The Mafia 3 release date is finally here!
Well, there are still a few hours separating us from one of the biggest open-world games of the 2016 holiday season. But it’s finally time to figure out which of your local video game retailers will be selling copies of Mafia 3 late Thursday night and/or early Friday morning. Fortunately, the recent drought of midnight launches has finally been broken, with GameStop, Best Buy and Walmart expected to sell Mafia 3 at the earliest possible moment. The wait on PSN, Steam and Xbox Live is even a bitter shorter than usual. Some retailers are even still accepting pre-orders, complete with the usual goodies offered to those who purchase Mafia 3 ahead of launch.
So where can you get your copy of Mafia 3 on Thursday night?
We thought you’d never ask!
Mafia 3 Midnight Release - GameStop
For the first time in weeks, GameStop will be open late to accommodate those hoping to pick up their copy of Mafia 3 on Thursday night. Stores will close at the usual time on Thursday evening, re-opening at 12:01 a.m. (EST) to begin selling copies of Mafia 3 and Gears of War 4 to excited gamers across the country. All stores will open at the same time, meaning those farther west will actually get to pick up their copies on Thursday night.
Here’s a breakdown:
Pacific - 9:01 p.m. (10/6)
Mountain - 10:01 p.m. (10/6)
Central - 11:01 p.m. (10/6)
Eastern - 12:01 a.m. (10/7)
Those who pre-order Mafia 3 from GameStop will also receive the Family Kick-Back Bonus, a set of lieutenant-themed vehicles and firearms, along with a Mafia 3 poster.
Mafia 3 Midnight Release - Best Buy
Best Buy is also getting in on the Mafia 3 festivities this weekend. A variety of Best Buy locations will be open late on Thursday night. Check here to see if your local shop is one of them. Best Buy is still accepting orders on all three versions of the game, the standard Mafia 3 disc, Deluxe Edition and the $150 Collector’s version. Their locations will also open simultaneously at 12:01 a.m. (EST), so check the chart under the GameStop section to see when Best Buys in your neck of the woods will begin selling Mafia 3 on Thursday night (or Friday morning).
Last, but not least, Best Buy is also offering the Family Kick-Back DLC to anyone who pre-orders their copy of Mafia 3 from the consumer electronics retailer.
Mafia 3 Midnight Release - Walmart
Even if you don’t live near a Best Buy or GameStop, you may still be in luck. Walmart has become even more prolific over the last few years, even trying to open a store in NYC last year, so there’s a fair chance the 24-hour retail giant is represented in/near your city. We’d suggest calling your local store, to confirm they’ll be putting copies of Mafia 3 on shelves at midnight, before making the late-night trek. That said, we know plenty of folks rely on Walmart to get big games as soon as possible. Just call your local store(s) before you leave the house.
And, yes, Walmart will also be distributing the Family Kick-Back DLC to Mafia 3 customers.
Mafia 3 Midnight Release - PSN, Steam and Xbox Live
Much to our surprise, Mafia 3 looks to be one of the rare games that will be available at retail and digital marketplaces simultaneously. Frequently, the PSN, Steam and Xbox Live versions of new releases are held several hours, sometimes until the morning of launch day, to give the publisher’s retail partners a chance to compete. But countdown clocks on each of the major services suggest we’ll see Mafia 3 go live at 12:01 a.m. (EST). You’ll just have to hope your download finishes in a reasonable amount of time, that way you can squeeze in a few hours of Mafia 3 before work/school on Friday.
Mafia 3 is in development for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC. The game debuts Oct. 7.
Be sure to check back with iDigitalTimes.com and follow Scott on Twitter for more Mafia 3 news throughout 2016 and however long Hangar 13 supports Mafia 3 in the months following launch.
