Since the release of Hangar 13's "Mafia 3" back in October, the game has been receiving mixed reviews from critics and players alike. One thing about the game that did receive praise, however, is its story and soundtrack, which features over 100 songs from The Rolling Stones, Elvis, Aretha Franklin, and other iconic musical artists. Recently, Hangar 13's narrative director William Harms spoke to Gamasutra to talk about how the studio developed its story.

'Mafia 3' is a 'revenge story'

Harms explained that "the game's story is not about racism." But because the main protagonist Lincoln Clay is an African-American man living in the South in the 1960s, it was inevitable to tackle racism issues in the game's story.

"We felt we had to include it in some way, and address it as part of Lincoln’s world," Harms told Gamasutra. He added that at the core of "Mafia 3" is a "revenge story" that stems from the loss of Lincoln Clay's surrogate father and adopted brother.

Harms remarked that the studio decided to set the story in 1968 because of several historical events that occurred during the same year, such as the murder of Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy, as well as the tumultuous times of the Vietnam war.

'Mafia 3' as a documentary

While developing the game, Hangar 13 decided to take a documentary approach to storytelling. Players and critics alike responded positively to the way the story was told, praising it for its cinematic quality.

Harms explained that this same cinematic look and feel of "Mafia 3" was present in the previous iterations of the game, enabling them to "[ground] the story in what we think is a pretty realistic way. He also remarked that it was "a great way to deliver exposition" and deliver the story seamlessly.

Three 'Mafia 3' DLCs arriving this year

Players would be glad to know that the very first DLC for the game is arriving this March 28. It's titled "Faster, Baby!" and as expected, will feature fast cars, exciting car chases, and exhilarating stunt driving. "Faster, Baby!" will require players to take down a corrupt sheriff in the outskirts of New Bordeaux.

Two other DLCs are set to arrive in May and July, and they are titled "Stones Unturned" and "Sign of the Times," respectively. "Stones Unturned" will find Lincoln teaming up with CIA agent John Donovan for a mission, while "Sign of the Times" will take players to the heart of the city to tackle issues on religion and drugs.

"Faster, Baby!" arrives this march 28 for "Mafia 3," which is now playable on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC.
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