Max Payne 3 coming March 2012

Rockstar Games promised updates for its perpetually-delayed Max Payne 3, and today, they've delivered. Max Payne 3 will be available on PC, PS3, and Xbox 360 in March 2012 across North America and Europe.

Although Rockstar Vancouver was originally attached to the project, the publisher is now calling the effort a "true cross-studio collaboration between Rockstar Games' global development teams." Makes sense, given Vancouver's lack of experience in developing multiplayer.

Max Payne 3 box art

"Max Payne 3 gave us an amazing creative opportunity to evolve one of our most iconic characters," said Sam Houser, Founder of Rockstar Games said in a press release. "We're excited to show fans a modern version of Max that pulls them back into his dark and twisted story."

The story begins in Sao Paulo, Brazil, where Max starts a new life, still "haunted by the memories of his traumatic past." When gang violence breaks out, Max must "once and for all, rid himself of the demons that have tortured him for far too long." Can we expect more crazy dream sequences in MP3?

Max Payne 3 will also include multiplayer, a first for the franchise. According to Rockstar, the multiplayer offering will "dynamically alter maps" and will include the now-standard reward and leveling systems seen in other online games. In addition, there will be support for "persistent clans."