Brief Overview
- Mafia III: Definitive Edition is now on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S at 60 FPS, with a Steam update for PC.
- Owners of the older versions get the upgrade free, and the game is 80% off for a limited time.
- It sold 4.5 million copies in its first week in 2016 despite mixed reviews.
Mafia 3 marked its 10th anniversary on October 7. The open-world crime game from Hangar 13 and 2K launched in 2016 on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.
2K’s Mafia account posted a birthday message and said the celebration would continue over the next week. A decade later, players are still talking about it.
What Is New
On October 8, 2K released Mafia III: Definitive Edition on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. The console versions run at 60 FPS and include technical improvements.
The Steam version also got quality-of-life updates. Moreover, the story progression was improved, and many visual bugs were fixed.
Free Upgrade, With One Catch
Owners of the PS4 or Xbox One version get the new digital version for free, and the same goes for owners of Mafia: The Omertà Collection.
However, there is a catch. Save files do not carry over between the old and new console versions.
Limited-Time Sale
2K has also cut the price. Mafia III: Definitive Edition is 80% off on PlayStation, Xbox, and Steam during a franchise sale.
Please note: The sale is temporary.
Where It Started
Mafia III launched on October 7, 2016, for PS4, Xbox One, and PC. It was the first game from Hangar 13, a studio 2K had just formed.
The story is set in 1968 in New Bordeaux, a re-imagined New Orleans. You play Lincoln Clay, a Vietnam veteran who wants revenge on the Italian mob after it kills his closest friends.
It was also a risk for the series. It was the first Mafia game not to focus on Italian-Americans, and it dealt with racism directly.
Big Sales, Weak Scores
The sales were strong. Take-Two said more than 4.5 million copies shipped to retailers in the first week, making it the fastest-selling game in 2K’s history. That figure counts copies shipped, not copies sold to players.
Reviews were less kind. Early Metacritic scores were 62 on PC, 67 on Xbox One, and 69 on PS4. Critics often pointed to repetitive missions and bugs.
The PC version had its own trouble. It launched with a 30fps lock, and Hangar 13 released a patch within days.
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What Came After
After heavy criticism, Mafia III got a major upgrade in 2020. 2K released a Definitive Edition with all the downloadable content included.
Mafia: The Old Country followed in 2025 and went back to the series’ roots with a more focused story.
Is Mafia III Worth Another Visit?
The new release is part of ongoing work to bring current-gen updates to The Omertà Collection. 2K did not say which games in the set will be updated next.
For now, the anniversary is a good time to return to New Bordeaux. The celebration week is still running, so more news may follow.
FAQs
When was Mafia III launched?
Mafia III launched on October 7, 2016, for PS4, Xbox One, and PC.
What is the difference between Mafia III and Mafia III: Definitive Edition?
The Definitive Edition, released in 2020, bundles the original game with all of its downloadable content, and its new console versions now run at 60 FPS on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.
