Rockstar Games

Lore & Background

Rockstar Games predominantly publishes games in the action-adventure genre. Popular franchises include Grand Theft Auto, Red Dead, Midnight Club, Max Payne, and Manhunt. The company also owns a motion capture studio in Bethpage, New York.

In Their Own Story

Nine years after the events of the second game, Max Payne has retired from the NYPD and spends his days nursing his alcoholism and addiction to painkillers. After an incident involving the local mob forces him to leave New York, Max accepts an offer from Raul Passos to become a private security contractor in South America. Max finds himself working for the Branco family in São Paulo. A few months later, Max thwarts a kidnapping attempt on the Brancos by the Comando Sombra during a private party. A week later, the gang kidnaps Fabiana Branco at a nightclub. Instructed to pay $3 million for her release, Rodrigo allows Max and Passos to handle the exchange at a local football stadium. However, the meeting is ambushed by the Crachá Preto, an outlaw vigilante militia, who steal the money. Max eventually reaches Serrano's hideout, only to witness him murder Fabiana. Max finds himself forced to rescue Marcelo and Giovanna, who were captured by the Comando Sombra. During his search, he finds the UFE to be corrupt upon witnessing them selling prisoners to the Crachá Preto. Max eventually rescues Giovanna, but Marcelo is executed by the Crachá Preto. Max learns that Passos was on Victor's payroll. Da Silva reveals the cargo was money that Victor needed laundered in Panama, and that Max was recruited to be the fall guy. Max investigates a rundown hotel used by the Crachá Preto, revealing a black market organ theft ring supplied by the UFE with their prisoners. After releasing detainees including Serrano, Max plants explosives to destroy the hotel. The Crachá Preto's leader, Álvaro Neves, tries to stop him, but Passos kills him and escapes with Max. Max forgives Passos and allows him to leave the city with Giovanna. Da Silva persuades Max to get himself arrested at the UFE's headquarters to search for incriminating evidence. Max discovers that Victor orchestrated Rodrigo's murder to acquire his wealth, and that the organ sales were intended to fund his campaign in the upcoming mayoral elections. Max pursues them to the airport, mortally maiming Becker in a shootout, before destroying Victor's private jet with Da Silva's help. Max breaks Victor's leg to make him suffer. A week later in Bahia, Max overhears news in a bar that the UFE was disbanded and that Victor was found dead.

Reader's Guide

The source article does not specify which Max Payne games Rockstar published. It only lists Max Payne among Rockstar's popular franchises. The article mentions that Rockstar Games took over the Grand Theft Auto franchise from BMG Interactive, but it is silent on the publishing history of the first two Max Payne games.

Did You Know?

• Rockstar Games was established in December 1998 and formally announced on January 22, 1999.
• Grand Theft Auto V has sold over 220 million copies since its release in September 2013, making it the second-best-selling video game of all time.
• Rockstar Games was honored with the BAFTA Academy Fellowship Award in March 2014.
• The company acquired a motion capture studio in Bethpage, New York.