Mafia III has been a divisive game. Even here at Game Informer, we've argued the game is important in some ways, even though Reiner wasn't elated with how the end product turned out.
Whether you knocked the repetitive gameplay or love its unique and confrontational setting, you can't argue Mafia III has gotten off to a good start financially. The Washington Post reports 2K has confirmed the game sold over 4.5 million digitally and to retailers in its first week, making it the fastest-selling title in the company's history.
Mafia III took a number of risks, not the least of which was casting a person of mixed race in the lead role for the game's 1968 setting. Responding to the game's success, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick remarked how it could be a response to the gaming audience's growing acceptance of more diverse characters. "I do think consumers are searching for a representation of our exceedingly diverse world in our entertainment and art,” he said.
[Source: The Washington Post]
Our Take
I fell off Mafia III due to its repetitious mission design, but I loved its story, characters, and world. I look forward to revisiting it when there aren't a million other things to play. I'm also hopeful the game's early success means companies won't be as afraid to be more diverse with their choice of lead characters in future games.