No Online or Multiplayer for Bioshock

2K just released a question and answer FAQ for Bioshock and apparently we shouldn't look forward to either a multiplayer mode, or a playable demo anytime soon.

There is a very good reason for not having any online or multiplayer modes though, and that is because the developers wanted to instead focus solely on the single player mode and make it as good as possible. They do note that new content will eventually be available to download online, but that will be the extent of it.

Likewise we won't be getting any sort of playable demo at this stage because they would also take time away from the single player experience. Here's the most important parts of the Q&A, which you can find in full here.

Will there be a special edition of BioShock released?
We are not planning a Special Edition box set for BioShock, however, members who follow the news and participate in contests and are active in the forums will have a chance to win exclusive BioShock prizes.

Will the game different at all for PC and 360?
The content for both the PC and the 360 will be exactly the same.

Will there be multiplayer or online gaming in BioShock?
There will be no multiplayer (hold on before you complain!!!!) but for a very specific reason. BioShock features a compelling storyline that revolves around the experiences of one man as he enters the decaying world of Rapture. Having a multiplayer component would have compromised the story we were trying to tell so we made the decision to keep this game as a single player experience. There will be an online component, however, where new content can be downloaded.

Are there any lessons from Deus Ex 2 that the team has learned and is using when making BioShock?
Many development teams have learned important lessons from previous attempts to bring PC games to the console, though Deus Ex 2 is an infamous example. One of the main things we are doing differently is that we are leading our development efforts with the 360. Therefore all decisions on HUD and gameplay situations that are made on the 360 will be re-thought and optimized when brought over onto the PC.

Can you hype Ken Levine more like CliffyB?
Ken is very busy making BioShock a phenomenal game for you, but he will be giving more written and spoken interviews for those of you interested.

Will fire be more natural in BioShock, and stay lit till put out or till it burns itself out? Will there be puzzle fires?
We are giving a lot of attention to fire in BioShock. Anything that should burn in the game does. When lit, a fire will burn for a bit until it goes out on its own. We’ve also designed many situations, both combat and environmental, where you as the play must figure out the best way to use your fire plasmid.

Will BioShock have a playable demo, and if so, when?
No playable demo is planned at this time, as the team is focused on the actual game. Things could change, however.