Publisher Take-Two Interactive today officially confirmed that a sequel to 2K Boston and 2K Australia's underwater shooter BioShock will arrive during the company's fiscal fourth quarter in 2009.

Take-Two's fourth fiscal quarter runs from August through the end of October.

BioShock 2 is under development by the Novato, California-based studio 2K Marin. The new development house is rumored to consist of several former 2K Boston and 2K Australia employees.

The publisher also announced that BioShock creator Ken Levine will be involved in the development of the sequel, though his role on the project was not specified. Levine's home studio of 2K Boston is rumored to be working on a new X-COM title.

"[Ken Levine] is critical to BioShock," said a Take-Two representative.

No platforms were announced. The game will likely make an appearance on both Xbox 360 and PC, and comments made earlier in the year by 2K Games president Christopher Hartmann indicate the game could also be released on PlayStation 3.

BioShock (PC, X360) publisher 2K Games will continue using Epic's Unreal Engine 3 technology in its future efforts, Epic announced today.

Details on the specific titles are slim, with Epic merely listing the projects as "unannounced." However, 2K president Christoph Hartmann praised UE3 for the ease at which it allows simultaneous PC and console development, suggesting that the games could hit PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

At least one of those titles is likely to be a sequel to the UE3-powered BioShock, as 2K owner Take-Two Interactive has expressed its interest in turning the underwater shooter into an ongoing franchise. Another title in the UFO-centric X-COM series has been rumored as well.

Last fall, job listings indicated that the next project out of 2K's Boston studio would utilize UE3. Formerly known as Irrational Games, 2K Boston and 2K Australia were the studios directly responsible for BioShock.

2K Games also recently announced the opening of 2K Marin, a new studio located at 2K's headquarters in Novato, California. No projects have been announced for the studio, though it reportedly consists of ex-BioShock staff.

2K Games owner Take-Two Interactive has officially announced the creation of 2K Marin, a new development studio located at 2K's new headquarters in Novato, California.

Said to be creating original intellectual properties as well as assisting with other 2K projects, 2K Marin is reported to be made up of some ex-BioShock (PC, X360) staff. BioShock was developed at 2K's studios in Australia and Boston, a tag-team formerly known as Irrational Games.

"We're focused on continuing to bring new brands and cutting-edge gameplay to market with the creation of the 2K Marin studio," said 2K president Christoph Hartmann. "2K Marin will build upon our success in creating and leveraging AAA franchises."