Hangar 13

Hangar 13 is a video-game development studio established by 2K, the publishing label owned by Take-Two Interactive. The studio is headquartered in Novato, California, and has operated through a distributed structure that has included teams in Brighton, England, and the Czech Republic. Its work has primarily focused on large-scale, story-driven console and PC games, especially the Mafia franchise, while also contributing to sports and technical projects. The studio’s origins date to a planned San Francisco development operation announced around 2013. Rod Fergusson was initially associated with that initiative, but he left before the formal creation of Hangar 13, citing creative differences. On December 4, 2014, 2K formally announced Hangar 13 under the leadership of Haden Blackman, a former LucasArts creative director. The new studio was tasked with creating a major game for PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One. Hangar 13’s debut project was Mafia III, developed with support from 2K Czech, the team behind earlier Mafia games. Released in October 2016, Mafia III continued the series’ emphasis on crime drama, open-world exploration, period settings, and cinematic storytelling. In 2017, 2K Czech was merged into Hangar 13, strengthening the studio’s relationship with the franchise and expanding its development footprint in the Czech Republic. A Brighton studio was added in 2018 under Nick Baynes, giving Hangar 13 another European development base. The studio subsequently worked on Mafia: Definitive Edition, a comprehensive remake of the original Mafia, and participated in the Mafia: Trilogy package announced in 2020. That collection combined the remake, a remastered version of Mafia II produced by d3t, and an expanded or complete edition of Mafia III with its additional story content. Hangar 13 also collaborated with Gearbox Software on a 4K enhancement update for Borderlands: The Handsome Collection and later developed TopSpin 2K25, returning the TopSpin tennis series to the market. Hangar 13 has experienced repeated restructuring as it has moved between projects. The studio underwent significant layoffs in 2018, and an unannounced project known as Volt was cancelled in 2021 after reported production losses of approximately $53 million. Further layoffs followed in 2022 across its four studios. Haden Blackman announced his departure that year and was succeeded by Brighton head Nick Baynes. Around the same period, the company was reported to be exploring additional Mafia and TopSpin projects. Development of a new Mafia game was confirmed in 2022, and Mafia: The Old Country was subsequently identified as one of Hangar 13’s projects. The studio remains an active internal developer within the 2K and Take-Two organization.

Hangar 13 emerged from 2K’s effort to create a new first-party development operation in the San Francisco Bay Area. A proposed studio was associated with Rod Fergusson around 2013, but Fergusson left by early 2014, describing the separation as a result of creative differences. 2K then formally established Hangar 13 in December 2014 and appointed Haden Blackman, previously a creative director at LucasArts, to lead it. The studio’s first major assignment was Mafia III, a new entry in the Mafia crime-game series. Hangar 13 worked with 2K Czech, the Czech development team responsible for earlier Mafia titles. Mafia III launched in October 2016 on PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One. The project gave Hangar 13 an identity centered on cinematic storytelling, historical settings, open-world environments, and character-focused action. In 2017, 2K Czech was merged into Hangar 13, bringing the two development organizations together. Hangar 13 expanded beyond its California base during the following years. A Brighton, United Kingdom, location opened in 2018 under Nick Baynes, while the wider organization continued to include Czech development operations. The studio also explored concepts outside its established crime-game work. In 2019 it collaborated with Gearbox Software on a free 4K update for Borderlands: The Handsome Collection. In 2020, 2K and Hangar 13 presented Mafia: Trilogy, which combined a remake of the first Mafia, a remastered Mafia II developed by d3t, and a complete edition of Mafia III with its story expansions. The company’s development history has also included periods of instability. Hangar 13 experienced substantial layoffs in 2018. An unannounced project known as Volt was cancelled by Take-Two in 2021 after reported production costs of approximately $53 million. In 2022, Blackman announced his departure and Baynes became studio head. Additional layoffs affected the organization’s four studios, including a reported reduction of 50 employees from the Novato workforce of 87 at that time. Despite the restructuring, Hangar 13 continued to receive work within established 2K franchises. Reports in 2022 described a Mafia prequel, a possible new TopSpin title, and plans for another Mafia installment. Development of a new Mafia game was confirmed in August 2022. The studio later developed TopSpin 2K25 and was associated with Mafia: The Old Country, reinforcing its role as a multi-project development group within Take-Two’s 2K publishing structure.

• 2022

  Nick Baynes succeeds Haden Blackman

  [1]Hangar 13en.wikipedia.org

  Baynes became studio head following Blackman’s announced departure.

• 2022

  New Mafia development confirmed

  [1]Hangar 13en.wikipedia.org

  Hangar 13 confirmed that development had begun on a new Mafia game.

• 2020

  Mafia: Trilogy announced

  [1]Hangar 13en.wikipedia.org

  The studio and 2K announced a three-game Mafia package spanning a remake, remaster, and expanded edition.

• 2018

  Brighton office opened

  [1]Hangar 13en.wikipedia.org

  Hangar 13 established a Brighton development location led by Nick Baynes.

• 2017

  2K Czech integrated

  [1]Hangar 13en.wikipedia.org

  2K Czech merged into Hangar 13.

• 2016

  Mafia III launches

  [1]Hangar 13en.wikipedia.org

  Mafia III released for PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One.

• 2015

  Mafia III revealed

  [1]Hangar 13en.wikipedia.org

  Hangar 13 announced its debut title, Mafia III.

• 2014

  Hangar 13 formally established

  [1]Hangar 13en.wikipedia.org

  2K announced Hangar 13 on December 4 under Haden Blackman’s leadership.

• 2013

  Proposed San Francisco studio announced

  [1]Hangar 13en.wikipedia.org

  2K announced plans for a new San Francisco-area studio associated with Rod Fergusson, who later left before Hangar 13 was formally established.

A major internal 2K development studio focused on cinematic, narrative-led games, particularly open-world crime dramas, while also supporting established sports and publishing franchises.

• Open-world action-adventure game · 2016

  Mafia III

  Hangar 13’s debut game and its first major Mafia project, Mafia III is a narrative-driven open-world action game set in a fictionalized version of late-1960s Louisiana. It follows Lincoln Clay, a Vietnam veteran who builds a criminal organization after a personal betrayal. The title emphasized period atmosphere, cinematic storytelling, territory management, and third-person combat. It was released for PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One on October 7, 2016, with development support from 2K Czech.

• Remake · 2020

  Mafia: Definitive Edition

  Mafia: Definitive Edition is Hangar 13’s remake of the original Mafia. Rather than serving as a simple graphical update, it rebuilt the game with modern technology, revised presentation, updated gameplay systems, and expanded narrative material. The project allowed the studio to reinterpret the first game for contemporary console and PC audiences while maintaining its period crime-drama premise.

• Game collection · 2020

  Mafia: Trilogy

  Mafia: Trilogy is a collection and publishing package built around the Mafia series. It includes Mafia: Definitive Edition, a remastered version of Mafia II developed by d3t, and a complete edition of Mafia III incorporating its additional story packs. The package was offered as a bundle and through individual releases, with certain existing owners receiving upgrades at no additional cost.

• Sports video game · 2024

  TopSpin 2K25

  TopSpin 2K25 is a tennis simulation developed by Hangar 13 for 2K. It represents the return of the TopSpin series after a long gap between mainline releases. The game extends the studio’s portfolio beyond crime dramas into licensed and competitive sports entertainment, with tennis competition, player progression, and online-oriented play as central elements.

• Action-adventure game

  Mafia: The Old Country

  Mafia: The Old Country is a Mafia project associated with Hangar 13. It broadens the franchise’s historical crime-fiction setting and reflects the studio’s continuing investment in the series that established its identity within 2K. Detailed release information and commercial performance are not specified in the supplied reference material.

• 2022

  Change studio leadershipOther

  Background

  Haden Blackman announced his departure after leading Hangar 13 since its formal establishment.

  Action taken

  Nick Baynes, previously associated with the Brighton studio, succeeded Blackman as studio head.

  Aftermath

  The leadership transition occurred alongside layoffs and renewed emphasis on Mafia and TopSpin-related development.

  Source

• 2022

  Prioritize a connected Mafia and TopSpin pipelineStrategy

  Background

  After the Volt cancellation and workforce reductions, reports described Hangar 13 as exploring a Mafia prequel, another Mafia entry, and a new TopSpin project.

  Action taken

  The studio continued development and planning around established 2K properties, with a new Mafia game confirmed in August.

  Aftermath

  The approach was intended to support a smoother transition between projects and maintain employment across the studio network.

  Source

• 2021

  Cancel the Volt projectOther

  Background

  Volt was an unannounced Hangar 13 project that accumulated substantial development costs before being discontinued.

  Action taken

  Take-Two cancelled the project after reported production losses of approximately $53 million.

  Aftermath

  The cancellation contributed to uncertainty around the studio’s project pipeline and preceded further restructuring.

  Reported production losses. $53 million (By November 2021)

  Source

• 2020

  Release the Mafia: Trilogy packageProduct launch

  Background

  2K and Hangar 13 sought to package the Mafia catalog for current console and PC audiences through a combination of a remake, a remaster, and an expanded edition.

  Action taken

  They announced Mafia: Trilogy for bundled and individual purchase, including free upgrades for certain existing owners.

  Aftermath

  The package repositioned the franchise as a unified modern catalog and brought the original Mafia to new platforms through a full remake.

  Source

• 2017

  Integrate 2K Czech into Hangar 13M&A

  Background

  2K Czech had developed earlier Mafia games and supported Mafia III, making its integration strategically relevant to Hangar 13’s franchise capabilities.

  Action taken

  2K merged 2K Czech into Hangar 13 and consolidated the teams under the Hangar 13 structure.

  Aftermath

  The move expanded Hangar 13’s European development capacity and deepened its connection to the Mafia property.

  Source

• 2026-08-17

  Mafia: The Omerta Collection launches for PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC[2]《黑手党：缄默法则合集》登陆PS5、Xbox Series X|S和PCmoneycontrol.com

  Publisher 2K Games and developer Hangar 13 released Mafia: The Omerta Collection, a bundle of four Mafia series games, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC (Steam). The collection includes Mafia: The Old Country Definitive Edition, Mafia: Definitive Edition, Mafia II: Definitive Edition and Mafia III: Definitive Edition.

1. 1Hangar 13en.wikipedia.org
2. 2《黑手党：缄默法则合集》登陆PS5、Xbox Series X|S和PCmoneycontrol.com