BioShock Infinite
A first-person shooter set in a floating steampunk city-state.
BioShock Infinite is a first-person shooter video game developed by Irrational Games and published by 2K. Released in 2013 as the third installment of the BioShock series, the game is set in the airborne city of Columbia in 1912 and follows protagonist Booker DeWitt as he attempts to rescue Elizabeth, a young woman with the ability to manipulate tears in the space-time continuum. The game received critical acclaim for its story, setting, visual design, and art direction, and has sold more than 11 million copies worldwide.
- Developer
- Irrational Games
- Publisher
- 2K
- Release year
- 2013
- Platforms
- PlayStation 3, Windows, Xbox 360, OS X
- Genre
- First-person shooter with role-playing elements
- Creative director
- Ken Levine
- Protagonist
- Booker DeWitt
Lore & Background
BioShock Infinite is set in 1912 in the floating city of Columbia, a theocratic police state founded by self-proclaimed prophet Zachary Hale Comstock. The city was originally funded by the U.S. government as a floating world's fair but seceded after independently intervening in the Boxer Rebellion. Columbia is on the verge of civil war between the nativist Founders and the rebel Vox Populi, who fight for the rights of the marginalized. The player controls Booker DeWitt, a disgraced Pinkerton agent sent to Columbia to retrieve Elizabeth, a young woman held captive who can open tears in space-time. Elizabeth is guarded by Songbird, a large robotic bird-like creature. The Lutece twins, revealed to be the same person from two realities, guide Booker throughout his journey.
Reader's Guide
BioShock Infinite is significant as the third installment of the BioShock series, building on the gameplay formula of its predecessors with weapons, Vigors (superpower-bestowing abilities), and a Sky-Line rail system. The game's development took five years and involved hundreds of employees, though the process was troubled by creative director Ken Levine's management style, resulting in wasted work and missed deadlines. Outside help was brought in to ensure the game shipped. The relationship between Booker and Elizabeth became central to the story, with the team working to make Elizabeth feel like a real character rather than a computer-controlled sidekick. The game's setting was based on historical events such as the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition and the concept of American exceptionalism, with influences from the 2011 Occupy movement. BioShock Infinite received critical acclaim and was re-released as part of BioShock: The Collection for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. The downloadable content Burial at Sea links Infinite's story to that of the original BioShock game.
Did You Know?
- Elizabeth can open Tears to bring in items or pieces of the environment, such as medical kits or a ledge for higher ground.
- The hardest difficulty, '1999 Mode,' is unlocked after beating the game on a lower difficulty or inputting the Konami Code in the main menu.
- The Lutece twins are revealed to be the same person from two different realities.
More in Characters
Elsewhere in BioShock
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