Without a doubt, the Max Payne video game series played a key role in making the third-person shooter genre popular in the 2000s. The first two games were developed by Remedy Entertainment, who are also known for developing games like Control (2019) and Alan Wake (2010). Initially, the studios planned everything out, but then Rockstar Games brought the franchise from Remedy.
Rockstar Games is owned by Take-Two Interactive, a video game holding company. After acquiring the rights to the iconic series, Rockstar Games developed the third installment in the franchise, putting an end to Remedy Entertainment’s plans for the future.
Remedy Entertainment had different plans for the Max Payne franchise
The founder of Apogee/3D Realms, Scott Miller, once revealed the plans Remedy and Apogee had for the Max Payne franchise. Miller, who worked on the first two games with Remedy, explained on his Twitter/X account that Rockstar Games took the franchise in a different direction,
“Rockstar’s Max Payne game (Max 3) was nothing like the direction Remedy/Apogee would have taken the series. We had in place the plan for each of the first four Max games taking place during a different season (winter, fall, summer, spring) in NYC, revealing a long arc story.”
Although Rockstar Games ruined Remedy’s plan, they still made an exciting game that was loved by fans all over the world. No announcements have been made about the fourth installment as of now. In April 2022, Remedy announced plans to remake the first two games for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and Series S.
The game would’ve been set in four different seasons in New York City
So, if the game wasn’t sold to Rockstar Games, four games would’ve been released set in different seasons (Winter, Fall, Summer, Spring) in New York City. Miller added that the third game would’ve been named The Heat of Max Payne since it would’ve been set in the summer season. When asked about Rockstar Games’ Max Payne 3, Miller said,
“I bought it and tried playing it back when it came out but Rockstar’s anti-piracy crap wouldn’t let me play it. So I released my finger from the mouse button, and it was over.”
The franchise reshaped the third-person shooter genre because of its well-execution of “bullet time“, a mechanic that allows the player to slow down time in order to aim more accurately.
Related: 7 Greatest Games From Remedy You Should Play Before Alan Wake 2 Release – Ranked
Source: Twitter/X
