March 2012 Release Date assigned to Max Payne 3 – with added Multiplayer Modes

It has been a long and arduous wait for fans of the Max Payne franchise. That wait included having to suffer through a lacklustre film adaptation and years of flase starts, but now Rockstar Games and Take-Two Interactive have finally confirmed that Max Payne 3 will see a release across North America and Europe in March 2012. The game is set to follow on from the second title in the series, where former New York Detective Max has taken on private security work, as a way to escape his traumatic past. On top of this great news, there will be multiplayer modes added for the first time in the history of Max Payne games, and a mobile phone release of the classic Max Payne has also been announced.

Rockstar Games co-found Sam Houser states that; “Max Payne 3 gave us an amazing creative opportunity to evolve one of our most iconic characters… We’re excited to show fans a modern version of Max that pulls them back into his dark and twisted story.”

Still haunted by the memories of his traumatic past, Max begins a new life working private security protecting a wealthy industrialist and his family in Sao Paulo, Brazil. When gangs target the family under his protection, Max is forced to fight to save his clients and clear his name, in a bid to, once and for all, rid himself of the demons that have tortured him for far too long.

Picking up where the release of Max Payne 2 from series creator Remedy Entertainment left off, Max Payne 3 is a true cross-studio collaboration between Rockstar Games’ global development teams. The game utilizes cutting edge technology for a seamless, cinematic action experience, incorporating the latest advances in Natural Motion physics and a brand new iteration of Rockstar’s own Rockstar Advanced Game Engine. The result offers highly-refined gameplay, with an extensive range of realistic weaponry, an intelligent cover system and sophisticated Bullet-Time mechanics.

In addition to an expansive single-player campaign, Max Payne 3 will be the first title in the series to introduce an addictive multiplayer experience. Max Payne 3’s multiplayer aims to deliver a compelling experience that dynamically alters maps and mode progression for all players in a match. Along with traditional multiplayer modes, Max Payne 3 will also include a deep reward and leveling system, persistent clans and multiple strategic load-out options.

For fans looking for a new way to enjoy the classic Max Payne, Rockstar Games is happy to announce that Max Payne will receive the full HD treatment for mobile devices. Available for the first time on mobile, Max Payne will have connectivity to the Rockstar Games Social Club and boast the same features as its PC counterparts — including HD graphics and high-resolution textures that take advantage of the latest mobile technologies, including incredibly customizable controls and support for wired controllers.

Rockstar have released two new screenshots of the title, as well as some cover artwork – both are found below:

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Max Payne 3 is due for release in March 2012 on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC.