This morning, Ken Levine of Irrational Games announced that the highly anticipated BioShock Infinite will miss its initial 2012 projection. The game will now ship on February 26, 2013.
BioShock Infinite is a very big game, and we’re doing things that no one has ever done in a first-person shooter,” said Levine. “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.
As far as delay reasons go, this is a valid one. Infinite was one of this year’s most sought after titles, but if Levine isn’t happy with the product, it would be disappointing for the team to ship it early. In addition to the title being delayed, it was also stated that BioShock: Infinite would miss both E3 & Gamescom this year.
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.
Do you mind waiting? Would you rather see a higher-quality product, or get the game as soon as possible? Let us know what you think in the comments below, or discuss BioShock Infinite in our forums.