Max Payne 1 and 2 game remakes coming from Remedy and Rockstar
Remedy Entertainment, the creators of Max Payne, announced Wedensday (April 6) that they will remake the critically acclaimed Max Payne and Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne video games in a new development agreement with Rockstar Games.
The neo noir, third person shooter video game series follows protagonist Max Payne, a New York City police detective turned vigilante after his family was murdered by drug addicts. The series’ first and second installments were originally released in 2001 and 2003, respectively, for PlayStation 2, Xbox and Microsoft Windows.
We are pleased to announce that we will remake the iconic Max Payne and Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne, in a new development agreement with Rockstar Games.
— Remedy Entertainment (@remedygames) April 6, 2022
Read the full press release here: https://t.co/gx9tuH425j
Both games have left a mark in popular culture, and have been lauded for their neo noir atmosphere, groundbreaking storytelling and “bullet-time” gunplay.
In 2008, a movie adaption, loosely based on the original game, entitled Max Payne, was released, starring Mark Wahlberg and Mila Kunis in the roles of Max Payne and Mona Sax.
“We were thrilled when our long-time friends at Remedy approached us about remaking the original Max Payne games,” said Sam Houser, Founder of Rockstar Games in the statement. “We are massive fans of the work the Remedy team has created over the years, and we can’t wait to play these new versions.”
“Max Payne has always held a special place in the hearts of everyone at Remedy, and we know the millions of fans worldwide feel the same,” said Remedy CEO, Tero Virtala. “We’re hugely excited to be working with our partners at Rockstar Games once again for the chance to bring the story, action and atmosphere of the original Max Payne games back to players in new ways.”
The Max Payne 1 and 2 remakes are currently in the concept development stage.
Video game developer Remedy Entertainment’s recent games include Alan Wake, Quantum Break and Control, while Rockstar has published numerous games in the racing and action adventure genres, including the Grand Theft Auto series, Red Dead Redemption series, Midnight Club, and L.A. Noire, among others.
Under the development agreement signed Wednesday, Remedy will develop the games as a single title for PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S using its proprietary Northlight game engine, the same technology used in Control and Quantum Break.
The game’s development budget will be financed by Rockstar Games, in line with a typical AAA-game production. Under the agreement, Remedy has a royalty opportunity after Rockstar Games has recouped its development, marketing, and other costs for distributing and publishing the game.
Last November, Microsoft announced that in celebration of 20 years of Xbox, they would be adding over 70 more games to their backwards compatibility program, with the Max Payne trilogy headlining the available games. Two decades after their original release, the games will be available to play for the first time on Microsoft's current-gen Xbox One and XBox Series X/S consoles.