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GameSpot Video Games, PC, Wii, PlayStation 2, GameCube, PSP, DS, GBA, PS2, PS3, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3

Take-Two confirms Max Payne 3

CEO Jeffrey Lapin says a third gritty shooter is in the works, but uncertainty surrounds the game's developer.
By Tor Thorsen, GameSpot
Posted Mar 10, 2004 12:04 pm PT

After Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne was released last autumn, its title sounded eerily prophetic.

Despite critical acclaim, the sequel to Rockstar's popular graphic-novel-inspired shooter barely broke NPD's top 10 best-selling PC games. In February, Jeffrey L. Lapin, CEO of Rockstar parent Take-Two Interactive, went so far as to blame the publisher's lower-than-expected Q4 2003 earnings on Max Payne 2's lackluster sales.

Today, in Palm Beach, Florida, Lapin echoed those statements. "Max Payne [2] came out in November and did not do as well as we thought," he said. "In fact, it did fairly poorly compared to our expectations."

However, Lapin surprised some by confirming Take-Two's intent to make Max Payne 3. "There'll be another Max Payne," he said in a presentation at the 17th Annual Bear Stearns Media, Entertainment and Information Conference. "I think we'll take a few years to make the next one that much more spectacular is what we have to do. But it's clearly a brand that everybody knows."

Lapin's comments dispelled the clouds of doubt hanging over the third Max Payne game. Though some had seen Take-Two's registration of the URL www.maxpayne3.com as proof the game was coming out, others pointed out that the URL was registered in 2002, long before Max Payne 2 was even released.

While Max Payne 3 is now all but officially announced, confusion has emerged over who is developing the game. While the first two Max Payne games were developed by Finland-based Remedy Games, Lapin made no mention of them in his comments today. Adding to the uncertainty was a post on Shacknews.com from someone claiming to be Mikael Kasurinen, one of Max Payne 2's level designers. "FYI: We are not making Max Payne 3," read the terse post.

Efforts to contact Remedy were unfruitful as of press time. A Rockstar representative contacted by GameSpot said he had no knowledge that plans for Max Payne 3 were underway, let alone who was developing it.

GameSpot will update this story as developments warrant.

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67 Comments

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chad28_69

do you think it will come to ps2 or ps3? But better then adaptation, this time.

Posted Jun 16, 2008 8:51 am PT
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antonisole

Remedy. You have to make this game at all cost. Max Payne is my second favorite franchise ( Resident evil is my favorite )

Posted Apr 14, 2008 5:26 am PT
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zaptoman

Oh please let it be true! Don't tease me!

Posted Mar 25, 2008 7:36 am PT
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HolteEnder4Life

no console version? im really disappointed

Posted Mar 23, 2008 8:36 pm PT
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Proman84

Remedy! Please be done by Remedy! They are the only ones who can do it justice!

Posted Mar 12, 2008 1:33 pm PT
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justin315

oh yeah! i love max payne! hopefully they would port this to all the of the next gen consoles =D
it was dis heartening that they canceled the project, but thank god that its back!

Posted Mar 11, 2008 7:20 pm PT
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abnormalka

i want the maxpayne 3.....why they cancelled it!!!!!
i really embarassed!!!

Posted Jan 14, 2008 7:41 pm PT
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gnomecraps

Let it come out tomorrow, and out of its discreet shadows.
Remedy made it in to its fortune, and remedy is paramount to it's gritty prevalence.

Posted Dec 29, 2007 9:13 pm PT
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potmichael

i wish i woulda bought a 1000 copies of max payne 2 jsut to help em out for making such a kick ass game! seriously that games rag doll physics are still top notch in 07... please make a max payne 3 game for the next gen..

Posted Nov 20, 2007 11:52 pm PT
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aygol

Oh I wish Max Payne 3 was in production...

Posted Nov 3, 2007 3:08 am PT
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sirdanrhodes

Read Max Payne 2 news, you will see that there will be a new red revolver game(or something about that) and max payne 3. Go check it out!

Posted Oct 10, 2007 2:21 pm PT
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Olaoye_tw

I cant belive there is no Max Payne 3! Its one of the best action games! I agree with Arab-man; It should actually take a step in next gen gaming. Remedy, 'sup with u?

