Irrational Games, the studio behind the original Bioshock, has been keeping a tight lid on news regarding its current project. After weeks of speculation, mysterious teaser websites, and a press-only event, Ken Levine & Co. are finally talking about what’s next. This week, Irrational revealed Bioshock: Infinite. Coming in 2012 to PC, PS3, and Xbox 360, the game may exist in the same fictional universe as the original Bioshock but the setting is a far-cry from the underwater dystopia of Rapture. Bioshock: Infinite takes to the skies as the game’s protagonist, Booker DeWitt, is sent to the floating city of Columbia. Set in 1912, the game channels themes of American nationalism, isolationism, and looks chock-full of the sort of subtext Levine fans have come to expect.

The design is an exciting mix of turn-of-the-century steampunk combined with the larger-than-life stylings that made Rapture so memorable. Every character, every corner, every piece of Columbia looks like it could be just as breathtaking as our first descent down the bathosphere.

The connection to Rapture, Andrew Ryan, and the rest of the Bioshock lore is still unclear but the first trailer does hint at some connections. We can’t wait to see what Irrational does with Infinite and knowing we’ve got to wait until 2012 to get there makes the news sting just a little. Until then, we’ll be here hitting ‘Replay’ over and over.