Everything We Know About Mafia III

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A life of crime doesn't pay or so those crooked politicians would have you believe. 2K Games is offering us a different perspective with Mafia III set during late 1960s America.

War and Peace in New Bordeaux

Set during 1968 in the city of New Bordeaux we'll be covering events spanning 9 months instead of years like in the previous Mafia games. We'll also be playing as Lincoln Clay, an orphaned and mixed race war veteran of Vietnam who came back and was betrayed.

Some take a bullet to the head and the massacre of those who you considered family to be an end point, but not Lincoln. Instead the rather angry former soldier decides down a very different path and sets out to get revenge.

Interestingly the whole story of Mafia III  is actually interspersed with a documentary that's being told, and touches on all the major events that happen through Lincoln's war against the mob. These include interviews from FBI and other notable characters we'll meet.

Friends, Enemies and Family

The more traditional mafia in New Bordeaux has stabbed us in the back and left us for dead. In our crusade for revenge we'll have to pick apart this organised criminal empire, and pick up the crumbs for ourselves along the way.

To aid us in our struggle against such an enterprise we need allies and that's where our friends-of-circumstance come into it.

The most notable of our would-be lieutenants is Vito Scaletta, who is in fact the protagonist from Mafia II. He's joined by the Haitian leader Cassandra and the Irish mob leader Thomas Burke. Each have their reasons for joining Lincoln.

These three comprise the new 'family' Lincoln makes for himself as he convinces them to set aside differences to focus on the bigger foe each of them has.

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Rome Wasn't Built in a Day

You can't just stroll up to the big cheese and hope to kill the mafia beast that left you for dead. It will take time to not just dismantle the enemy but to then turn their own strengths against them.

For the first time in the Mafia series we'll be actually running a criminal empire. Mafia III introduces something of 'business management' to the mix but what it really means is you'll be dividing up territory you've poached to your new family.

Naturally each of the three will argue their case for why they should get the lion's share of the city-wide rackets, but it's up to Lincoln to make the call. It's not just for aesthetics either as the more you give to a certain lieutenant the more powerful and useful certain perks they grant you will become as they gain more influence.

Should you shun Vito, Cassandra or Thomas enough then you'll like be faced with the tough decision to kill them as they leave you little choice but to put down their rebellion.

Going Loud and Unseen

There's no strict way to tackle most things in Mafia III as Hangar 13 made sure most scenarios can be approached how you prefer. You can barge into areas with a car and come out shooting and grenade spamming, but you can ghost your way through too.

There's on-foot and vehicle combat which has been in since the very first Mafia game. Naturally there are significant improvements and some tasty set-piece battles such as the shoot-out aboard a steam boat that's also a casino, because of course it is.

Before securing a major chunk of the city for yourself you'll have to deal with the area's enforcers who protect their boss. Should you decide not to weaken the mob's grip by whacking the enforcers then they'll fall back and make for one hell of a tough battle when you go to claim what's rightfully Lincoln's and take on the boss in their hideout.

The perks of your family lieutenants can really help out here if you've been helping them get stronger. You could have them run interference with the switch board operators to keep reinforcements from showing up, or have some gun-toting backup arrive.

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What Did You Call Me?

Developer Hanger 13 hasn't shied away from a particular issue when it comes to this 1968 re-imagined New Orleans. Racism was rampant during this time in American history and the team felt it would be a disservice to pretend it wasn't.

They also show many sides of the city, which they call New Bordeaux. We'll get to see the cleaner and more affluent areas but also the most deprived quarters and even explore the crime and predator infested bayou.

Post Release Finery And Freebies - Season Pass

Just because a game is released doesn't mean the party has to stop. Already there's a line-up for more content for Mafia III via a Season Pass. It's not just a bunch of cosmetics or, new weapons or vehicles either but "unique story expansions".

2K Games are going to be giving out "free recurring content," they tease. Now these will include new outfits, with more weapons coming (gold plated) 30 days after launch. There's also go to be more vehicle customisation and new free races added.

"We know what it feels like to finish a game and want more – more story, more locations, more action.  So, now that we’re doing some final polishing up on Mafia III before the October 7 launch, we’re starting work on new story expansions."

"These are wholly separate experiences that reveal more about Lincoln Clay’s time in New Bordeaux. As these stories will reveal, the Italian Mafia isn’t the only threat Lincoln faces…"

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They reveal at least three major story expansions are coming and they've teased them:

• “Faster, Baby!”

Fast cars, dramatic chases, and stunt driving take center stage as Lincoln joins forces with his former flame, Roxy Laveau, to take down a corrupt Sheriff terrorizing Civil Rights activists on the outskirts of New Bordeaux.

• “Sign of the Times”

A string of ritualistic killings has New Bordeaux on the edge of terror. At Father James’ request, Lincoln agrees to hunt down the cult responsible, a quest that will take him from the dark heart of the old bayou to the drug-ridden counterculture of the inner city.

• “Stones Unturned”

When a merciless rival resurfaces in New Bordeaux, Lincoln must join forces with CIA agent John Donovan to settle a blood feud that began in the war-torn jungles of Vietnam.

"Along with new story and character additions to New Bordeaux you’ll find new activities to engage in to expand and diversify your criminal empire. And, yes, these paid expansions will also offer exclusive vehicles, weapons, outfits and races based upon their themes."

The Season Pass is priced at $29.99 / €40 / £33.99. The stories will be individually available.

Shipping Back Home - Release Date

Back in late 2010 it was revealed Mafia III had entered development but for a long time very little was ever said about it. In early 2012 it has just entered full production having spent at least a year in pre-production. The project seemed to have been radically altered.

The latest in the series was officially announced in July 2015 after actor Rick Pasqualone, who voices Vito Scaletta, teased in January of that year there'd be "some exciting Mafia news very soon."

Mafia III releass on PC, Xbox One and PlayStation 4 October 7th.

Mafia III
It’s 1968 and the rules have changed. After years of combat in Vietnam, Lincoln Clay knows this truth: Family isn’t w...
Release Dates
7 Oct 2016-Xbox One
7 Oct 2016-PC
7 Oct 2016-PS4
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