BioShock Infinite release date set for October 16, October 19 in EU

The citizens and robo-birds of Columbia are set to rise this fall, according today's announcement from 2K Games and Irrational that BioShock Infinite will make its long-awaited debut on October 16 in North America, followed by an international release on October 19.

Announced back in 2010, BioShock Infinite lifts the underwater Big Daddy series from the depths of the sea and into the airborne city of Columbia. It follows heroes Booker DeWitt and Elizabeth as they race across the war-torn city to patch up tears in the space-time continuum while avoiding the clutches of Songbird, a massive mechanical bird hellbent on keeping Elizabeth all to itself. Although BioShock Infinite looks and plays much like the series' below ground predecessors, it's still vague as to how the “sequel” will fit in to the BioShock universe.

Earlier this year, Irrational's Ken Levine revealed BioShock Infinite will include a hardcore 1999 Mode as a gift to fans of the series and unforgiving, old-school gaming. The mode will ramp up the game's difficulty by limiting saves and resources, and generally terrorizing players who aren't an expert in the game's mechanics.

"I'm an old school gamer. We wanted to make sure we were taking into account the play styles of gamers like me....We want to give our oldest and most committed fans an option to go back to our roots," he explained.

BioShock Infinite will delight and punish fans on PS3, Xbox 360, and PC. Brush up on the story with GR's behind-the-scenes interview with the voices behind Booker and Elizabeth: