Bioshock 2 Needs Four Developers

It has transpired today that Bioshock 2 is currently steaming along with the help of four separate development studios. 2K Marin, 2K Australia have been handling the single player work and Digital Extremes with the already blighted multiplayer that (next to) no one wants. Now Arkane Studios have been announced as the fourth company coding the game.

Alyssa Finley, producer at 2K Marin, had this to say about Arkane’s contribution to the game :

“Under the direction and leadership of 2K Marin, Arkane is assisting in the creation of levels that embody the aesthetic and gameplay ideals that make BioShock such a unique and exciting experience.”

Arkane, developer of Dark Messiah also assisted in creating multiplayer levels for Call of Duty: World at War (COD 5) and would seem to be offering third party support over in house development. Which from a financial aspect is undoubtedly safer than working on your own games, but one has to worry about the state of Bioshock 2 if development requires a fourth addition.

I suspect that with all this extra manpower the game is running behind schedule for its proposed 30th October (UK) release. Which has backed 2K right up against the wall, since its release places it inside the final quarter and a potential Christmas no 1. Along with the likes of Call of Duty 4 part 2, Wii Fit Plus (which will probably run away with the no 1 spot), Assassin’s Creed 2, Ghostbusters and Forza III.

They will not dare delay the game because of the money to be had over the Christmas period, which is forcing them to spend more to meet the deadline. Lets just hope that with all these people working on Bioshock 2 that it doesn’t turnout to be a turkey (especially since there will already be one in the oven) and that whatever money it does make is worth it after they split the loot four ways.

Source CVG