Posted Oct 7, 2007 3:01 pm PT
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Da_Bacon_master

It says its been canceled

Posted Sep 22, 2007 10:12 pm PT
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lilburtonboy748

thiswould be my most anticipated game....ever.

Posted Sep 21, 2007 10:34 pm PT
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davidl3631

I really hope a max payne 3 does come out as the first two games where great!

Posted Sep 11, 2007 7:26 pm PT
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rckljohnson

Lets just hope they're delaying for the reason that they want people to really want to buy the game whenever it comes out.

Posted Sep 11, 2007 5:26 pm PT
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Arab-man666

Good lord, start this series up, and take it to next Gen. Rockstar, comon.

Posted Sep 7, 2007 4:51 pm PT
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zerapup

So whats up with Max Payne 3? One of my favorite series btw

Posted Aug 29, 2007 5:44 am PT
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norton158

They should make Max Payne 3... there are much buyers! Try doing it for a console then, if they dont like it after all on pc because of bootleg.

Posted Aug 25, 2007 9:04 pm PT
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marioman50

Wahhh!!, I need you, max!!

Posted Aug 20, 2007 8:32 pm PT
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g3n3r41xan

I'm very saddened too. I really was hoping they would make the third one. I like many other games but Max Payne series has really addicted me. I love 1 and 2 so much that... that... I don't know what ill do without them.
I hope somehow they make the third one.

Posted Aug 14, 2007 3:22 am PT
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fearNot35432

What? It Is Canceled? I Will Know The Reason:Just Because Remedy Ent. Is Trying To Develop A Game For Windows Vista

Posted Jul 16, 2007 10:21 pm PT
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Vol_Djin

let's turn our eyes to remedy's latest project: "Alan Wake"! if they canceled Max Payne 3 for this, this...Silent Hill-ish non-sense made with those Microsoft bastards...........

Posted May 27, 2007 9:51 am PT
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rockstarrem

Confirmed and cancelled? I don't get it. I know this article is like 3 years old but still... is it really cancelled?

Posted May 19, 2007 8:53 pm PT
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dukerav

Coincidently I was cleaning out my closet that has a small box full of old console and PC games and came upon this, believe it or not I had forgotten I even had MP 1 & 2. Im currently in the process of playing back through both of them, and enjoying it. I realize this article is a few years old, but I like others would also love to see a part three or even a prequel. Also as someone else stated earlier, one possible reason, and maybe not the whole reason for lackluster sales, could be pirated copies, it makes sense, and its a total shame if thats the reason behind the sales. Here's to hoping that Take Two or someone at least drops a bombshell and officially announces this as coming out, Id rather see this than Duke Nukem Forever.

Posted Apr 27, 2007 9:58 pm PT
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number1wwefan

Please make this game. I absolutely fell in love with the first rendition when "X-Box" had first came out. At first, I hated that console, but that was until I played this and "Halo"! I didn't really like the second installment, but if they revamp the story and make it completely dark for the next episode, I'd be down for that. Hell, as a writer, I wouldnn't mind to help "Sam Lake" with the story. I think that I could have some considerable ideas for a mixture of plots. Although, they may not be as brilliant as "Sam Lake's", I'd give a go at it. I think that this will almost definitely come into fruition once the movie is gotten done with. Until then, I will be waiting patiently as a die-hard fan. So, "Take-Two Interactive", please look at my post if you happen to stop by and "take-two" looks at this post before considering to overlook it. Believe me, you won't regret it.....

Posted Mar 29, 2007 6:37 pm PT
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Darker_88

I never been seen max payne 3.

Posted Mar 29, 2007 4:42 am PT
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hscs

Max Payne 3 is delaying to much to be released, I see it was confirmed since 2004 and until now nothing is pronunciated, I think and hope the game come with the support of DirectX10 and the new graphic series (GeForce 8xxx) of Nvidia.

