BioShock Infinite | OFFICIAL gameplay trailer (2012)

from the press release
2K Games announced today that BioShock Infinite, a first-person shooter, is currently in development at Irrational Games, the studio behind the original BioShock which has sold over 4 million units worldwide. Set in 1912, BioShock Infinite introduces an entirely new narrative experience that lifts players out of the familiar confines of Rapture and rockets them to Columbia, an immense city in the sky. BioShock Infinite is currently planned for release during calendar 2012.
Originally conceived as a floating symbol of American ideals at a time when the United States was emerging as a world power, Columbia is dispatched to distant shores with great fanfare by a captivated public. What begins as a brand new endeavor of hope turns drastically wrong as the city soon disappears into the clouds to whereabouts unknown.
The player assumes the role of former Pinkerton agent Booker DeWitt, sent to the lost city to rescue Elizabeth, a young woman imprisoned there since childhood. He develops a relationship with Elizabeth, augmenting his abilities with hers so the pair may escape from a city that is literally falling from the sky. DeWitt must learn to fight foes in high-speed Sky-Line battles, engage in combat both indoors and amongst the clouds, and harness the power of dozens of new weapons and abilities.
"We are excited to expand the world of BioShock, which is one of the industry's most critically acclaimed and beloved franchises," said Christoph Hartmann, president of 2K. "We believe that Irrational Games will lend their meticulous attention to detail and unique storytelling expertise to make BioShock Infinite an incredible entertainment experience that will immerse new and diehard fans of BioShock alike."
With the original BioShock, Irrational Games won "Game of the Year" awards from Game Informer, IGN, G4's X-Play, and BAFTA and redefined what players expect from a first-person shooter. "But when it came to begin work on BioShock Infinite," said Ken Levine, creative director of Irrational Games, "we only had one rule: No sacred cows. This game is both true to what people love about the series and unafraid to question every assumption."
Levine continued, "In order to explore the floating city of Columbia, we needed an entirely new engine. To bring Elizabeth to life, we had to build brand-new animation and AI systems. To create wide-ranging indoor and outdoor firefights at 30,000 feet, we had to rethink, rebuild and expand the BioShock arsenal. The only thing gamers can be certain of is this: the rules of the BioShock universe are about to change."
BioShock Infinite is in development for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation3 computer entertainment system and Games for Windows, and is not yet rated by the ESRB.

[@AFGuidesHD]

well you see guys, this was a different universe

[@saltedhorsemeat4843]

a universe where there's more than 5 people in the streets at a time

[@DeepFriedReviews]

I was obsessed with this video when I was a kid, I wanted to play this so bad

[@BigBadWolfOfficial]

Id like to think this and the 12 min game play is some of the different universes that Booker failed And the final game that we all play is where Booker finally succeeds

[@Harper_1984]

Mind blown

[@martincavuoti9132]

yea, and this was the world that has no downgrade

[@Madrigos]

+Martin Cavuoti I know, right? This trailer, with the other one mentioned, really got me interested. It looked like... Bioshock, still. Not to mention that there was a morality system, of sorts and Booker was voiced by my favourite voice actor. The end result, though... eh.

[@gagejohnathan9641]

Exactly, they were hinting that shit wasn't right with the vigors being very similar to plasmids right from the very start.

[@reyxenuri]

dont mind the changes of the final game, but as this trailer came out first.... It gave me a complete difftent feeling as now. A better feeling. A real Bioshock like feeling

[@thehistoryandbooknerd8979]

I gotta say - I like the way Infinite felt the way it does in the final product: Booker came and took Elizabeth, and in trying to get her out of the city, helped a revolution take control and attack - it would have been a very different game if Colombia was already crumbling when Booker arrived.

[@peppermillers8361]

@RandomShtuffs that was actually one of the better parts of the game (that you helped Jumpstart its fall, which would've happened anyway) considering Booker is a piece of shit and the game doesn't portray it as well as it could've.

[@zigzag11875]

They really need a director's cut edition of this game.

[@Lufienthedarklord]

that would essentially just be a re releasing the game, but just adding better graphics, and some cutscenes. They ought to make Bioshock 4 this, or just use the multiverse theory to reboot the game.

[@notbobby125]

+zigzag11875 The game we got WAS essentially the Director's cut. The game that was released was not a cut down version of Kevin Levine's vision, he was the one who constantly mandated all of the changes. He is an absolute perfectionist.

