Rockstar unveils “narrative-based” multiplayer for Max Payne 3

Max Payne 3 will feature a “narrative-based” multiplayer mode titled Gang Wars, Rockstar has revealed.

Gang Wars is the multiplayer mode which features mobsters from the single-player story, which in turn opts to create sort of immersion that blends the strong narrative elements of the game into the online portion.

“The narrative element of Max Payne 1 and 2, and what we’re doing with 3, is obviously very strong,” lead designer Charlie Bewsher told IGN. “So when you starting thinking about the multiplayer version of Payne I think you’ve got to address that part of the game. But there’s also a narrative unique to any multiplayer game, though – you sort of get this drama that unfolds.”

An example that portrays Gang Wars sees players hopping into an online session that translates into a narrative path – such as an incident that depicts a drug deal mission going bad and thus one team is forced to nab bags of cash and flee to a safe spot while under fire.

Based on the first incident, the narration of the multiplayer session develops into another scenario. For example, it could add a bounty to hunt down the best player in the previous round, or to plan a strike against the dominant team in order to spread territory reign.

The session goes on, and the next round sees players checking forcefully-gained territory to defuse booby-traps and bombs. Obviously, players will garner XP by completing objectives, which then can be used to purchase ‘Bursts’ and therefore claim the iconic bullet-time preset. Other kind of perks can be unlocked as well.

Max Payne 3 is due out in March for PC, PS3 and Xbox 360. Now that we know what its multiplayer is all about, are you excited?