2K Reportedly Cancels Mafia III Developer’s Unannounced Live Service Game

Mafia III and Mafia: Definitive Version developer Hangar 13 didn’t formally announce its subsequent title, however 2K Video games has reportedly canceled it. The sport had no official title, however was codenamed Volt.

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2K revealed this in a roundabout means throughout earnings call by saying it was deciding “to not proceed with additional improvement of an unannounced title in its pipeline” after stating that this thriller undertaking sucked down $53 million. Bloomberg then reported that Hangar 13’s Volt was the sport in query and suffered from being rebooted, Covid-related challenges, and technical issues. It was additionally alleged to characteristic superheroes (though they’d seemingly be unique creations and never based mostly on licensed characters).

Kotaku added to the report with its personal sources, saying that it was supposed “to be a reside service, third-person motion recreation within the vein of Future.” The outlet then acquired a peek at an inside e mail from Haden Blackman, studio head and founder, as he talked in regards to the shock cancelation earlier than vaguely explaining that Take-Two mentioned that “trade challenges” would make it “commercially unviable.” Nevertheless, he mentioned that 2K acknowledged that it nonetheless believed that Hangar 13 can “ship a important and business success” and the workforce can be “growing future tasks quickly.” The studio can be mentioned to be assembly on November 4 to additional talk about every thing.

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GamesBeat’s Jeff Grubb additionally chimed in, saying this recreation was the “Cthulu meets Saints Row undertaking” that had been floating around since June on Reddit. That Reddit leak ended up describing each Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands and Midnight Suns earlier than they have been introduced. It additionally had the sport’s codename, which Kotaku’s report explains was quick for “Voltron” for the reason that recreation had tech that might enable enemies to “mix collectively into more difficult foes.” There was additionally alleged to be typical class roles like DPS, tank, and healer and was alleged to closely characteristic traversal mechanics.

Hangar 13 tackled this new IP as an alternative of Mafia IV after Mafia III‘s disappointing gross sales and middling important reception. It began as a recreation codenamed as Rhapsody earlier than presumably shifting into Voltron and being shortened to Volt. And whereas it is a huge shift, it’s not clear if any of Hangar 13’s 200 staff will probably be laid off.