[@AnthonyTrifoglio]

@@Lufienthedarklord well it's been 5 years, don't think that's gonna happen

[@peepeepoopooguy6969]

@@AnthonyTrifoglio it can happen re2 got a remake 20 years later we just gotta be patient

[@jasonshank9073]

I REALLY WISH CHARLES WAS IN THE FINAL GAME

[@fiddlerfiddle5761]

"CHARLES! ATTEND!!!"

[@RadicalEdward2]

With the idea of alternate timelines, I wish we could still get this version of the game.

[@PGA19792007]

How is this official gameplay lol did any of this make it into the actual game? Talk about false advertising. This is the game we should have got, not that shit they gave us.

[@jolorulz]

I love how the game turned out, but holy shit, did they scrap a lot of good shit from this trailer... That tandem between Elizabeth and Booker would've been so epic had it been really in-game.

[@emilio556]

The telekinesis.....

[@PlayRoomOfGames]

8:25 This scene where they introduce the Handyman is perfection. The cloudy sky with the moon, and the silhouette of the handyman himself. Chef's kiss

[@jodyelvira2978]

I personally liked the atmosphere of this one much better than the one it has now . . .

[@meleegary1879]

Ryen Elvira I'm pretty sure this was just to show off the whole game in one setting

[@peepeepoopooguy6969]

@@meleegary1879 no this versiob what we were gonna get was open world so Columbia would change as we explore

[@peppermillers8361]

@@peepeepoopooguy6969 It was never open world. Maybe had open environments where you can choose which direction to go which sort of made it into the game, but it was not open world.

[@Zmanwarrior]

A lot of people are talking about how this trailer looks better than the finished product, but they need to remember that this trailer, while rendered in-engine, was all entirely pre-scripted. A ten-minute cutscene so-to-speak. A lot of what happens in it wouldn't work out in actual gameplay. The lack of a HUD, the shots which are either perfect or miss at the exact right time, so on and so forth.

[@SolicSnake]

But it's still a lie...

[@booqrdoit9138]

The name is Nick Valentine, kid...

[@Madrigos]

No, the name's Garrett.

[@RadicalEdward2]

They did the handyman dirty removing his handlebar mustache and haircut

[@callengruwell6853]

I remember getting so exited when I seen this

[@facerip356]

Yeah dude I was so exited I left and never came back. Massive exited to the max bro!

[@ellugerdelacruz2555]

And then the game came out and everyone was fooled for years about how great it was when in reality it was a mess!

[@rvids8906]

@@ellugerdelacruz2555 you couldn’t be more right sadly.

[@TheFoxMcfat]

5:02 i love the old voice, the suit and the hook that guy whould have had much more personality than the stubbly brodude we got

[@fallopianfiddler]

I agree with you. I was playing infinite last night and was remembering his voice in this since I watched it a million times as a kid. Any idea what his name is?

[@TheFoxMcfat]

@@fallopianfiddler The VA's? idk, these prototype voices are often done with internal development staff

[@fallopianfiddler]

@@TheFoxMcfat I figured it out and his name is Stephen Russell. He worked on Fallout 4 as Nick Valentine. Seems like they were gonna go forward with him as Booker until rewrites and such which led to them scrapping his booker, fancy suit and all and going with Troy Baker :(

[@TheFoxMcfat]

@@fallopianfiddler Nick Valentine? Wow :o Well at least people can still make fanart of the fancier gentlemen version of booker :)

[@Dr.TJ_Eckleburg]

If only the actual game was like this.

[@fiddlerfiddle5761]

The only thing the actual game is missing is telekinesis.

[@BigBradlayystone]

In another universe it is so why don't you travel there with your awful opinion

[@martincavuoti9132]

this was the world that has no downgrade

[@RichtofenE115]

TJP77 I'm not trying to start a fight in the comments, but I pose thee a question... Would you rather have a game with decent graphics and a huge world to immerse yourself in? Or would you rather have a game that has amazing graphics and only have like one or two areas?

[@Dr.TJ_Eckleburg]

My complaint isn't with the graphics. A lot of the gameplay mechanics and story details ended up scrapped from the game because the 7th gen hardware couldn't handle it. There was supposed to be an entirely new stealth mechanic added, which would have given the player a completely different way to play if they chose to. The tears and alternate dimensions were supposed to play a MUCH bigger role in the active storyline, as hinted here with Saltonstall (a character cut entirely), who can be seen phasing between two different personas as you interact with him. There were also supposed to be other abilities and elements built into Jack and NPCs as well. What ended up being shipped was a tiny fragment of what the developers originally intended. And if they'd have just waited a year or so, they could have released for 8th gen systems and given us a MUCH better game.

