Mafia and Mafia 2 trademarks hint at the possibility of remasters

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(Image credit: 2K)

It looks like Take-Two Interactive is getting back into the crime game. The publisher applied for a trio of trademarks last month, all relating to the Mafia series, hinting at the possibility of remasters. 

The first two applications are for Mafia and Mafia 2, complete with their respective logos. They released in 2002 and 2011, but Take-Two applied for trademarks again on August 2. Trademarks have to be renewed, but only every ten years, suggesting this is something different. 

A third application is also for Mafia, though without the stylised logo of the original. At first I wondered if it was a sequel, sans numeral, but it has a first use date that's the same as the first game. Presumably, it's simply trademarking the word as well the stylised version. A new game seems less likely than some remasters, then.

Mafia 3 took the series in an interesting direction, briefly, but devolved into simple, repetitive missions and a tired open-world structure that netted it a lukewarm reception. Its predecessors still have plenty of admirers, though, and the original especially feels like a great candidate for a makeover. 

Launched in 2002, it's from a time when the modern open-world formula had yet to solidify and the maps weren't filled with endless, suffocating diversions. Released today, it would still be pretty novel, though I'm not looking forward to following traffic laws again.    

Fraser Brown
Fraser Brown
Online Editor

Fraser is the UK online editor and has actually met The Internet in person. With over a decade of experience, he's been around the block a few times, serving as a freelancer, news editor and prolific reviewer. Strategy games have been a 30-year-long obsession, from tiny RTSs to sprawling political sims, and he never turns down the chance to rave about Total War or Crusader Kings. He's also been known to set up shop in the latest MMO and likes to wind down with an endlessly deep, systemic RPG. These days, when he's not editing, he can usually be found writing features that are 1,000 words too long or talking about his dog.