Rockstar Games

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Lore & Background

Rockstar Games developed and published Max Payne 3, the third entry in the Max Payne series. The game is set in São Paulo, Brazil, several years after the events of the second game. According to Rockstar's president Sam Houser, it was their intention to start a new chapter of Max Payne's life with the game: "This is Max as we've never seen him before, a few years older, more world-weary and cynical than ever." The press release states that since the last game, Max has left New York City behind and "drifted from bad to worse." As part of their research for the setting, the developers conducted field research around São Paulo throughout development and captured footage for the design team. Development duties were shared between Rockstar's studios worldwide. The game was first released for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 on May 15, 2012; a Windows port was released on May 29, followed by an OS X port on June 20, 2013. It is also backwards compatible on Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S.

In Their Own Story

Nine years after the events of the second game, Max Payne has retired from the NYPD and spends his days nursing his alcoholism and addiction to painkillers. After an incident involving the local mob forces him to leave New York, Max accepts an offer from Raul Passos to become a private security contractor in South America. Max finds himself working for the Branco family in São Paulo. A few months later, Max thwarts a kidnapping attempt on the Brancos by the Comando Sombra during a private party. A week later, the gang kidnaps Fabiana Branco at a nightclub. Instructed to pay $3 million for her release, Rodrigo allows Max and Passos to handle the exchange at a local football stadium. However, the meeting is ambushed by the Crachá Preto, an outlaw vigilante militia, who steal the money. Max eventually reaches Serrano's hideout, only to witness him murder Fabiana. Max finds himself forced to rescue Marcelo and Giovanna, who were captured by the Comando Sombra. During his search, he finds the UFE to be corrupt upon witnessing them selling prisoners to the Crachá Preto. Max eventually rescues Giovanna, but Marcelo is executed by the Crachá Preto. Max learns that Passos was on Victor's payroll. Da Silva reveals the cargo was money that Victor needed laundered in Panama, and that Max was recruited to be the fall guy. Max investigates a rundown hotel used by the Crachá Preto, revealing a black market organ theft ring supplied by the UFE with their prisoners. After releasing detainees including Serrano, Max plants explosives to destroy the hotel. The Crachá Preto's leader, Álvaro Neves, tries to stop him, but Passos kills him and escapes with Max. Max forgives Passos and allows him to leave the city with Giovanna. Da Silva persuades Max to get himself arrested at the UFE's headquarters to search for incriminating evidence. Max discovers that Victor orchestrated Rodrigo's murder to acquire his wealth, and that the organ sales were intended to fund his campaign in the upcoming mayoral elections. Max pursues them to the airport, mortally maiming Becker in a shootout, before destroying Victor's private jet with Da Silva's help. Max breaks Victor's leg to make him suffer. A week later in Bahia, Max overhears news in a bar that the UFE was disbanded and that Victor was found dead.

Reader's Guide

Max Payne 3 is a third-person shooter in which the player assumes the role of its titular character, Max Payne. A new feature to the series is the cover system, which allows players to gain a tactical advantage and avoid taking damage from enemies. The game features interactive cutscenes which transition seamlessly into continuing gameplay; there are no loading screens across gameplay and cutscenes. In combat, auto-aim and a cover system can be used as assistance against enemies. Should players take damage, painkillers can be used to regenerate health. Players use melee attacks, firearms and explosives to fight enemies. In action sequences, bullet time can be used; using this feature, it is possible to see every bullet strike an enemy in detail. The game also introduces a "Last Stand" mechanic, granting players a grace period when health is fully depleted that allows the player to kill the enemy that last wounded them in order to remain alive, so long as the player has at least one recovery item. When this feature is utilized, it does deplete all of the player's remaining "bullet time". Also new to the series is that after using the shoot-dodge mechanic, which enables players to dodge enemies by diving, players may shoot at any angle while remaining grounded. Unlike the previous games in the series, the player character can only hold three weapons at a time. There are two slots for handguns and one for a two-handed weapon. If the player chooses to equip both handguns at the same time, the two-handed weapon must be dropped. The online multiplayer mode features maps and modes that dynamically change within a match. Up to 16 players engage in cooperative or competitive gameplay in re-creations of multiple single-player settings. Players may band together in organized player teams, called crews, to complete tasks together. Players can create their own crews, via the Rockstar Games Social Club, and join up to five players together in total. Together, crews can win multiplayer matches to earn experience points and climb online leaderboards. The online multiplayer mode and Social Club support for the console versions of the game were discontinued in September 2021.

Did You Know?

• Max Payne 3 was developed by Rockstar's studios worldwide, with development duties shared across the company.
• The game's setting in São Paulo, Brazil was researched through field research conducted by the developers throughout development.
• Max Payne 3 was first released for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 on May 15, 2012, with a Windows port on May 29 and an OS X port on June 20, 2013.
• The online multiplayer mode and Social Club support for the console versions were discontinued in September 2021.
• The game had shipped 4 million units by May 2013.