[@hxwarhead]

maybe in another timeline this was the final game

[@gizelbelcoot]

Atleast songbird made it in one piece

[@AydarBMSTU]

@@gizelbelcoot not really, she was supposed to be a real enemy, a real threat, but she has like 3-4 scripted encounters and at the end she helps you. Originally she was like a Tyrant from RE, a real enemy you can try to defeat, but who's better off being avoided

[@FreedomFighterAsuka]

in another timeline maybe it never came out

[@FreedomFighterAsuka]

@@AydarBMSTU that would've been amazing

[@yahiryellow1]

Weren't you given choices in the game as well?

[@starghezer3602]

In this version, I'll say, The citizens are much more, well, utterly insane probably due to tears in their trousers or whatever And to think some of you have now idea what trousers are

[@trumancarter2380]

Might you mean pants?

[@1LERS1]

Too bad the final game wasn't like showed in this trailer. I'm not even talking about graphics, but a world, and all it's details as a whole.

[@1LERS1]

@Where's Waldo??? ? Not even close...

[@bluebettle]

It's amazing how nearly every element of the art design has changed a little bit from the trailer

[@bendymikestudios699]

The part where the man says “CHARLES!!!!! ATTEND!!!!” Is so epic and dramatic

[@TheAndyVegan]

I love how the settings took a complete turn. It went from the bottom of the deep seas, to way high up in the sky! I think both is just as creepy. But I do favor Rapture. This game is still sick. I want it!

[@jeffamunoz]

I only wish they emphasized the look of floating buildings

[@gsamalot]

I like the little detail with the tears changing stuff like banner changing, and the dude pin changing from an American pin to what I think the soviet pin judging from the hammer and sickle

[@Tronathon242]

My my, things have certainly changed since this trailer came out.

[@Bread_Bug]

Looking back, it’s kinda crazy that the guy launches a shell right into the building, and nobody in the bar is even panicking lol

[@jeff2o]

i hope its still gonna be like bioshock were you have too buy ammo instead of just walking over dead bodies you have too get further into the game to unlock more guns and having to get adam somehow to buy plasmids

[@unccmf44]

Actually, the fact that this game is coming late in current consoles' life cycle means that developers have had a chance to really get to know the hardware. Therefore giving them the ability to do "more" with it. Meaning small graphical tweaks and tricks learned over the years. And then of course, further tweaking can be done if you purchase the PC version of the game, which I plan to do myself.

[@bennyshores8979]

Booker's voice sounds like Esbern from Skyrim.

[@RaDeCaL_Gaming]

This should have been the final game...

[@justinnguyen9936]

This is supposed to tie in with the game rendition of multiple universes.

[@screamingphoenix8113]

Maybe, but maybe this could have worked very similar to tears. Maybe as the player you could notice a pile of pans, and decide if you want Elizabeth to make you a throwable. Maybe you use a lot of Eve to ask Elizabeth to summon you a large rain cloud for you to dispose of a crowd instantly. Maybe it could have even worked as a coop game. Both players having different abilities.

[@FreedomFighterAsuka]

4:13 you can see that Booker doesn't have the A.D mark in his hand!

[@onyxinjun9855]

I bought the collection for 30 bucks.3 games, includes all dlc,1080p,the lighting alone is worth replaying the games.Looks way better than the old standard.Cant beat the price even if you dont like one game out of the three.

[@ZPM7]

"Gameplay"

[@xavirc7334]

this looks so different to the final version of the game :O

[@catalystGenome]

It's funny how much it changed from this version to the current one.

[@CourtneytheVA1993]

8:20 i bet you're regretting that corset

[@eduardobrucci2099]

3:20 Uariu? ...SHALOMNN!!!!

[@adamcooper5140]

Looking back this was probably an animation and not actual gameplay

[@astronauta10]

Aah 2012,wait a long time...

[@p.taylor981]

I like to think of this as an alternate dimension in the bioshock cannon

[@katej2284]

The atmosphere, NPCs and other elements in this version remind me much more of Bioshock 1 so I like that the final version was different and had its own tone and feel. Also I'm glad they ditched Saltonstall cause that bit was terrifying :D

[@smellme6313]

The point of it was to be terrifying… the version we got is so boring compared to this.

