Fans eagerly anticipating the return of a beloved hero in Max Payne 4 were surprised to glimpse a fresh protagonist in another chapter of the same series. An anonymous Rockstar Games staffer revealed tidbits about the upcoming installment in the cult saga surrounding Max Payne. It turns out this wasn’t about Max Payne 4 at all, but about Max Payne 3. The initial plan reportedly split the narrative into two parts. The first would center on the hero working for a Brazilian family, while the second would explore the events leading up to those moments. In this version, two protagonists appeared on screen at once: the famed Max Payne and a former police ally who had worked alongside him. The insider did not disclose the name of the new ally.
In the Max Payne 3 prologue, players would have seen some events that occurred before Max Payne joined forces with the Brazilians. The story begins in New York, with a level set in a graveyard. From there the journey would push the duo toward the Panama Canal, into the camp of a sect, and finally into mines in South America. Unfortunately, the insider offered no further plot specifics.
The Max Payne 3 prologue was crafted over a year by Rockstars London studio. In the early alpha phase, the project was briefly halted. The biggest challenge centered on the slow motion bullet time mechanic. The game was initially planned as a two player co op experience. A missed turn in a single player session could slow the other player’s progress. Ultimately the team decided to focus on a single player narrative campaign. Several maps from the co op prologue were repurposed for solo play.
Max Payne and Max Payne 2 The Fall of Max Payne were created by Remedy Entertainment. Both games earned a dedicated following and defined a generation of shooters. The third entry was developed by Rockstar Games after the studio acquired the franchise rights. As of now there is no official information about Max Payne 4. Sources close to the project suggest the company weighed two storylines in the early stages but ultimately pursued a different path for the main arc. Citation: Rockstar Games