Here's the official announcement for BioShock Infinite, the just-revealed upcoming installment in the first-person shooter series. The announcement comes with a few screenshots (and that CGI trailer for those having trouble viewing it on Irrational's website), reveals the BioShock Infinite Website is online, and includes word from Irrational's Ken Levine on the game's new technology: "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." The game is actually set in 1912, a century before its planned 2012 release date, and here's word on the role the player assumes in the floating city of Columbia:

The player assumes the role of former Pinkerton agent Booker DeWitt, sent to the lost city to rescue Elizabeth, a young woman imprisoned there since childhood. He 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. DeWitt must learn to fight foes in high-speed Sky-Line battles, engage in combat both indoors and amongst the clouds, and harness the power of dozens of new weapons and abilities.