Max Payne returns in March
By
Brendan Sinclair, Senior Editor
Rockstar confirms long-awaited, oft-delayed third-person shooter sequel Max Payne 3 finally set for release early next year.
It has been eight years since Max Payne 2 hit stores, but Rockstar Games' rough-around-the-edges New York City cop is about ready to hit the streets again. Rockstar today announced that Max Payne 3 is expected to launch next March on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC in North America and Europe.
Max Payne 3 is in the works at Rockstar Games' Vancouver studio, which took over development reins from Finnish shop Remedy (Alan Wake). The game will catch up with the now-former cop, who has spent the time since Max Payne 2 running from his troubled past. That has led him to Sao Paulo, Brazil, where he works as a private bodyguard for a wealthy family.
Payne will fulfill his duties with a healthy helping of the series' signature bullet-time gameplay mechanic, in which the player slows the world to a crawl and Max acrobatically leaps into action, firing twin pistols at anyone in range. That's not the only way to play, as Rockstar is supplementing that approach with a variety of weaponry and a cover system.
Rockstar is also incorporating multiplayer into the series for the first time with Max Payne 3. The publisher has said it will feature "traditional" multiplayer game modes with full-featured support for character progression, clans, and loadout options.
Originally hinted at in 2004, Max Payne 3 was formally announced in March of 2009 and set for release that winter. It was then pushed to the following summer, and then to the fall. When Take-Two delayed the game for the third time in less than a year, executives refused to even confirm in which fiscal year they were expecting the game to launch.
By
Brendan Sinclair, Senior Editor
Brendan Sinclair has been a games journalist since 1999. His tastes are eclectic, though he has a definite affinity for games with arcade roots. He's Canadian, but has also been at home in Atlanta, Austin, Chicago, and San Francisco.
167 comments
Anyone else think the movie was underrated? I love the first 2 games as they are my 2 favorite of all time and I will admit that I didn't like the movie the first time I watched it but then I went back and saw it again and it was great! I would recommend a second view to the true MAX PAYNE fans.
this is almost turning into another duke. I stopped caring about this series after the first one.
Why has this taken so long?? I would've thought that they would be pumping these out. It was always one of my favorite games.
Oh, and from what it comes to multiplayer taking anything away from a storyline, It's ROCKSTAR GAMES. they made MULTIPLAYER work with GTA IV without taking away anything from the story. Hang in there, you'll see, it's gon' be good..
I think the new look of Max Payne (the character) is quite bad-ass. He has gone through some rough sh*t, so what you expected, really? Since it's rockstar games i have full trust that this game will be nothing less than awesome. I just hope the story is as good and long as before. Im sure this will be a day one purchase.
Seriously, about damn time this game will see the light of day. I am definitely with everyone who is praying that the delay wasn't because of the multiplayer, as well as hoping it won't affect the single player campaign in a negative way. Yeah I understand that multiplayer can be looked at as a way to add to a game's replay value, but I've found that if a game's story and gameplay is great people will keep coming back for more regardless.
@godsend1989 It's often the story that draws people in, but the multiplayer that keeps them in
I'm really looking forward to this, max payne is too good, hope they didn't neglect the story line to build and improve an unnecessary multiplayer o_O''
Lets make all games with multiplayer, whats wrong with this people ?! they don`t understand that some games are played only for story, best example Batman Arkham Asylum.
I hope they didn't delay this game just 2 add multiplayer cuz this is the type of game that doesn't need it the fans of Max Payne will buy it just 4 bein Max Payne
It's about time a release date was announced. I'm not sure multiplayer is fitting though. As long as they spend more time working on the story, it should turn out good.
The original Max Payne is my favorite game ever. I loved it when enemies would know I'm there, and they would yell out "It's Payne!", oh yes, I felt like a bad ass.
Multiplayer??! Lame. Spend your time better on the single player experience and release it sooner.
MP ? You know what this means the games SP content will be around 5 hours. Well to me Max Payne 1 and 2 were the only games in the franchise as they were developed by Remedy.
@kael_159 Nice to meet you man! Here you can find both MP1 & 2. This games never gets old. They're simply awsome!!!
@PeterDuck Didnt you mean to say PC ORRIENTED franchise? Both Max Payne games are availible on consoles,but they werent some half done ports,they were developed primarilly for the PC,and it shows even today while playing them.
meanwhile, game's cover design is awful. they should work on another and also it should like last two games.
this time, there is no Remedy and Sam Lake. I really wonder what Rockstar gonna do. they can blew it or develop a great game, like Deus Ex 3 without Warren Spector. Let's wait and see.
im kinda concerned about the story...the last two games had a dark storyline and tune,thats why I like them...but judging by the screenshots and Max's hair, I think this will be more action-oriented :| it looks good though...I hope Rockstar knows what are they doing to the franchise and the fanbase...but still,They are great game developers that make the best third-person games :) they know what to do...
@PeterDuck What are you talking about Max Payne has been on home consoles for a while now. It was on PS2 and Xbox why would the sequels not be home console bound?
Oh great. Multiplayer. Can't wait for a super short and bad single player campaign. Et tu, Rockstar?
@quinholo Yeah man nice to meet u too bro,i think if we write in portuguese our fellow gringos would overkill us with thumb downs hehe...so is better if we try to be polite and speak their language lol
well i have never played a max payne game so am looking forward to this,so how about an HD remake of the 1st two games (everybody is doing em so why not)
Can we have 2 games? Max Payne 3 and a Max Payne Multiplayer. I do want to keep the essence and spirit of Max Payne alive... also a release date which doesnt gets pushed (again)
Man! I'm so excited for Max Payne 3. @SoreThumbsBill Duke Nukem Forever was a piece of crap. Max Payne 3 is going to be awesome. ROCKSTAR GAMES Simply ROCK. http://www.rockstargames.com/newswire/article/18761/max-payne-3-coming-march-2012.html
After 7 years Rockstar better not disappoint. We don't need another disaster like Duke Nukem
Wow that is sooner than I thought and just makes me even more excited for the game; I'm actually kind of stunned right now this totally took me by surprise. The multiplayer idea sounds kind of strange, but so long as they have focused on the singleplayer I certainly don't mind to have something extra to do on the game. All and all so far this hast to be my first or second (only to RAGE) most anticipated game in 2011-2012 and will be a great addition to my birthday.
Multiplayer? I hope by "traditional" they mean co-op, not "team deathmatch-free4all-capture the flag"
Multiplayer, a cover system and no Sam Lake ... Well that's all for me, goodnight everybody!
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