Current-Gen Upgrades
Mafia 2 and Mafia 3 are coming to PS5 and Xbox Series consoles with enhanced graphics, according to recent ESRB ratings. Both titles are rated Mature 17+ by the board.
Mafia: Definitive Edition received a full remake for modern consoles in September 2020. Because Mafia 2 and 3 Definitive Editions already launched for last-gen systems, these new listings likely point toward current-gen upgrades featuring targeted performance improvements rather than full-scale remakes.
Publisher 2K recently rolled out the Mafia: The Omertà Collection, bundling all Definitive Editions alongside Mafia: The Old Country Definitive Edition. This accompanied a PS5 and Xbox Series patch for the first Mafia game, establishing a precedent that will likely apply to Mafia 2 and 3.
Series Popularity
Interest in the franchise has surged following the release of Mafia: The Old Country. Set in Italy at the height of the mob’s power, the prequel maintains the series' traditional structure of utilizing an open world primarily as a narrative backdrop.
Mafia 3 previously divided critics upon release due to its open-world design, which required players to complete repetitive tasks to secure territory and advance the narrative.
Hangar 13 president Nick Baynes previously noted that the studio maintains a distinct trajectory separate from other open-world franchises under the same parent company.
Release Outlook
While the ESRB listings offer few additional details, an official announcement for the current-gen versions of Mafia 2 and Mafia 3 appears imminent.
IGN just put out a big GTA 6 interview with Rockstar North studio head Rob Nelson, in which we spoke to him as he played a section of the game in front of us. Nelson spoke about its approach to open world design, and creating a game where “just existing” is a viable playstyle, living in Vice City and playing it almost like a life simulator.
It’s a very different approach to Mafia, in which the open world is simply a backdrop to the story. Still, isn’t it great that we live in a world where both approaches are viable and we get to experience it all?
An official reveal could take place later this year, potentially leading to a launch in the coming months.
