Steam has released it’s list of top selling games for the week of January 17-23. And pre-orders take four of the top five spots.
The biggest surprise is Battlefield: Bad Company 2 Limited Edition taking the number two spot. The pre-order was only available for two out of the seven days. I expect it to handily take the number one spot from Mass Effect 2 Digital Deluxe Edition’s pre-order. Mass Effect 2 will be out this Tuesday.
Oh whoa is me. Yet another AAA title gets pushed back for “developmental reasons”. Which is PR spin for “Modern Warfare 2 has us shitting in our pants!”
Not only will Bioshock 2 not make it out in time for this year’s holiday season release, but now there is no date at all. Instead, Take-Two said to expect you’re next visit to Rapture to be sometime in “the first half of fiscal year 2010″.
Here’s what Take-Two CEO Ben Feder had to say:
“The decision to shift a release date is never an easy one, especially with a product as highly anticipated as BioShock 2. We felt that it was essential to invest the additional time to ensure that this title will deliver what its fans expect and deserve.”
Sounds like good business strategy right? Well Take-Two chairman Strauss Zelnick had a different take on the situation. Saying “We concluded that moving the release of BioShock 2 into fiscal year 2010 was the right decision for the product. We believe the result will be a more compelling consumer experience and a better performing product in the marketplace.”
Has a different ring to it huh? That last sentence is the most revealing of all. “We believe the result will be a more compelling consumer experience and a better performing product in the marketplace.” In other words, coming out a week before Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 and other huge holiday releases would decimate profits.
Strauss you are the man. There’s no beating around the bush with you big guy. If only you could teach your CEO how to be a straight shooter…
As E3 gets closer details about big time releases are starting to trickle out. Today is no exception, with a few details about Bioshock 2’s multiplayer being released by 2K Games. In a press release today 2K’s Cristoph Hartmann had this to say:
“The fans asked for a multiplayer experience and we answered, with Digital Extremes delivering a multiplayer experience for BioShock 2 that features all of the things that made BioShock unique, we’re holding ourselves up to a high standard so that we can deliver the depth and variety that fans of the BioShock universe demand.”
The multiplayer will act as a prequel to the actual game. Taking you to Rapture before it was demolished. Playing as Plasmid test subjects, you will progress through the mode to uncover the fate of Rapture. And it will also include experience points to help you unlock different plasmids, tonics and new weapons. Some areas from the previous Bioshock will probably also be available giving you some surroundings you will be used to.
Other details will probably be available at 2K game’s E3 presentation so check back for further details.
How many of you are looking forward to another go around in Rapture?
Via 1up!
Spoiler Alert!
If you head to the Gamespot article mentioned be careful. They do have a pretty in-depth look at the upcoming Bioshock title. You may see or read things you regret…but you know you are going to check it out anyways so why am I wasting my time?
Some new Bioshock screenshots are making the rounds to tickle your eyeballs care of Gamespot UK. I thought it would be hard for 2K Marin to top the stunning visuals of the first Bioshock, but from what I can tell from these snapshots they are doing just that. You can check out Gamespot’s complete gallery here.
What do you guys think?
