Mafia: The Ragged Nation Developer Unfazed by GTA 6 Rivalry as Series Evolve Distinctly Over Two Decades

The developers of Mafia: The Ragged Nation are no longer apprehensive about comparisons with GTA 6, as the two franchises have been diverging for the last 22 years.

In an interview with IGN, Alex Cox, the game director of Mafia: The Ragged Nation, along with Hangar 13 president Prick Baynes, shared their thoughts on launching their expansive crime saga in the same year as GTA 6, particularly since both titles originate from the same publisher. Baynes remarked that the time invested in creating new games has grown so significant that “you simply aim to produce the best product possible and hope it stands independently.”

In fact, he stated that he is not particularly concerned about any upcoming titles encroaching on his domain, as “we’re developing it for Mafia enthusiasts; it’s the story we aspire to convey within the Mafia universe. Honestly, aside from casual discussions at the pub about our general feelings towards the market or upcoming releases, [other games are] not something we discuss. We merely wish to craft the best Mafia game possible.”

Cox elaborates, indicating that Mafia and GTA aren’t just “distinct games,” but have been becoming increasingly different from each other over the years. “If you trace the evolution of both GTA and Mafia since around 2000, particularly 2002 when GTA 3 and Mafia launched, they were mechanically very alike. However, Mafia has consistently placed greater emphasis on its linear storyline compared to Rockstar’s sandbox-style experiences. Over time, Mafia has increasingly concentrated on its narrative, so I believe the games aren’t fundamentally similar beyond sharing a common theme.”

Baynes further emphasizes that The Ragged Nation aligns with the linear narratives of Mafia 1 and 2, and Cox adds that it is not an open-world game “in the strictest sense.” To underline that point, Baynes expresses t