The highly anticipated Bioshock Infinite will publish much later than expected, according to a posting on the developer’s website Wednesday morning.

The game, originally slated to release Oct. 19, will now go on sale Feb. 26, 2013. To make the game “something more extraordinary,” Irrational Games Creative Director Ken Levine said in a posting to Irrational’s website, he wanted to give the developers more time to work on it.

“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,” Levine’s statement said.

Bioshock Infinite is not meant to be a direct sequel to the previous two Bioshock titles, but a storyline departure. The game is set in 1920s alternate-reality America on a floating city called Columbia that has broken in to war between two factions vying for control.

In previous trailers released for the game, we’ve seen footage of the protagonist Booker Dewitt engaged in dangerous shoot-outs that take him riding along rails of the city’s floating transport. Complicated sequences like these are just part of what has gotten fans so excited about the game, along with previous success of the first two entries to the franchise.

“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?’” Levine continued in his statement.

Levine said that also meant the game would not show at E3 or Gamescom this summer, instead wanting the title to be fully polished before demos are played.

What do you think of this delay for Bioshock Infinite? Let us know in the comments.

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