[@hahulee]

The published game is so much different I love the way the world feels in this version and I do wish they kept some stuff instead of changing it completely The published game is amazing, the art, the detail, everything comes together nicely

[@facerip356]

I'm so pumped for this grame! When does it come out again? Can I preorder the super mega deluxe ultra edition yet?

[@thief081900]

this is the trailer that convinced me to play bioshock, bioshock 2, and join the wait for this masterpiece!

[@ryancole3058]

man that looks great, when's it coming out?

[@GerzaynLazoLastra]

never played bioshock but i might just give it a try for infinite, seems great

[@gsamalot]

Huh you know looking back at this old trailer I never notes this but the dude at 3:24 his little pin badge turns from an american pin to a soviet pin with the hammer and the sickle.

[@MLaak86]

Wish we'd got to play this.

[@johnnyhellfire6]

Ah just think, in a alternate universe, this is the bioshock infinite we got. Lol

[@mufinman45]

This falls before rapture around the 30's. And I think the fact that they're chasing after a brighter setting while keeping the dark, twisted theme is great. I believe it'll be just as good if not better than the first two games.

[@marcgorter8651]

Is that the Skyrim Belethor voice actor voicing Booker in this?

[@TrojanGamer10]

0:47 Well that's a tone setting image if I ever seen one

[@bravo075]

2012... you know I hate it when they announce either movies or games with such anticipation...

[@6tosurvive]

Can't find words for it... its just... awesome!

[@d3arb0rns]

When i first seen footage for this game back n the day, I was kinda skeptic about it, now I'm totally a believer

[@PedroLeClown]

Man this would be crazy as a movie!

[@enterthenexusGWandMC]

I have to say I would of quite enjoyed the game like this. unfortunately it was changed and this makes me a little sad. the two things I have against this are the hand animations when using a power, and I think the model for Elizabeth's face is a bit ugly in this trailer

[@MusicMcMania]

I was actually really happy how the game turned out and it was another great game in the bishock series

[@xH1VLT8GEx]

Came back to this trailer to see the beginning stages of the amazing game known as Bioshock Infinite. I'm fascinated by the steps irrational took to try new things and also fascinated by the things they had to cut, change, make better, make worse to release the final game. It's amazing to me to see how great the trailer looked and how amazing the final game came out even with all the changes. Now going into the comments is never a smart thing to do but here I am, reading a bunch of "what could have been" and "this should of been the game" or just pure hate on a perfectly great game. Ken Levine has said in constant interviews that the beginning stages of game making is always dicking around, trying new things and then when the deadline is closing in, that's when the game is actually made. To me this trailer shows off a lot of cool ideas that leave a lot to the imagination, key word there being IMAGINATION, but I'm sure they had a very difficult time implementing that into a full fledged game. AKA, too much on their plate. So, they had to cut some stuff, change some things to make this work. And fuck what all the whiners in the comments say, I think irrational did an amazing fucking job with Bioshock Infinite. It goes down as my favorite game of all time, and a beautiful piece of art in the video game world. Could care less about what others say, in regards to how I feel about the game, but I do care that people shit on it for bad reasons. I just see it as a part of the video game industry and being a game designer. You gotta make sacrifices, and damn irrational is one of the best at making things workout in the end.

[@GlossyCandle]

R.I.P. Saltonstall

[@camy_dev]

Oh Charles the crow man, we hardly knew thee.

[@SuperAngelfish9]

I loved the version we got, but this, *this* feels more like a Bioshock game. I dunno if it's the lighting or what, it just does. (also I'm super salty my telekinesis got taken away, but that's besides the point)

[@atom4294]

i really wish they could make a DLC of this

[@KeeganDesciak]

5:32 is that Woody’s laugh???

[@_MintArcade]

I feel like they have all the mechanic, design and tone of the game done perfectly but the end product we get is what it is because of the time it need to build more lore and a cohesive storyline… that's also why the later half of the game is just mostly info dump, they have to push the game out as they are running out of times

[@sethhinkle8032]

in this trailer booker had the voice the guy old guy from up

[@SDS2017]

I’d like to remind everyone this is what the developers wanted Bioshock Infinite to be, but due to technical limitations and the growing impatience of 2K and their shareholders, they sadly had to gyp the hell out of the finished product. Giving us the current Bioshock Infinite.

