Original BioShock Art Director Returns to Infinite Team

The development team working on the much-awaited BioShock Infinite at Irrational Games has lost two key members in quick succession, with Tim Gerritsen, who is the director of product development, and Nate Wells, the art director, announcing that they are leaving the company in order to pursue new opportunities.

Wells initially confirmed his departure via Twitter and then Ken Levine, the leader of the Irrational Games studio, also confirmed that the art director was replaced and named his successor.

Levine stated, “Scott Sinclair, art director of Bio1, back in the art director's chair for Infinite to bring it home. Can't wait to show you what's cooking.”

It’s not clear why the two leading developers have decided to leave BioShock Infinite and whether the return of Scott Sinclair means that the visual style of the game will change significantly between now and launch date.

BioShock Infinite was initially set to be launched on October 16 of this year, but Irrational Games announced that it was delaying the game to February 26 of next year in order to get the time needed to realize their vision for the experience.

The narrative will see the player take on the role of Booker DeWitt, a former Pinkerton detective, who is sent to the floating city of Columbia in order to track down and rescue Elizabeth, a girl who is displaying supernatural powers, including the ability to open up rifts to parallel realities.

BioShock Infinite uses a very distinctive visual style and Ken Levine has repeatedly said that he is trying to create a game that delivers both impressive action set pieces and emotional moments.

After the delay was announced, a number of analysts have expressed their doubts about the new launch date and suggested that we might see BioShock Infinite launch in the second or even third quarters of next year.