2K Games have announced some more concrete details surrounding the (debatable if necessary) multiplayer mode for their upcoming first-person shooter adventure game, Bioshock 2.

First up is the news that Digital Extremes (Dark Sector, co-creators of the Unreal Franchise) will be handling the multiplayer mode for Bioshock 2, working closely with frontline developers 2K Marin to create a “substantial element that enhances the lore and fiction of the BioShock universe.” President of 2K, Christoph Hartmann said:

“The fans asked for a multiplayer experience and we answered. 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.”

In Bioshock 2’s multiplayer component, you’ll be taking on the role of a Plasmid test subject for the game’s fictional corporation, Sinclair Solutions, “a premier provider of Plasmids and Tonics in the underwater city of Rapture.”

Plasmids, you’ll remember from the first game, are essentially enhancements that you can apply that give you powerful abilities, such as telekinesis, mastery of fire and ice, and… shooting bees out of your hands… as well as other self-improvement applications.

Multiplayer in Bioshock 2 delivers a prequel experience that expands upon the fiction introduced in the original game, as it’s set before the fall of Rapture, the aftermath of which was seen in Bioshock.

Players will be able to take advantage of a wide range of tonics and Plasmids, and combinations of each, to survive against other players in the world. A key list of features are provided in bulletin form, which reads as follows:

• Evolution of the genetically enhanced shooter – Earn experience points during gameplay to earn access to new Weapons, Plasmids and Tonics that can be used to create hundreds of different combinations, allowing players to develop a unique character that caters to their playing style.

• Extend the Rapture fiction – Players will step into the shoes of Rapture citizens and learn more about the fall of Rapture as they progress through the experience.

• See Rapture before the fall – Experience Rapture before it was reclaimed by the ocean and engage in combat over iconic environments in locations such as Kashmir Restaurant and Mercury Suites, all of which have been reworked from the ground up to deliver a fast-paced multiplayer experience.

• FPS veterans add their touch to the multiplayer experience – Digital Extremes brings more than 10 years of first person shooter experience including development of award-winning entries in the Unreal and Unreal Tournament franchise.

Bioshock 2 is currently in development for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC, and is slated for a release later this year.