“We’re destined to do this forever,” Spoke a character that only appeared in one movie in that particular incarnation of the reboot. However, those words make sense when speaking about the video games industry, and unsurprisingly the same could be said for these articles. It seems I am destined to forever report on what was said on a website that looks like it came from the 90s. Even though today’s story is of a game set when toilets still said: “colored,” it is a step in the right direction, I guess.

The Mafia series is a strange one indeed, as it is part open-world and part linear corridor with a living world outside of it. Before Mafia III came along the series had mostly a Tarantino-esque chapter system without bouncing between characters. Instead, it portrayed days in the life of Tommy and Vito; two men who are so stereotypical Italian-American they might as well pain half their face red, white, and blue with the other half red, white, and green; shouting the words, “I’m walking here!” I’ve only had hands-on experience with the second game, but I both like it and don’t. Something I thought everyone else thought when the third came out.

However, according to SegmentNext.com, there are new patents for the Mafia series. Filed on the 2nd of August, the three registrations for the Mafia series in the United States Patent and Trademark Office trademark electronic search system (TESS) suggests something is coming (search “Mafia“). Yes, I know when you click on the link your first thought is that site might as well be a man in a beige suit and “quirky” tie, but it is here that news is happening. Ok, it is news that’s as dull as dishwater at first sight, but it is news.

Two of these filings are in some plain text (one similar to the first game’s logo) of the word “Mafia,” one could assume these are possible placeholders. They aren’t special aside from being filed on the part of Take-two, parent of 2K who themselves publish the series; and with two of them, it could be a sign that these are more than a continuation to the patent. Though there was what seems to be an update to the patent for 2010’s Mafia II, possibly a remaster?

Well, we don’t know, and there’s not much to say outright. Though, given Hanger 13 employees, such as Geert De Cnodder, are working on an “unannounced AAA game,” we know the studio behind Mafia III is working on something new. SegmentNext suggests this could be the 4th installment, and with the Mafia II patent, there is some talk of a remaster possibly in the works. With another console generation hurtling towards us as I do to a bakery that’s just opened, we could see a shiny remaster/bundle of the series soon.

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