Digital Extremes to develop Bioshock 2 multiplayer

Take-Two Interactive has announced that it has signed a partnership with Digital Extremes to develop the multiplayer aspect of Bioshock 2.

According to a statement Digital Extremes will be working with the creative team at Bioshock 2 developer 2K Marin to add multiplayer functionality to the highly anticipated first-person shooter that is scheduled for release later this year.

"The fans asked for a multiplayer experience and we answered," said Christoph Hartmann, president of 2K games, which is a publishing label of Take-Two. "With Digital Extremes delivering a multiplayer experience for BioShock 2 that features all of the things that make BioShock unique, we're holding ourselves to a high standard so that we can deliver the depth and variety that fans of the BioShock universe demand."

According to the release, the multiplayer component of Bioshock 2 will provide "a rich prequel experience that expands the origins of the Bioshock fiction." It will award experience points that unlock new weapons and features, and will feature locales present in the original Bioshock game.

Digital Extremes is no stranger to the Bioshock franchise, having played a part in the development of the original game. The studio was also responsible for last year's Dark Sector, and has worked with Epic on the Unreal Tournament franchise.