Fri, Sep 09, 2011 | 06:57 BST
Rockstar confirms Max Payne 3 for March 2012
Two-and-a-half years after it was first announced for a winter 2009 release, Max Payne 3 has been confirmed by Rockstar for launch in Europe and North America next March.
Max Payne 3
First two games came from Alan Wake lot Remedy Entertainment in 2001 and 2004.
Rockstar Vancouver’s the main studio behind MP3, with help added in from New England, Toronto and London.
Series has been fully single-player only until now.
Will get a first showing at the First Look expo in Holland next month.
“Max Payne 3 gave us an amazing creative opportunity to evolve one of our most iconic characters,” said Rockstar boss Sam Houser. “We’re excited to show fans a modern version of Max that pulls them back into his dark and twisted story.”
Story sees Max attempt to “clear his name, in a bid to, once and for all, rid himself of the demons that have tortured him for far too long,” as he protects a wealthy industrialist he’s guarding under private security, when gangs in Sao Paolo start targeting him and his family.
MP3 will have “cutting edge technology for a seamless, cinematic action experience,” powered by an all-new iteration of RAGE, the internal engine Rockstar has used in its games since Table Tennis. Rockstar said it’ll have a “highly-refined” gameplay system, as well as an “intelligent” cover system and a “sophisticated” Bullet-Time system.
The game was first announced back in March 2009 for a winter release that year, but has since gone underground up until April this year in an Edge expose, which also revealed multiplayer for the sequel.
Rockstar said today that multiplay would bring a “compelling experience” which sees maps alter and mode progression for all players. It’ll feature traditional modes, as well as clan support, various strategic load-out options and a “deep reward and leveling system.”
Rockstar’s Vancouver studio is creating MP3 as a global effort among teams in New England, Toronto and London, with the company buying the IP from Alan Wake developer Remedy Entertainment after making the first two games.
New shots and artwork are below. Game’s launching on PS3, 360 and PC.
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Posted in: Action, PC, PS3, Rockstar, Xbox 360
Tags: max payne 3, rockstar vancouver
34 comments
#1
YoungZer0
08/09/11, 1:08 pm
Finally, motherfucker. Now give me a trailer.
#2
StolenGlory
08/09/11, 1:08 pm
Oh come on, there has to be some media that goes with this announcement?
SURELY!
#3
Yoshi
08/09/11, 1:09 pm
Every time I see a game that is launching in 2012 I die a little inside… it seems so long away.
#4
AHA-Lambda
08/09/11, 1:12 pm
earlier than i thought =/
#5
Blerk
08/09/11, 1:16 pm
Sneaking it in before the end of financial year, eh?
Interested to see what they’ve done with this. I have no baggage from the original games, so I can’t be OUTRAGED like many other people.
#6
DSB
08/09/11, 1:18 pm
Are you somehow hinting at not having played Max Payne, Blerk?
Is that what you’re saying?
Is it?
Really?
#7
Johnny Cullen
08/09/11, 1:20 pm
Media added.
#8
Ireland Michael
08/09/11, 1:21 pm
Can we make it not shit this time, Rockstar?
Please?
#9
StolenGlory
08/09/11, 1:25 pm
@8
Not a fan of the predecessors Michael?
#10
Maximum Payne
08/09/11, 1:26 pm
I hope that is not cover for game , it look like shit !
#11
DSB
08/09/11, 1:29 pm
I think we should find a way to beat up Blerk if he hasn’t played Max Payne.
#12
Fin
08/09/11, 1:32 pm
GTA V March 2013, called it.
Q1/Q2 seems to be the launch period for Rockstar games recently – GTA IV, Chinatown Wars, Red Dead, LA Noire all launched there, now Max Payne too.
#13
StolenGlory
08/09/11, 1:34 pm
@11
Ditto.
And *Whine mode on* where the hell is our trailer!
