Developer Ken Levine reveals that, unlike Bioshock 2, the latest in the Bioshock series will not boast multiplayer features.
It's been a tough six months for developer Irrational Games and its latest game, Bioshock Infinite. In May, publisher Take-Two announced that the game was being pushed back beyond its scheduled October release date to arrive on February 26, 2013 instead. Then, in August, a number of the team's top development staff began leaving the company. First were director of product development Tim Gerritsen and art director Nate Wells, then combat design director Clint Bundrick and artificial intelligence lead Don Norbury headed to Microsoft in October.
One rumour to emerge from the disruption was that Bioshock Infinite's multiplayer modes had been axed. Today, the game's creative director confirmed that this was indeed the case. Answering a question from a Twitter user spotted by Kotaku, Ken Levine said: "RT @tha_don_101: @IGLevine can you clear up whether or not Bioshock Infinite will have multiplayer modes? ---Nope." Shortly after he answered another user looking for greater clarity on the situation by saying: "RT @wolverine11111: @IGLevine Does that mean nope it won't or nope you can't clear that issue up? --No multi."
Multiplayer was first introduced to the Bioshock series in 2010's Bioshock 2--an addition that GameSpot called "fun and engaging" at the time. More recently, another development studio working for publisher Take-Two, Yager Development, said that multiplayer for Spec Ops: The Line "should not exist". In an interview with website Polygon, the independent studio said that, "the publisher was determined to have it anyway," and that, "it was literally a check box that the financial predictions said we needed, and 2K was relentless in making sure that it happened."
Bioshock Infinite is set for release on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC on 26 February 2013 worldwide. A Vita version is slated to follow.
Guy Cocker is the Editor of GameSpot UK, a handheld gaming fan, and someone who actually managed to use video games to lose weight. He recently took up the position of games expert on BBC 5 live and is a BAFTA games judge.
Another FPS drops the multiplayer feature and this promises a better invested SP experience. Never expected the "Game drops X feature" were to bring such good news to me and other gamers. Still remember that review of Alan Wake with the line "If you think a game without MP is worth a full price" (not from this site).
Bioshock 2's multiplayer was surprisingly some of the most fun I've had with an Online FPS. It was an absolute blast. The experience reminded me of how I felt with Gears of War (The original). It wasn't fully fleshed out and no one expected much from it yet in my personal experience it was still great fun. Despite my love for my time with Bioshock 2's multiplayer I am ultimately happy for their decision on Infinite. I believe this news is a sign that this installment aims to be extremely ambitious and they simply have no room for a multiplayer feature, whether the space be within their development window or in their hearts. Besides, I'm sure this choice will help the reviews as well.
Speaking as a victim of Atari "vaporware", I wonder whether this title will ever be released...
1 Like My favorite games don't have multiplayer. I am so happy to hear that they are going to take this approach.
I hope Irratinoal keeps an open mind about it. I am 100% behind focusing on single player first, of course, but the environment of Columbia coupled with the Sky-hook has the potential to make for some very original and exciting multiplayer experiences.
1 Like System Shock 2 didn't need it, Deus Ex didn't need it, and Bioshock didn't need it either and all are classic games. If Infinite plays anything like the videos show it won't lose anything by not having multiplayer in it either.
Good, the game may have a longer campaign compared to most games now being so damn short, to make room for multiplayer
YES ! it seems this one is going to end up being an inovative and extremelly well tough experience like the first bioshock, just imagine how great this is going to be! I can see an 9 or higher on global reviews already
3 Like Good! This means they'll do what most games are missing today, and concentrate on the single player gameplay and story rather than assuring their online fans are getting more/most of the fun.
I feel like they could've done well with a multiplayer for this game... I'm actually a bit disappointed. Does anyone know of at least a co-op ? Or is there much replay value ?
@Hurvl: I'll take science thanks... as tweated by Ricky Gervais, science helped Baumgartner land safely having jumped out of a balloon miles above the surface of the planet, whilst religion got a young girl shot in the face for wanting an education. I'll take science any day.
1 Like it's true bioshock 2's mp was kinda fun once u got the hang of it, but for me it was more like a little extra next to the sp (which was awesome in bioshock 2 but way too easy imo). so i won't miss it in infinite. i'm particularly excited about the 1999 mode which sounds quite challenging.
as to everyone referring to an open-world game.. i can't really imagine a bioshock game that isn't linear. and i'm pretty sure infinite is, only that the levels that are free to explore are larger than in previous games. but i'm always open to be proven wrong ;)
really excited about this 1
1 Like This is great news, I could care less about BioShock multiplayer. And now that Infinite won't have it, the singleplayer won't suffer from it.
1 Like @MJV1989 Couldn't* care less. And I agree, Bioshock 2 didn't benefit from it and neither will this. Means additional features for single player which I am all for.
1 Like Good! Focus on single player but I wont be surprised if Infinite 2 will have multiplayer...
1 Like Though, I am mostly focused on singleplayer in every game, I have to admit that multiplayer is kinda fun, but not necessary addition. To be honest, that is a good news that devs concentrated on single, I already anticipate great story and gameplay.
I did not buy any of the Bioshock games,
But only because of no multiplayer feature, I will buy definitely buy this one.
Lol... I like how everyone is actually celebrating that it doesn't have multiplayer. I wonder if EA will take note and stop with the forced multiplayer components. Personally, I'm happy about it too. Hopefully the campaign is at least 15 hours long though.
This is good news to me too. I got to level 40 on BS 2 muti player and it was often not a fun experience. The multiplayer suffered huge lag issues and was incredibly unbalanced in favor of the higher level characters. I honestly can't remember why I stuck with it until level 40. I agree not every game needs multiplayer and I wish designers would stop making games with half the achievements multiplayer and then no one plays the multiplayer so you can never get the achievements.
5 Like about time to see a game focused on single player only. ''every game does'nt need a muliplayer in them'' so its a good change for once
1 Like Glad to hear this! Focus on making a badass singleplayer...that's all that matters really. All the multiplayer gamer's have half a billion other franchises to play anyways.
The multiplayer in Bioshock 2 was fun but not necessary. As long as they keep the quality in the single-player i am fine with it, even though i think co-op would be a nice addition.
Finally a Bioshock game without multiplayer which I feel cheapens the experience since the Bioshock 2 one seemed rushed to me.
Thank YOuuuu! What a waste of time and resources that was in part 2. This should be a great game.
3 Like Well this is good news I would have bought the game regardless of it having MP or not because it is a great series.
thank you, focus on the single player. also, is it just me or is this game going to get delayed again? if they're just announcing no multiplayer now chances are they won't be done in time for a february release..
Good. Bioshock 2's multiplayer was pretty terrible, and I'd rather not have a replay of that in this beautiful, sexy game.
2 Like @UnwantedSpam I thought Bioshock 2's MP was pretty fun and it sucked me into it.
1 Like I don't care if it has multiplayer or not. Just give give me a high quality single player experience, that's all I want. I'm sick of people NEEDING the mulitplayer. It's a great future, but if it's inclusion hurts the package, get rid of it!
1 Like not all games need multiplayer, matter a fact, i hardly play the multiplayer parts of the game, im a single player kind of guy, only a a handful of games i play online, and most times its to play with friends on co op, or as a team.
@msfan1289 I love the multiplayer feature, the very few times I get to take advantage of them, but I have never once bought a game with that being a factor in my decision.
[UPDATE]: Rumored feature cuts join staff departures among troubles for Irrational Games' follow-up to 2007 shooter; Epic Games' Rod Fergusson joins Infinite team.
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