Mafia developer Hangar 13 sees new leadership and possible new game
Hangar 13 has a new Godfather.
Yesterday, 2K Games confirmed that longtime President of Hangar 13 Haden Blackman officially departed from the company.
2K confirmed Blackman’s departure in an internal memo shared with PC Gamer. In the memo, they express their appreciation for Blackman’s massive contributions by establishing the studio and heading the Mafia trilogy. However, they also look towards the future, stating that what Blackman helped build will carry on with the company’s future projects.
We are grateful for Haden’s leadership in establishing Hangar 13, building and uniting teams in Novato, Brighton and Czech, and releasing multiple studio-defining Mafia games and collections. What Haden helped build will continue to carry forward and grow for years to come.
2K Games
In addition to Blackman, Hangar 13’s Chief Operating Officer Mathew Urban also left the studio. According to Urban’s LinkedIn page, he ended his tenure sometime in the past couple days. He also wrote about his departure in a recent post.
What an amazing ride at H13. Let’s see what is next.
Matthew Urban
Looking towards the future for Hangar 13
Although it’s uncertain who will replace Urban as COO, 2K did confirm Hangar 13’s next President. 2K announced that Nick Baynes, who joined the studio to lead the Brighton office, will take over the position. The company also elaborates on the leadership change in an official announcement.
I hope you’ll join me in thanking Haden and wishing him the best, and congratulating Nick on a well-deserved promotion. While change can be challenging, it can also breed new opportunities and success. We are confident the studio is in great hands heading into the multiple projects currently under way, and the team has 2K’s full support.
2K Games
Of the multiple projects hinted at in 2K’s statement, a report by Kotaku suggests that a new Mafia game is in early development. Rumors suggest the freshly managed developers are working on a prequel to the franchise as Mafia’s next installment. In addition, Kotaku’s report states the next game will also run on Unreal Engine 5. However, only one source currently backs the rumor.
Do you think Hangar 13 and 2K have another Mafia game planned? How do you think new leadership will shape the franchise going forward? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!
Via PC Gamer
