A new Mafia game is currently in development at Hangar 13, and Mafia 4 is expected to be a prequel to the existing Mafia trilogy. A new report from Kotaku shares details regarding the next game in the Mafia series, revealing that the game (codenamed Nero) will be built using Unreal Engine 5. Hangar 13 utilized the Illumination Engine for Mafia 3 and Mafia: Definitive Edition, so the next game in the series will be using an all-new engine.
Hangar 13 head Haden Blackman has now departed the studio after a 7-year stint, and new studio head Nick Baynes will reportedly be the one to replace him as the lead on the next Mafia installment. That’s all we currently know about Mafia 4 so far, as the Kotaku report didn’t have many other details to confirm outside of the game’s existence and engine. Since the game is still so early in development, it’s likely to be built for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S though, so don’t be surprised if the new game skips the PS4 and Xbox One.
Previous Mafia 4 rumors stated that the game would take place in 1970s Las Vegas, allowing players to build up a gambling empire and own casino properties on the Vegas strip. Now, it looks like that plan has been scrapped entirely, as the Kotaku report plants Mafia 4 as a prequel to the entire trilogy. That means the game will most likely be set during the 1920s during the Prohibition period, a time that was rife with organized crime.
While Mafia 3 saw a lukewarm reception due to its repetitive objectives and technical issues, the newly-released Mafia: Definitive Edition seems to have turned the franchise’s reception around for the better. We liked Mafia: Definitive Edition, awarding it a score of 4/5 stars in our review. we praised the updated visuals and storyline, saying “As the title infers, Mafia: Definitive Edition is indeed the definitive version of the classic game, this time with completely redone visuals and updated gameplay that makes the game feel like it could have released today as a brand new game and few would have known the difference.”
With the existence of the upcoming fourth entry all but confirmed at this point, expect to hear more about the title sometime soon. It’s very likely still early in development, however, so it may take some time for concrete details or screenshots to surface online. Still, with the summer coming up and events like Geoff Keighley’s Summer Game Fest on the horizon, there’s a possibility that Mafia 4 could see a teaser reveal sooner than you’d expect.
Mafia 4 is rumored to be in development. The Mafia Trilogy is available now on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
