The hard-boiled crime drama game series Max Payne has been successful among gamers and video game critics alike, and had enough popularity to spawn a big-budget Hollywood film starring Mark Wahlberg. Series developer Rockstar Games recently announced the next title in the franchise, Max Payne 3, would be released in March of 2012.
According to USA Today, the earliest news of the third Max Payne game surfaced in 2009, but initial expectations of a release in the winter of that year met with unexpected delays that have not been resolved until now. The game will be available for multiple platforms, including the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC.
The Max Payne series has followed the exploits of its film-noir-indebted tough guy hero, a former police detective from New York City, through a plethora of violent situations. In this newest installment, Payne is working in the private security sector, employed by a rich Sao- Paolo, Brazil-based family. Its known features will include improvements to its “bullet-time” gunfight graphics, inspired by the Matrix films, as well as a multiplayer feature.
Gamasutra reported that Rockstar Games founder Sam House said of the new game, “We’re excited to show fans a modern version of Max that pulls them back into his dark and twisted story.”
