At the end of August 2022, we officially learned that a new Mafia was in development from 2K Games, almost two years after the release of Mafia: Definitive Edition and this after several months of rumors around a new opus. Today, Mafia 4 gives news about its gameplay and its features.
A Mafia focused on stealth and integrating multiplayer elements?
Indeed, new clues suggest that Mafia 4, developed by Hangar 13 under the Unreal Engine 5, will include stealth elements and multiplayer features. Recently posted job postings on LinkedIn mention “engaging stealth gaming” and looking for people with experience in “multiplayer gaming and/or live game design.” This is one of the requests in a job posting for a lead AI designer :
“They will lead the creation of AI systems, archetypes and behaviors, from prototype to release, for the next iteration of the Mafia franchise. Your role:
- Work closely with the AI lead and relevant stakeholders to ensure the delivery of engaging combat and stealth gameplay loops.
- Design new archetypes that match the vision of a mafia game. From the creative and technical design of prototypes to enemy behaviors and abilities.
- Ensuring players can understand the intentions of the AI and plan their fight accordingly.”
So we learn that the “next iteration” of the Mafia franchise will feature “fighting and stealth gameplay loops.” Hangar 13 and 2K Games would seek to strengthen the stealth experience offered in Mafia by making it deeper and more immersive than it has been until now.
Despite the fact that stealth isn’t entirely new to the franchise (although very limited in Mafia 3), meaningful multiplayer features have never been seen in the Mafia saga. The job offer for a position of senior systems designer requires “experience with AAA titles, multiplayer games and/or live game design preferred. »
As a reminder, the game is said to be set in 1920s Sicily, and it will be the franchise’s first game in almost ten years if released within the next three years.
