2K Games has announced BioShock Infinite.

From the creators of original BioShock, players will “look to the sky in the next chapter of the award-winning franchise.” Set in 1912, the Irrational Games developed shooter will introduce a brand new narrative experience, taking the player out of Rapture and rocket them to the sky city of Columbia. Players will assume the role of former Pinkerton agent Booker DeWitt, who was sent to the lost city to rescue a young woman named Elizabeth who has been imprisoned there since childhood. DeWitt 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.

“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.”

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 will be released on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC in 2012.