[@Gamer18402]

Booker sounds alot younger in this version.

[@Dandougproductions]

I have to say that this concept looked cool like the telekinesis vigor was here, but i am glad this is the game we got. I kind of like how Elizabeth wasn't okay with the slaughter the was she was in this demo.

[@lockout5731]

This time line where Emily Elizabeth Howard was helpful to him

[@betaexegx]

well now we have to wait 2 more years

[@getdeclue]

never thought i would miss rapture

[@FormalHMAN]

I can't wait for that game to come out. Does anyone know the release date. Surely it can't be 2012. I can't wait that long.

[@edwardkenway6347]

Omg its Nick Valentine :0

[@The9220]

cant wait untill this game comes out

[@PrimalElf]

One of the greatest games of all time ,,Booker do you afraid God?; No a afraid of you"

[@wpgm1]

I'll miss Rapture but Infinite is looking fantastic. It'll be tough to make things creepy when it's such an open, vibrant new setting but it's looking like it's going to be very good. Different, but good.

[@PassTheSnails]

This video is the proof I need that Bioshock 3 could still take place in Colombia and STILL be good. Because the setting of Columbia is fucking immaculate and genius, it just needs a better game to do it justice.

[@shadowraze2414]

the only thing I like changed is the sky hook

[@drewskyGALE]

Say hello to the new "Big Daddy" 8:44 and damn is he a tough bastard to bring down.

[@bradleyii]

I wish they had kept the abilities they gave Elizabeth in this demo

[@RA8IDP3NGUIN1]

This was the trailer that taught me not to trust trailers.

[@KairiHawk]

Remember when there was a weather engine that would have buildings RANDOMLY CRASH? That is what sold me on this game and it wasn't in the final product and it pisses me off.

[@AkeemKN]

Boy did they change this game a lot from this preview

[@ajgarza1111]

dude game is amazing looks great great texters omg im must get this game

[@unison_moody]

wow this is what I call strange and crazy. Good atmosphere.

[@mozzmanau]

That looks awesome. Hope the game play is just as good and not a fizzer like most games

[@tractor12345sandu]

i think this is gonna be best game of 2012..

[@emilypumpkinseller]

I'll never forgive them for changing the vibe of the game

[@boiledelephant]

All this "what might have been" wailing is missing the pretty obvious point that this kind of gameplay would've been completely unworkable and a nightmare of player constriction. This entire video, like many early gameplay demos, relies on the player knowing where to stand, what to do, and when. It's scripted to hell and back.

[@thehistoryandbooknerd8979]

Thank you!!

[@notdryad]

Golly gee, then maybe they shouldn't have shown things that just wouldn't have worked in the final game. I suppose asking a video game developer to be honest about their product is asking too much.

[@boiledelephant]

@@notdryad Honesty is not the issue; there is, historically, a tradition of having game trailers that contain concept material, analogous to a movie poster. The movie poster's content doesn't necessarily appear in the movie; it's just meant to capture the vibe and themes. Increasingly game trailers now contain in-game footage and show gameplay (often at the expense of showing the game's themes and vibe). Either is fine; the issue is managing audience expectation. This was a concept trailer, but they made it look like it might be a gameplay trailer (ish), so inattentive audience members could mistake it for one. It wasn't dishonesty - it was mishandled expectations.

[@ItzDuckyTV]

Elizabeth: *bleeds from nose after using telepathic powers* My mind: she's 001

[@TheOldMark90]

Finally they have improve the Graphic Engine. Defenetly Game of the year 2012.

[@Swan5656]

Who is the actor playing Booker? Sounds different.

[@jassykat]

Watchdogs is that you?

[@anazron805811]

people complained about bioshock two just being bioshock 1, so they changed it up a lot

[@MegakeepWorks]

This looks more like a movie than a video game.

[@lambdaweaponscache5394]

"CHARLES! ATTEND!"

[@Alenthas]

5:53 the picture changes in a few seconds

[@Waeltaker]

I WANT THIS GAME RIGHT NOW =(

[@HillsSilent]

I remember watching this at a friend's on their 360, I wanted this game. I liked what the final product became but it didn't interest me as much as the first two games did. I'm finally replaying it now in the Collection and I do like Infinite quite a bit more than I originally did which is cool.

[@smoli]

Sure wish we had gotten this game instead