Mafia 3 dev discusses early ideas, as new gameplay trailer arrives
The developer considered having the game pick up in 1952, right after the events of Mafia II.
Developer Hangar 13 has revealed some of the ideas it kicked around for the next game in the Mafia series before deciding to go with what would become Mafia III.
Creative director Haden Blackman told the PlayStation Blog that Hangar 13 considered returning to Mafia II's Empire Bay, a fictional city inspired by Chicago and New York. Hangar 13 also thought about "a number of smaller locales rather than a single, more expansive city," Blackman said. Additionally, the team considered having the game start in 1952, not long after the events of Mafia II. Another idea would have told a story across the entirety of the '60s. Ideas for a main character included a "fixer" (someone who could handle any mafia problem), a crooked police officer and a low-level mobster who got in way over his head.
New Orleans was perfect because it "checked off all those boxes," Blackman said.
Mafia III is set in 1968 and you play as Lincoln Clay, a mixed-race Vietnam veteran; the game's story will tackle racism and that war.
For more on Mafia III, be sure to check out GameSpot's "Reviving Mafia" series. You can watch the first episode here, while the second is available through the video embed above.
Additionally, a new Mafia III trailer was released today that talks about how Clay's underbosses work with him to help get revenge on Sal Marcano. Watch it below.
Mafia III launches this Friday, October 7, for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC. A spinoff for mobile devices also launches that day.