2K Games has officially announced "Mafia III," the third in their open-world sandbox video games that play in the veins of "Grand Theft Auto V" and its contemporaries. The announcement comes with a single image and the caption stating that its worldwide reveal will be held on Aug. 5 at 8 a.m. ET.
The promotional image showcases four individuals standing over a man, bound and on his knees, near a swamp. One of the four individuals is a woman with a hairstyle that indicates the game might be set in the late 1970s or 1980s. The swamp itself features three alligators, hinting that the game is set in the Everglades or the Gulf area.
Rumors have spread across the Internet that the game might feature numerous playable characters, similar to "Grand Theft Auto V," as the first teaser image showcases four characters instead of one. The game is also most likely going to expand its gunplay and open-world setting as both were targets of criticism in past entries.
Despite these criticisms, the "Mafia" games have always focused more on telling a strong story which is where most of the praise for the games come from.
"Mafia II" focused on the story of Vito Scaletta and ended on an open-ended cliffhanger, but given the nature of these games and the probable time period the third part will be set in, it is unlikely that "Mafia III" will be a direct sequel featuring a continuation of the previous game's story and character.
No other details are indicated and 2K games have not yet given any announcement regarding gameplay changes and additions and story elements of "Mafia III."
"Mafia: The City of Lost Heaven" was the first entry in the franchise, released back in 2002 for the PC and in 2004 for consoles. A sequel, "Mafia II," was launched in 2010. Both games have been critically praised despite constantly being compared to the "Grand Theft Auto" series.
