product doesn't live up to their high standards. How often must a "bottom-line" publisher have put the squeeze on developers to release a product before all the finishing touches would have made it spectacular?
This is crazy! This better be the best Bioshock then. The longer we wait, the higher the expectations are on this game.
Well that's sad to hear. But at least this will give me time to save up some money for it.
That's cool and everything, but I wish they hadn't announced it so early. It's painful waiting for years for something. Of course this is no Versus XIII but even that I don't even really care anymore.
Ahahha the thumbnail for this article was perfect! Well just as long as they use it to make it even better, and 26 feb is a day after my bday next year, thats pretty cool. I know what I want then!
Between THQ allowing Darksiders 2 to get pushed back for quality assurance, despite their troubles, and now Infinite getting pushed back quite a ways out of the holiday bubble, I think we've got some publishers who are really respecting a developer's need to take time to make a game great.
Also, the PR drip feed they had going was starting to take away a lot of the mysticism of the game, I'm glad that they're going to go dark for a while so it feels fresh coming off of all the other titles that will be released this coming Fall. Seems like an all around smart move to me!
so they wanted more money
Good. There were too many games comes out in the fall months anyway.
Sad Times...
as long as it is all they say it is i have no problem waiting a little longer
this game is going to be an epic fail...
I'm quite pleased with this news, as someone who has been inexplicably underwhelmed with what has been showcased up to date besides the cinematics.
I tend not to believe release dates anyways. As long as it's a good game, I'm down.