#14
Blerk
08/09/11, 1:38 pm
I’ve not played the previous games, no. They came out long after my PC was too shit to play games.
#15
Ireland Michael
08/09/11, 1:41 pm
@9 I think they’re two of the most over-rated games ever produced, and have absolutely no idea why they have the following they do.
The gameplay is lazy, absolutely no depth, and the slow-mo crap is one of the poorly implemented mechanics I’ve ever seen in a game. I remember playing them years back when they were originally released and wondering why the hell they had such a strong following.
#16
DSB
08/09/11, 1:43 pm
OH MY GOD BLERK, YOU FUCKIN’…
Goddamn it!
You’re not allowed to disagree. Max Payne is fucking awesome, and that’s the end of it.
I’m like THIS close to gifting you the Max Payne bundle. Can you run them now?
#17
Blerk
08/09/11, 1:47 pm
I’ve no idea, it sort of depends on whether they work under 64 bit Windows 7. I might’ve gone too far in the other direction now.
#18
Johnny Cullen
08/09/11, 1:48 pm
I reckon now we’re going to see GTA V announced next year, but Agent will get the big spotlight before then with a release at the end of next year or early 2013.
#19
StolenGlory
08/09/11, 1:51 pm
@18
And then presumably once GTA V and Agent have had their time in the spotlight, we’re looking at an RDR sequel i’d wager?
#20
Blerk
08/09/11, 1:53 pm
I’d be happy with some TLaD/Gay Tony style add-on packs for Red Dead, tbh. I was expecting at least one more after Undead Nightmare.
#21
daytripper
08/09/11, 1:57 pm
Anyone know if it’s the same voice actor from the previous two games?
#22
NeoSquall
08/09/11, 1:58 pm
Blerk you have no excuses.
Go and find the predecessors somewhere, then emulate them on XP Mode.
#23
Johnny Cullen
08/09/11, 1:59 pm
@19 Maybe. Slate gets wiped pretty much after GTA V. Could see MP4, Bully 2, Red Dead sequel, another new IP, Agent 2. Possibilities are endless.
@21 Yeah: James McCafferty’s in it.
#24
NeoSquall
08/09/11, 2:00 pm
@21 From Wikipedia:
“Rockstar initially claimed that series staple James McCaffrey would not return to the role of Max Payne, instead opting for an older actor.[13] However, in a May edition of Edge it was confirmed that James McCaffrey will not only return to voice Max Payne, but will also return in a full acting role through motion capture.”
#25
DSB
08/09/11, 2:00 pm
James McCafferty is a pretty suitable name for a cop.
#26
daytripper
08/09/11, 2:02 pm
cheers guys
#27
YoungZer0
08/09/11, 2:04 pm
Screenshots look awesome. Max reminds me of Kane.
#28
OrbitMonkey
08/09/11, 2:09 pm
Shame they couldn’t have had Mark Wahlberg voice Max, he really nailed the part.
#29
NeoSquall
08/09/11, 2:09 pm
@27 He reminds me of Sam Fisher, instead
Mainly in the second picture.
#30
Dralen
08/09/11, 2:11 pm
Those screenshots look very good. Looks like they’ve added a bit of polish to the game now, the previous ones looked a bit bland.
#31
StolenGlory
08/09/11, 2:14 pm
I shouldn’t complain too much about not seeing the game in motion six months before it comes out, especially when nobody has seen the 360 version of BF3 in motion and it’s supposedly due out NEXT MONTH.
Ergh, RAGE!
#32
daytripper
08/09/11, 2:18 pm
this and mass effect 3 in the same month? i fear for anyone else planning a march release.
@31 BF3 will be fine on 360
although i predict there will be heated discussions if three pixels are 480p on one of the tank doors
#33
hypeb147
08/09/11, 3:53 pm
My news of the WEEK!
#34
Isaaclarke37
09/09/11, 9:14 pm
Glad that the game didn’t go into development Limbo. I am looking forward to see more of it.