Mafia II pulling drive-by on X360, PS3, PC

Although many a question mark swirls around EA's proposed $2 billion buyout of Grand Theft Auto IV purveyor Take-Two, one of the more pressing mysteries involves 2K Czech's--nee Illusion Softworks--Mafia franchise. Would EA choose to continue with the series, even though it heavily overlaps the theme and setting of the publisher's own Godfather line of games?

Seeing as how the fate of Mafia won't be determined with any real resolve until after EA's tender offer to Take-Two investors expires on April 18, 2K Czech has no reason to not continue with Mafia II, the latest installment in its gangster series. Along with releasing a new batch of screenshots today, 2K Games officially confirmed that Mafia II would be released on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC. Previously, the game was slated for unspecified "next-generation platforms."

Aside from a teaser trailer and a handful of screenshots, 2K Games has been less than forthcoming with details on Mafia II. However, that information dam will soon be cracking, given that Mafia II will cover the May issue of the Official PlayStation Magazine. In addition to filling in some of the backstory of wiseguy Vito Scaletta's ascent through the ranks of the mid-20th century New York City mob scene, the blowout reveals that the game contains more than 50 vehicles and 10 square miles of unrestricted territory.