CVG write: A bunch of fresh details about developer Illusion Softworks' Mafia 2 have spilled onto the web. Here.

The title won't be a direct sequel to the first game, and you'll take on the role of Mafioso Vito who's just returned to fictional American destination Empire City after World War II service, it's been revealed.

Apparently the city space will measure around 10 km2 (twice as big as the original) and it's inspired mostly by San Francisco.

Extensive car damage will feature (it's reportedly more detailed and prettier than Burnout Paradise's), while you'll also be forced to refuel vehicles and have the option of taking them to the car wash if you want to make sure your motor stays looking flash.

Money will play an important role in the game. In GTA: San Andreas style you'll use it for buying new clothes and visiting restaurants, where you'll strengthen up by chowing down on some pasta.

The mob sequel's also said to sport an art style at times reminiscent of BioShock and a Gears of War-esque cover system.

It's in development on lead platforms Xbox 360 and PS3, according to the details over at NeoGaf, while the PC version's slated to launch shortly afterwards.

The game's been pencilled in for release during publisher Take-Two's fiscal 2009 year, meaning it'll be out some time between November '08 and October '09.
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It's time again to drool over Mafia II as 2K Czech releases another shot from its delicious-looking game. The free-roaming follow-up is set in the fictional city of Empire circa 1950, and promises to retain the original's less-sandbox mission structure, while also letting you get into scraps with the police for kicks.We'll be posting a massive Mafia II soon, so keep a look out.Courtesy of CVG.May ... » Read More

2K Games confirms that Mafia II is officially under development for the Xbox 360, PS3, and PC (under Games for Windows Live).
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Yesterday we unveiled assorted juicy bits regarding what Mafia II was bringing to the checker-clothed table. So as we continue to squeal details like a yellow rat, how’s ‘bout an EXCLUSIVE look at some of the Mafia II’s gameplay and environments. (Sorry for screaming.) We’re of the opinion that these mobster muscle-cars are the absolute bee’s knees, but non-motorheads should at least notice that gangland gamers are in for a considerably faster experience than the early-auto era found in the original Mafia. ... » Read More

The latest issue of PlayStation: The Official Magazine contains an extensive preview of the upcoming Mafia II.

Key Features:

- 3 families
- Cops only call reinforcements if you commited a large enough crime.
- 2 hours of cutscenes
- references to original game/easter eggs
- 3 acts
- all of the 2.5 square mile city open at the start
- can use taxi's to get around
- cars get damaged, dirty, and explode if shot in the gas tank
- can customize cars with your own license plates
- 2 types of context sensitive environment interactions: Standard and Violent
- Can buy food from vendors like hotdogs
- While buying stuff you can't be attacked
- NPC's will smoke, read newspapers, wait for buses, look through trash cans
- several points in the story you can make choices that affect the game
- multiple endings
- police go after other criminals instead of just you
- can buy houses where you store gear
- can take missions for and against competing families
- lots of interactive objects like chairs, bottles, sinks
- map waypoints including sidequests
- checkpoints improved from original game
- no on screen interface
- go to gyms to learn new hand to hand combos
- shooting through doors will possibly be added
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It's been six years since it won the hearts of PC gamers (and alienated the console crowd with inferior ports), but cult 1930s crime epic Mafia is finally getting a sequel. Set in a new era - the '40s and early '50s - Mafia II will follow the rags-to-riches story of Vito Scaletta, a young hood trying to make it as a mobster in a New York-inspired city lorded over by three rival crime families. This month's issue of PlayStation: ... » Read More

Today, subscribers received the German newsletter of 2k Games containing the announcement for Mafia II coming in 2008.
Regarding former news that Mafia II is due to be released in T2's fiscal year 2009, which starts in November 2008, this newsletter could be a hint at Mafia II being released at Christmas time.
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Take-Two Interactive clarified the release dates of several upcoming titles that it will be publishing in a conference call today.

The publisher revealed that Gearbox Software's Borderlands (PC, PS3, X360) and 2K Czech's Mafia II (PC, PS3, X360) is positioned for release sometime in Take-Two's 2009 fiscal year, which runs from November 1, 2008 through October 31, 2009.
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It's been far too long since we last heard anything on Mafia 2, so we're grateful for these five new screenshots. It's actually the first we've seen of the sequel since it was confirmed last August and fans of the classy PC original collapsed in apoplectic heaps of excitement. Mafia 2 immerses players in the mob underworld of a fictitious late 1940s-early 1950s scenario. We're told that we will become engaged in the game's cinematic ... » Read More

Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. this week announced the acquisition of Illusion Softworks, a premier Central European-based game development studio with operations in Brno and Prague, the Czech Republic. Illusion Softworks has approximately 200 employees and will join Take-Two's 2K Games publishing label as its newest studio, 2K Czech.
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Aug 31, 2007 Here it is - the first Mafia 2 trailer (see it below). Like the original Mafia title, Mafia 2 immerses players in the mob underworld of a fictitious late 1940s-early 1950s scenario. We're told that we will become engaged in the game's cinematic Hollywood movie experience with strong, believable characters in a living, breathing city. The sequel's in development for PC, PS3, and Xbox 360. ... » Read More

Aug 21, 2007 2K Games will publish Mafia 2, a sequel to the original Mafia title (that sold more than two million copies worldwide no less) that helped popularise the gangster genre. To see some early screens from the game, click on the Images tab at the top of the page. Featuring a deep mobster-driven narrative and both behind-the-wheel and on-foot action, Mafia 2 "is the sequel fans have been clamoring for" says 2K. We bloody hope so. The game is being developed by Illusion Softworks, ... » Read More

Take 2 sent out a press release today to let Loot Ninja know they'll be publishing the sequel to the hit game Mafia.

The sequel, Mafia 2, will be available for all next-gen consoles and PC. No release date has been set.

"Like the original Mafia title, Mafia 2 immerses players in the mob underworld of a fictitious late 1940's-early 1950's scenario. Players will easily become engaged in the game's cinematic Hollywood movie experience with strong, believable characters in a living, breathing city. By fusing high octane gunplay with white knuckle driving and an engaging narrative, Mafia 2 looks to be the industry's most compelling Mafia title to date."
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