"When we announced the release date of BioShock Infinite in March, we felt pretty good about the timing," says Designer, Ken Levine in an email message we've just received. Hold on... This doesn't sound good, Ken. "Since then, we’ve come to realise that some specific tweaks and improvements will make Infinite into something even more extraordinary."

That means that BioShock Infinite has been delayed until February 2013, and will no longer make its previously announced mid-October release date. Furthermore, Irrational won't be showing the game at E3 or Gamescom this year. "That way, the next time you see our game, it will be essentially the product we intend to put in the box," Levine continues.

"BioShock Infinite is a very big game, and we’re doing things that no one has ever done in a first-person shooter," Levine goes on. "We had a similar experience with the original BioShock, which was delayed several months as our original ship date drew near. Why? Because the Big Daddies weren’t the Big Daddies you’ve since come to know and love. Because Andrew Ryan’s golf club didn’t have exactly the right swing. Because Rapture needed one more coat of grimy Art Deco."

But what does it all mean, Ken?! "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."

BioShock Infinite will now be launching on February 26th, 2013 in North America, which presumably means that the game will surface in Europe on March 1st, 2013.