Mafia III shifts the open-world crime saga to New Orleans in the 1960s
Better yet, it's not the same 'ol mob tale we've grown accustomed to
The Mafia series hasn’t been quite as massively popular as Grand Theft Auto – also under Take-Two Interactive’s umbrella – but it’s been rightly praised for creating interesting, era-appropriate worlds to tackle a bit of criminal activity within.
Given that, we’re excited to hear more about Mafia III, which was just properly revealed yesterday at Gamescom. The two previous entries were set in the 1930s and 1940s, respectively, but this new Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC adventure shifts the action ahead to New Orleans in 1968.
It should be an intriguing setting for an open-world action affair, but Mafia III‘s appeal comes from more than just location. Moving past the tried-and-true Italian organized crime stories of the past, this entry features a returned Vietnam War veteran named Lincoln Clay who gets tangled up in the black mob. In fact, it’s the Italian mob they’re fighting against.
Developed by Hanger 13, 2K Games’ upstart California studio that features some former members of series creator 2K Czech, the game puts a premium on narrative choice, supposedly allowing players to shape Clay’s revenge tale along the way.
"The Mafia franchise is known for its immersive sense of time and place, and for presenting compelling stories about life within organized crime,” said Haden Blackman, Hanger 13’s studio head and creative director. “In Mafia III, we are introducing players to an unexpected new anti-hero and an iconic city to explore, all within a hard-boiled drama set during one of the most turbulent years in American history."
It’s due out sometime in 2016, and if we had to guess based on the timing of the reveal, we’d say later in the year. Stay tuned for more coverage coming out of Gamescom this week.
[Source: YouTube]
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Andrew Hayward
Freelance Writer 
