Max Payne 3 coming in 2009?

  • By thorsen-ink, GameSpot
  • Posted Mar 11, 2008 6:34 pm PT

Source: See below. What we heard: During a presentation to analysts in March 2004, then-Take-Two CEO Jeffrey L. Lapin lamented "poor" sales of Max Payne 2, blaming them for his company's lackluster earnings. He then promptly announced his company's intention to make another installment in...

Source: See below.

What we heard: During a presentation to analysts in March 2004, then-Take-Two CEO Jeffrey L. Lapin lamented "poor" sales of Max Payne 2, blaming them for his company's lackluster earnings. He then promptly announced his company's intention to make another installment in the series. "There'll be another Max Payne," he told attendees of 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."

Since then, a few years--four, to be exact--have passed. During that time, Take-Two released the best-selling game in its history, endured a massive scandal, saw a stockolder revolt, and became the subject of a takeover bid by Electronic Arts. After Original Max Payne developer Remedy began work on the 360 and PC title Alan Wake--which has been almost as elusive as the next Max Payne game.

After a prolonged silence, Take-Two name-checked the series again during an earnings call on September 11, 2007. "In addition to Grand Theft Auto, our roster of million-plus-selling, wholly-owned brands includes BioShock, Civilization, Midnight Club, Max Payne, Red Dead Revolver, Manhunt and Bully," CEO Ben Feder said. "We fully intend to leverage these products, which are on development cycles that should complement and counterbalance each other." (Emphasis added.)

Nor did the publisher's deliberate ambiguity stop an analyst from asking CEO Straus Zelnick about the game in a postearnings conference call today. When asked directly about when the Max Payne--which is currently being adapted into a film--would reappear in game form, Zelnick dodged the question--but also left a tantalizing hint. "In terms of Max Payne, we will sell no wine before its time. It's a little early to comment on any particular title," he said. "But we have a lot of interesting things going on."

The official story: Given Rockstar Games' semiautonomous nature inside Take-Two's corporate structure, Take-Two reps passed along GameSpot's inquires to the New York-based publisher, which had closed for the day. However, it's worth noting that in the same phone call, Zelnick promised "sequels to some of Rockstar's AAA titles" were set for Take-Two's 2009 financial year, which begins on November 1--leading many to speculate Max Payne 3 could be among them.

Bogus or not bogus?: Bogus that Max Payne 3 has been announced for 2009. However, the fact Take-Two has repeatedly said there will be a new installment in the Max Payne franchise makes it seem like there will almost certainly be one...eventually.

226 Comments

  • sonchampa

    Posted Nov 20, 2009 2:06 am PT

    wow...i didnt even know that max payne 3 has released..iam done with 1 and 2....waiting for the 3rd..its gonna be awsome ..!!!!..wanna play it..!!!

  • dudu22

    Posted Aug 3, 2009 5:49 am PT

    The game has nothing of the original series, I think the innovations of the third will blow away the game style that was in 1 and 2

  • demetrius---

    Posted Jul 27, 2009 8:55 pm PT

    my bro loves max payne
    he beaten max payne 1 n max payne 2 the fall of max payne
    nd ima get him this game wen it comes out
    hope its going to be gr8 like 1 n 2

  • brian_13un

    Posted Jul 9, 2009 7:13 am PT

    great

  • SALADENY

    Posted Mar 29, 2009 5:37 am PT

    max payne 3 its good story

  • bostadskontrakt

    Posted Mar 16, 2009 5:19 am PT

    Nooooooo! They're doing it again. Pumping out sequels to earn money on something that holds reputation. They are explicit about being happy to water Max Payne down for money. Look into the future and we'll also see Resident Evil 10 and Metal Gear Solid 8 and Silent Hill 9. Let the original games rest in peace for crying out loud! Come up with a fresh idea instead you fools!

  • Altair_666

    Posted Feb 11, 2009 4:55 pm PT

    i hope max payne 3 have an excellent story like it's predecessors, specially the first one... i also hope that max payne 3 will be more realistic, no more "magic pockets" on max's jacket where u get a f***ing arsenal xD... and maybe a little of gore (when u shoot a bad guy with shotgun for example, that him legs go off)

    i don't know... xD

  • mazza223

    Posted Jan 26, 2009 2:49 am PT

    sux my pc cant play games im a die hard max payne fan...............................................................i am max payne except change the last name we have same initials i only have ps2 2 play max payne on tho so make it on ps2 but mp2 sucked with ps2 i played it on pc it rocked number 1 woz better on ps2 better graphics and no slow frame rate wen ppl shot

  • spikex8

    Posted Jan 19, 2009 10:51 am PT

    Max Payne 3: The Rise of Max Payne? (prequel anyone?)

  • method115

    Posted Jan 14, 2009 10:26 pm PT

    I'm still trying to figure out why they stopped making the games. Then I'm confused why it wasn't brought back with the FPS boom currently going on.

