BioShock Infinite multiplayer canceled (yes, it had that)

BioShock Infinite had two multiplayer modes accompanying the narrative campaign, but according to Kotaku, both of these things have been cut. The news follows reports that several key developers — including the game’s art director — have left the project. 

One mode was a “Tower Defense” style game that, according to Irrational, never really worked. The other was a cooperative “Spec Ops” mode, presumably featuring a selection of missions that two players would complete. No reason was given for its cancellation. 

Despite the perceived problems at Irrational, Ken Levine says the game is still “on track” for its February release, and promised that the structural shifts in the company were normal and nothing to be alarmed about. Meanwhile, gamers ask, “Wait … it had multiplayer?” 

Frankly, I can’t begin to weep over this alleged loss. The first BioShock didn’t need multiplayer, the second BioShock‘s multiplayer wasn’t great, and there are a dozen other FPS games with online features, so nobody’s losing anything. I welcome a narrative-driven game that sticks to what it’s good at, and doesn’t shoehorn in some online nonsense just for the sake of it. The news makes me happy, if anything.