Max Payne

This article is about the video game series. For the first game in the series, see Max Payne (video game). For the title character, see Max Payne (character). For other uses, see Max Payne (disambiguation).

Max Payne
Genre(s)Third-person shooter
Developer(s)Remedy Entertainment (2001–2003; 2022–present)
Rockstar Studios (2012)
Publisher(s)Gathering of Developers (2001, PC)
Rockstar Games
Writer(s)Sam Lake (1–2)
Dan Houser (3)
Michael Unsworth (3)
Rupert Humphries (3)
Composer(s)Kärtsy Hatakka (1–2)
Kimmo Kajasto (1–2)
Perttu Kivilaakso (2)
Health (3)
Platform(s)
First releaseMax Payne
July 24, 2001
Latest releaseMax Payne 3
May 15, 2012

Max Payne is a neo-noir third-person shooter video game series developed by Remedy Entertainment (Max Payne and Max Payne 2) and Rockstar Studios (Max Payne 3). The series is named after its protagonist, Max Payne, a New York City police detective turned vigilante after his family was murdered by drug addicts. The first two installments were written by Sam Lake, while Max Payne 3 was primarily written by Rockstar Games' Dan Houser.

The first game in the series, Max Payne, was released for Windows in 2001 and for PlayStation 2, Xbox, and Apple Macintosh in 2002; a different version of the game was released for the Game Boy Advance in 2003. A sequel, titled Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne was released for PlayStation 2, Windows, and Xbox in 2003. In 2008, a movie adaptation, 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, respectively. Max Payne 3 was developed by Rockstar Studios and released for PlayStation 3, Windows, and Xbox 360 in 2012.

In November 2021, Microsoft announced that in celebration of 20 years of Xbox, they would be adding over 70 more games to their backwards compatibility program. Headlining these games was the Max Payne trilogy, making the games available to play on Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S[1]

The franchise is notable for its use of "bullet time" in action sequences, as well as being positively received by critics.[2][3] As of 2011, the Max Payne franchise has sold over 7.5 million units.[4] The film rendition received negative reviews but was commercially successful.[5][6]

In April 2022, Remedy announced that remakes of Max Payne and Max Payne 2 are being developed in collaboration with Rockstar Games. The two games will be released as a single title.[7]

  1. ^ "Celebrate 20 years of Xbox with over 70 new Backward Compatible Games". Xbox Wire. November 15, 2021. Archived from the original on November 30, 2021. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  2. ^ "Max Payne on Metacritic". Metacritic. Archived from the original on October 26, 2008. Retrieved November 29, 2008.
  3. ^ "Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne on Metacritic". Metacritic. Archived from the original on March 28, 2009. Retrieved November 29, 2008.
  4. ^ Orland, Kyle (September 14, 2011). "Grand Theft Auto IV Passes 22M Shipped, Franchise Above 114M". Gamasutra. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved November 12, 2011.
  5. ^ "Film: Max Payne on Metacritic". Metacritic. Archived from the original on November 4, 2008. Retrieved November 29, 2008.
  6. ^ Hilliard, Kyle (November 27, 2015). "Remedy Reflects On The Disappointing 2008 Max Payne Film". Game Informer. Archived from the original on November 29, 2015. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  7. ^ "Remedy Entertainment Enters Agreement with Rockstar Games for New Max Payne 1&2 Project". Remedy Entertainment. April 6, 2022. Archived from the original on April 6, 2022. Retrieved April 6, 2022.