  • EXODYS

    Posted Jan 6, 2009 11:57 pm PT

    Max Payne 3? Yes please :-D

  • ThePowerOfHAT

    Posted Jan 4, 2009 2:48 am PT

    Still hoping they further differentiate it from the first two games. I'd like the old Max Payne 1 style of bullet time back (no more faster-than-a-speeding-bullet-Max, please), but I'd like to see the game use a cover system similar to what you see in games like Gears Of War. Except rather than spending most of your time firing from behind cover like you would in those games, you'd be shootdodging from cover to cover, and only staying behind cover to heal and reload. Essentially, gameplay would be more similar to the first game, though cover would be easier (and more necessary) to use.

    The hardest part of it all has to be the story, though. Max Payne 2 really did a great job of tying up all the loose ends from the first game, and I honestly don't know what the third game could be about.

  • Wings_008

    Posted Dec 31, 2008 11:06 am PT

    i am cleaning my Desert Eagle!!

  • Eat_My_Shorts35

    Posted Dec 21, 2008 9:30 pm PT

    i really wishthey make a red dead revolver 2, that was my favorite western game and one of my favorite games of all time

  • maggun5129

    Posted Dec 7, 2008 12:17 am PT

    I reckon people are over-reacting with their "omg max payyne i luv u i wont live if they dont maek a 3rd game!1!!!111!" comments. Now, while I personally thought that Max Payne was great and Max Payne 2 was pretty good (but not as good as the first), this does not give me a reason for tears if Max Payne 3 is not released. Just let it be. Released? Hooray, let's play(!). Abandoned? Meh, just play the original games.

  • IzE-DraGoN

    Posted Dec 5, 2008 7:42 am PT

    "have no fear... vlad is here" " Max, dearest of all my friends"

  • Superdude475

    Posted Nov 30, 2008 9:26 pm PT

    Maybe Max Payne 3 will be the new Duke Nukem: Forever.

  • Phantsy16

    Posted Nov 28, 2008 5:46 am PT

    woooo!

  • Moppyp

    Posted Nov 27, 2008 4:49 pm PT

    YESSS max payne 3!! will rock!

  • Killingspree303

    Posted Nov 27, 2008 10:33 am PT

    "They were all dead. The final gunshot was an exclamation mark to everything that had led to this point. I released my finger from the trigger. And then it was over".

    The best quote from the first game. I just hope that the third game is more like the first. The second game was great, but not as great as the first game.

  • General5S

    Posted Nov 27, 2008 2:37 am PT

    Need alot of pain killer now... it's too long!!!

  • Francision69

    Posted Nov 27, 2008 1:14 am PT

    The wait it so long...

  • seymoor1

    Posted Nov 26, 2008 7:07 pm PT

    CAN'T WAIT FOR MAX PAYNE 3.....

  • brian_13un

    Posted Nov 22, 2008 9:55 pm PT

    GOOD ONE!!

  • larz66621

    Posted Nov 1, 2008 2:00 am PT

    please bring the pain one last time rock* and t2.

  • Gtgamer13fresh

    Posted Oct 31, 2008 3:10 pm PT

    ''However, it's worth noting that in the same phone call, Zelnick promised "sequels to some of Rockstar's AAA titles" were set for Take-Two's 2009 financial year, which begins on November 1--leading many to speculate Max Payne 3 could be among them.''

    November 1 2009 or November 1 2008?

  • TranceWarpDDR

    Posted Oct 31, 2008 2:14 pm PT

    Both games are great IMHO. I liked the movie, but the roles and plot line were significantly different from the games. Makes me wonder what Mr. Moore was smoking when he said the movie and games were so similar.

  • viiin2

    Posted Oct 24, 2008 4:49 pm PT

    I was watching on tv the behind the scenes look at max payne the movie and they asked the director John Moore some questions. This movie looks nothing like the game ooh for maybe a couple of building office scenes and thats it. I'm a hardcore gamer and I actually played the game way back in the summer of 2001 on the pc.The director even goes out and says its so similar to the game people wont be able to tell the difference......could you be more stupid? Mark Wahlberg looks nothing like Max Payne Max has black hair not light hair . The plot in the movie is kinda close to the plot in the real game but still missing parts. The developers who made the game in finland should look at this movie and be shocked about what some american director John Moore with glasses ruined the max payne name. I'm actually thinking about calling them in there offices in finland and gonna ask them if they want to file charges against John Moore. Even most critics agree with me.... I could go on and on but I'd be here all day anyway if you have played max payne and truly know the real max you you should be disgusted by this movie....anyway I hope Max Payne 3 will be nothing like the movie lets hope they make it great

  • hotbodyboy_2006

    Posted Oct 22, 2008 2:53 am PT

    Max Payne 1 was the BEST!! 2 was a Pain in the ASS! Can't wait for 3!!

  • number1wwefan

    Posted Oct 18, 2008 7:03 am PT

    It's time that the third Max Payne gets it's release. It seems as though they've been taking their sweet time with Alan Wake, too (Which kind of interests me.). They need to get the finished product moving, already! CHOP-CHOP!!!

