In what must be a constant series of unfortunate events, Max Payne 3 continues to be delayed. The third title in Payne series, originally slated for release in 2009, now appears to be pushed out of 2011 as well. With the release of Take Two's release schedule for the 2011-2012 year, Max Payne 3 quite obviously absent. Rockstar might be giving Max Payne 3 the LA Noire treatment, perhaps hitting shelves some four years after its original scheduled release date.

Fearing that Max Payne 3 might have been straight away canceled, Kotaku asked Rockstar what the deal was. Rockstar replied:

"We’re still working hard on Max, and we’ll have more news in the coming months."

Fans of the series can relax comfortably now, knowing that the game is still being diligently worked on. Though there's certainly bound to be some trepidation concerning just how faithful Max Payne 3 will remain to the rest of the franchise. The Max Payne movie couldn't have been further from what fans wanted, so why should fans expect anything else from the franchise anymore?

That brings a an important issue, one that Rockstar might very well understand. How can game companies continue to push for terrible movie spinoffs of their games, and then expect gamers to sigh, laugh, and wait patiently for the next game? Selling-out is putting it lightly, and game fans shouldn't have to deal with their favorite games being sold to the slaughterhouse.

Could this the cause of Max Payne's consistently delayed release? Have samplings shown that most audiences still relate Max Payne to the awful Mark Wahlberg film, and that releasing a game in this environment isn't a profitable endeavor? Will the franchise ever be what it once was, again?

What are your thoughts on Max Payne 3, Ranters? Do you think the movie has negatively impacted your opinion of the franchise, or are you undecided on the game for other reasons? Should Max Payne 3 be a title gamers should watch out for?

Max Payne 3 is coming to the PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 in 2012 or beyond!

Source: Kotaku