After nearly six years, the third entry in the Mafia series has finally released. The story behind its development is a fascinating one, rich with details and experiences that sheds light on the game's distinct design choices. You can get all the details behind Mafia III's development in our video series below.

GameSpot's Mike Mahardy over to to developer Hangar 13's headquarters to talk to its key leads, discovering their rationale behind creating Mafia III's setting and characters for our three-part series. Part one gives us a look at how Hangar 13 went about reviving the Mafia franchise. Part two delves into the studio's process of creating its fictional version of New Orleans. And the final part gives us insight at the climate of the world itself, the time period in which it's set, and its mixed-race protagonist Lincoln Clay.

For more on Mafia III, check out our recent stories below, and be sure to check back often as we update this article with more news and features.

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• Mafia 3 Dev Discusses Early Ideas, as New Gameplay Trailer Arrives
• Mafia 3: Behind the Music
• 7 Things to Know About Mafia 3

Part 1: The Rebirth of a Franchise

Mike explores the formation of Hangar 13, the rebirth of the Mafia franchise, and the issues the developers encountered along the way.

Part 2: Crafting a Digital New Orleans

Mike explores the creation of New Bordeaux, Hangar 13's fictional counterpart to New Orleans, and the setting for the Mafia franchise's first true open-world.

Part 3: Racial Tension and Political Strife

Hangar 13 discusses the decision to set the game in 1968 and how the protagonist sets Mafia III apart from other open-world games.