Mafia 3 developer Hanger 13’s studio head and founder Haden Blackman is stepping down from the corporate and 2K after seven years.
Blackman can be changed by Nick Baynes, who has 30 years of business management expertise and joined Hanger 13 in 2018 to start out Hanger 13 Brighton. He was chargeable for launching Mafia: Definitive Version and the Mafia Trilogy.
Blackman spent his early sport growth years at LucasArts and was a producer on Star Wars: Galaxies, the venture lead on Star Wars: The Power Unleashed, and extra. He additionally wrote a number of Star Wars comics, together with Jango Fett: Open Seasons, Star Wars: Starfighter, and Darth Vader & The Ghost Jail.
Whereas Blackman’s subsequent transfer was not revealed, 2K did say that he’s leaving the corporate to “pursue his ardour at a brand new endeavor.”
2K shared the inner announcement of Blackman’s departure with IGN, which shares 2K’s gratefulness for “Haden’s management in establishing Hangar 13, constructing and uniting groups in Novato, Brighton and Czech, and releasing a number of studio-defining Mafia video games and collections.”
“Hi there staff, It is with combined feelings that I share with you many management updates from Hangar 13,” 2K’s inside announcement reads. “Haden Blackman is stepping down as Studio Head of Hangar 13, and is leaving the corporate to pursue his ardour at a brand new endeavor.
“We’re grateful for Haden’s management in establishing Hangar 13, constructing and uniting groups in Novato, Brighton and Czech, and releasing a number of studio-defining Mafia video games and collections. What Haden helped construct will proceed to hold ahead and develop for years to come back. We assist all of our workers pursuing their passions, and we want nothing however the very best for him in what’s subsequent.
“Nick Baynes, Studio Head of Hangar 13 Brighton will take over as Studio Head of Hangar 13. With 30 years of business management expertise, Nick joined Hangar 13 in 2018 to ascertain Hangar 13 Brighton, and has spent the final 4 years rising the staff, build up the studio’s capabilities, and launching terrific initiatives like Mafia: Definitive Version and the Mafia Trilogy.
“I hope you may be a part of me in thanking Haden and wishing him the very best, and congratulating Nick on a well-deserved promotion. Whereas change will be difficult, it could possibly additionally breed new alternatives and success.
“We’re assured the studio is in nice arms heading into the a number of initiatives at the moment below approach, and the staff has 2K’s full assist.”
Mafia 3 was launched in 2016 and, in our evaluation, we stated that its “robust characters and assured storytelling saved me engaged, even when the gameplay not often delivered something however bog-standard and repetitive open-world motion.”
Hanger 13 was based in 2014 by 2K with Blackman on the helm and Mafia 3 has been the one new title the studio has launched since then. In 2018, Hanger 13 was hit with “vital” layoffs. The studio would proceed on to work with Gearbox Software program on Borderlands: The Good-looking Assortment and the beforehand talked about Mafia Trilogy.
In 2021, a Bloomberg report shared that Hanger 13’s unannounced sport Volt was cancelled after costing the corporate $53 million. The studio is at the moment hiring for one more unannounced venture.
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Adam Bankhurst is a information author for IGN. You’ll be able to observe him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.
