Bioshock 2 delayed, previous November 3rd release date now being pushed to 2010 fiscal year

ouch!    

In a surprising and utter devastating turn of events for Bioshock fans, 2K Games has announced that Bioshock 2 is now being delayed. Little Sisters everywhere are stomping their feet and pouting furiously through fits of whines and salty tears.

Previously scheduled for a November 3rd 2009 release date, Bioshock 2 has been on many a gamer’s wish list for the current year. Showcased at E3 2009, Bioshock 2 looked set to make a strong push at gamer’s wallets this holiday season, but alas, its release date has been moved back.

Citing challenging near-term retail conditions and a less optimistic fiscal outlook, as well as poor performances on its Baseball products, 2K Games is pushing Bioshock 2 into the 2010 fiscal calendar, hoping to maximize the value of the game in the long term by taking this step.

Just a few days ago 2K Marin announced its new allegiance with Arkane Studios on the Bioshock 2 project, bringing in the France-based company to assist with art design and animation. What initially appeared to be way of spreading the workload now appears to be part of a much longer term collaborative effort to ensure the game is fully completed and looking sharp at its final release. Bioshock fans expect nothing less from a franchise that is well-known for it compelling visuals and engrossing story.

While a new release date has not been confirmed, an early fiscal Q1 has been cited. It is important to note that the fiscal calendar actually begins on November 1 st, 2009*, so it still remains possible that Bioshock 2 will be released some time during the 2009 calendar year, but news of this type does not bode well for gamers hoping to get a new plasmid injection before the new year.

All is certainly not lost, but one thing is apparently certain, a November 3rd release date is not going to happen. Considering Bioshock 2 had some strong marketplace competitors during the early November release list, such as Modern Warfare 2 and Assassin's Creed II, moving the release date back a short while may not be such a bad financial decision. However, considering the overwhelming success of the original Bioshock, this popular sequel title could easily be considered a contender against those worthy opponents.

More news to follow in the coming days, and hopefully a report about the game’s new release date will be confirmed shortly. Stay tuned.