  • linmukai

    Posted Oct 12, 2008 10:13 am PT

    This has to happen and I can't wait. Best story telling PC Shooter I've ever seen by far.

  • BlueSinew

    Posted Oct 11, 2008 2:44 pm PT

    I'll believe it when I see it!

  • jaux

    Posted Oct 9, 2008 11:42 am PT

    I dont see picture

  • Ronsta666

    Posted Sep 21, 2008 12:19 pm PT

    To the guy who thinks it will be called "Max Payne 3," I saw a picture of the cover, and it said "Max Payne 3: Rise From the Ashes". P.S., I really love the Max Payne series, and I'm glad to hear that they mentioned Max Payne 3. Even if it doesn't happen, just be glad they thought about it .

  • kayos539

    Posted Sep 20, 2008 1:59 pm PT

    I hope to god they don't use Mark Wahlberg and Mila Kunis' likeness for the characters. That would be disastrous *shudder* I want the same actors from the second game back. They better not screw with it and try to tie it to the crappy movie that's coming out.

  • lop890

    Posted Sep 20, 2008 12:40 pm PT

    max payne 3 has been CANCELLED in sept 19 2008 just joking around its coming soon well not soon in late 2009 movie sucks dont watch it

  • ed_banger

    Posted Sep 18, 2008 9:38 am PT

    Max Payne 1 + 2 still remain my favorite games, still play them now. I think the movie looks terrible. Max payne is a video games take on film noir, Hitchcock, John Woo. To then turn those references back into film (esp using a director like John Moore) defeats the purpose. OK, ok, I probably am looking too far into this but I believe it was what gave the game such depth and success... Arrg Mark Wahlberg.

  • chilipepperman

    Posted Sep 7, 2008 1:07 am PT

    i hope there is a max payne 3, max payne 2 is the best game i have ever played

  • TFrieden0928

    Posted Aug 26, 2008 5:37 pm PT

    That is pretty good news, even though I had inevitably thought that there would be another installment of the series because of the delays of alan wake and the long strech between max payne 2. Also the movie is coming out, the game shouldnt take this long to come out, the series is known for its disturbing story and hard boiled gameplay, it should only be improved upon to a "next gen" level, not drasticly changed to a extent that takes more than four yrs. However, I do think it is a series that should continue on, but the waiting is so ridicolous that i have almost forgot about the franchise and i gave up on the hope for a sequel.

  • proogammer

    Posted Aug 24, 2008 8:25 am PT

    Thats good news. MaxPayne 1 & 2 is the best action game i ever played.

  • WWE_CHAIRMAN

    Posted Aug 21, 2008 6:31 pm PT

    I have no doubts that Max Payne 3 will come out, I only hope the gameplay is as good as the deep and disturbing storyline of the first. Don't change the game just improve on it.

  • chowdhary1992

    Posted Aug 19, 2008 12:47 pm PT

    Max payne is the best action game and it' series has to continue.

  • winterwolfx

    Posted Aug 16, 2008 4:08 pm PT

    It seems you haven't seen the scores of max payne for pc on for ps2, when it's for ps2 it's always worse. So for pc is and will be better.
    Hope to see one of my favorite games so good as it have been by now.

  • ADPowers

    Posted Aug 10, 2008 3:19 pm PT

    I absolutely love the Max Payne games. I seriously hope it comes out for the PS3 cuz it would be much better on it.

  • gameoveriso

    Posted Aug 9, 2008 3:15 pm PT

    exactly what i was waiting for finally the third chapter after a long last wait and excited about the movie too....!

  • gameoveriso

    Posted Aug 9, 2008 3:15 pm PT

    exactly what i was waiting for finally the third chapter after a long last wait and excited about the movie too....!

  • CrazySupra

    Posted Jul 31, 2008 4:07 am PT

    Yes! finally they opened the Max Payne project again. I've been monitoring the film Max Payne since it appeared on IMDB back in July 2005, been crossing my fingers for the movie to trigger a 3rd game...and now its fnially happend!!!!!!

  • sirjameschen

    Posted Jul 25, 2008 12:52 am PT

    Oh yeah. All that and I always thought Mona Sax was blisteringly hot. I never thought I'd say that about a video game character.

  • sirjameschen

    Posted Jul 25, 2008 12:47 am PT

    PLEASE GOD PLEASE. I NEED MAX PAYNE BACK IN MY LIFE.
    Honestly, just thinking about playing the first two games is like a trip back in time, back to a time when everything was right, when I still had a pc that could play new games. Hell, even if the movie sucks I'll go see it a million times and buy the dvd to help sales. I just might go play mp2 again just because those games were amazing. I had forgotten about them for so long, but I'm quite sure that GTA aside, Max Payne 1 and 2 were the best games I have ever played, and if there isn't a third one they just might be forever. I don't even care if the graphics are terrible just give me the feeling again. PLEASE.

  • XanderKage

    Posted Jul 24, 2008 2:34 pm PT

    Still waiting over here... I just hope the movie won't suck completely, because then MP3 will never see daylight. But whatever happens, there has to be a third installment.

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