For over two decades, the Mafia series has carved its own niche in the crime genre. Yet, comparisons to Rockstar Games’ behemoth, Grand Theft Auto, are inevitable. From screenshots to gameplay mechanics, fans constantly pit these iconic franchises against each other. However, according to Hangar 13 president Nick Baynes, a surprising truth emerges: developers rarely discuss GTA during the creation of Mafia games.
The Untold Story: A Deep Dive into Mafia’s Development
As part of a new, in-depth oral history of the Mafia franchise, IGN spoke with numerous developers who shaped these sandbox adventures. This fascinating retrospective sheds light on the creative process behind the series, including the controversial decision to make Mafia 3 a fully open-world experience. During this interview, the topic of GTA arose in relation to Mafia 3, revealing how player demand for an open world and broader industry trends influenced its design.
While Baynes refrained from explicitly naming GTA or even GTA 6, his response offered a glimpse into the internal dynamics at Hangar 13. He emphasized that the studio maintains its own distinct path, suggesting that comparisons to GTA are largely an “internet thing” rather than a guiding force in their development strategy.
“I think that genuinely at the studio, we’ve got our own path,” Baynes told IGN. “It genuinely never ever comes up in conversation as a touchpoint or steering our strategy or anything like that. I think obviously there’s a lot of stories about that game out there right now because something’s coming out later this year! But yeah, genuinely, I think it’s an internet thing. It’s not something the studio looks at. So I think I’m afraid there’s not a rich vein of answers to give you for that.”
Beyond the Headlines: Understanding the Differences
The Old Country was a big hit, and that was largely because it was a more linear, focused game.
While Mafia and GTA share common ground in their crime-focused narratives, they offer distinct gameplay experiences. With the exception of Mafia 3, the Mafia games tend to be more linear and cinematic, prioritizing narrative depth over sprawling open worlds that define modern GTA titles. This fundamental difference often fuels debates among fans, with some arguing for the superiority of one franchise over the other.
Despite Baynes’ assertion, it’s difficult to completely dismiss the influence of GTA. Both Rockstar Games and Hangar 13 operate under the umbrella of Take-Two Interactive. The success of The Old Country demonstrates that a more focused, linear approach can resonate with players. It remains to be seen whether future Mafia games will continue to embrace this formula or attempt to emulate the expansive open worlds of GTA.
Source: Kotaku
Comments
Be the first to comment.