Mafia: Definitive Edition will feature new experiences and story enhancements, according to developer Hangar 13. In a discussion in Official Playstation Magazine’s big Hot 53 issue, game director Alex Cox cites that Mafia Definitive Edition will be a remake of the original game, but updated for players of today.
In his chat with the magazine, Cox said: “What we want to do is rejuvenate the game, make it relevant to modern players, but keep the spirit of the original. We have made changes, it’s not a one-to-one copy of the original game,”
He added: “Anything which we could add in to expand the game outside of the regular design [has been done]. We’ve done everything we can to embellish, enlarge, and enhance [the game].”
Elsewhere, Cox announced the introduction of motorcycles, described as “new experiences that weren’t there before” from the original Mafia title.
“It’s an example of how we’ve tweaked the content to include some new mechanics,” Cox said. “It’s the same story intro, the same story outro, but the gameplay in the middle is that you’re chasing the guy on a motorcycle; guys are shooting Tommy guns out of the back window [of the rival car] and you’re having to dodge around to avoid the bullets.”
The interview further explores the production of the Mafia remake on a new engine for PlayStation 4, as well as a fleshed-out narrative.
Recently, the Mafia Twitter account became active for the first time in nearly two years. The tweet simply read “Family.” Of course, the tweet was vague but left the Mafia fanbase with much to debate about.
In 2002, the original Mafia was released on PlayStation 2, the original Xbox, and PC. Fast-forward eight years down the line, and Mafia 2 arrived. The sequel was released for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC. Mafia 3 arrived some six years after in 2016.
Mafia: Definitive Edition is set for release, August 28, and will be available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Stadia, and PC (via the Epic Games Store and Steam.)