Posted Mar 18, 2007 10:11 am PT
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Teddy2227

max payne 1 was awesome with it's eerie storyline and its great gameplay. max payne 2 was alright, but lets not change the company's state of thought with our comments. lets let them concentrate on max payne 3, guys your doing a great job keep going

Posted Mar 17, 2007 4:58 pm PT
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maxfire45

I hope the actually come out with this. I loved the other two. I also hope they come out with the movie they promised in the case of max payne 1

Posted Mar 15, 2007 10:20 am PT
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lil_d_mack_314

MP1 is like my favorite game i would love to see this game come out, and like Blaklyon said i hope it doesnt end up like Duke Nukem

Posted Mar 14, 2007 11:48 am PT
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TheBlaklyon

I heard that the game was canceled but, I hope and pray that it doesn't end up like duke nukem...

Posted Feb 28, 2007 9:03 pm PT
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ForlornHope

awesome this is a fantastic series. I really hope it doesn't get stuck in dev hell...

Posted Jan 23, 2007 3:23 am PT
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Sahfire

Sometimes I really wish to stop people from downloading games, instead of buying them. Max Payne 2 is one game many have, but not payed for.

Posted Jan 4, 2007 2:44 pm PT
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pizzamanopenup

"FYI: We are not making Max Payne 3," Maybe it's a prequel?

Posted Dec 27, 2006 6:09 pm PT
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gtafan007

where are the pics man?This article is soooo old.

It seems that the new Remedy game is a sort of 'spiritual successor' to MP 2.

Posted Dec 26, 2006 9:16 am PT
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weimingmax

i wan maxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Posted Dec 22, 2006 3:39 am PT
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Daveskater89

are they going to release this? this article is 2 and a half years old now and there's no more news on it.

Posted Dec 13, 2006 4:58 am PT
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alex_morel_123

I hope this game comes out.

Posted Dec 2, 2006 8:52 pm PT
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lolth16

Max Payne 1 & 2 were f****** great the story lines were great and elements in the game were suspenseful. Max payne 2 added the Havoc engine that Half -life 2 uses which was great. I knew when I beat #2 they had to be considering Max Payne 3. You can't just leave a series like that hanging undone. I can't wait till #3.

Posted Nov 27, 2006 5:36 pm PT
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theking12341234

Hello why you dont try to make new motion for max payen and give new music like ERA in this game

Posted Nov 23, 2006 6:58 am PT
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lethalweaponhar

==
szewei85
i ardy give up hopes on MP3 since i have played a lot of better FPS along the 2 intense years. ==

szewei85, MAX PAYNE is not a FPS, its a 3rd person shooter, no other game has put a better story like max payne, u cant compare now days FPS to max payne, that is plain dumb.

Posted Nov 3, 2006 4:13 pm PT
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Poshkidney

Ha yay i hope they come out with some news out soon

Posted Oct 19, 2006 4:33 am PT
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Rage_3k_Moiz

NakedSnakeSS2G, if you've played through and completed MP2 on the Hard-Boiled difficulty level, u will find out that there is an alternate ending in which Mona Sax is actually alive. A setting for MP3? Maybe. But a prequel would be cool too, seeing as in the first game, Max was called 'a repeated felon'. So the new story would show how is he so good at what he does and does he have a past that is obscured in darkness. Kinda like the Viggo movie 'A History of Violence'.

Posted Sep 27, 2006 1:53 am PT
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weremfff

word

Posted Sep 20, 2006 10:54 am PT
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Litis

Two years have passed since it was announced, what's taking them too long? It has to be released. Max Payne was awesome.

Posted Sep 14, 2006 11:36 am PT
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vergilskater

yesssssssss

Posted Sep 5, 2006 4:09 pm PT
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szewei85

i ardy give up hopes on MP3 since i have played a lot of better FPS along the 2 intense years.

Posted Aug 27, 2006 2:05 am PT
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Armando05

since they say remedy is not goint o make it so who is going to.
who knows the game might be totally diffrent wich is not going to be the same is gonna be suck u know alll that was a dream thats why they call it the american dream at the last part he even says it him selsf at the end he says ("i had a dream that my wife was dead but it was alright")but most likely he is going to wake up or something or like that guy says some cases he worked on before his wife and baby died. trust me remedy has to make the game or it aint going to be no max payne no more.

Posted Aug 16, 2006 11:24 pm PT
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