'Mafia 3' release date news 2016: New details on Lincoln Clay and betrayal possibilities; game to allow players to feed man to alligator

Hangar 13 has revealed new details about "Mafia 3" in terms of its story, the gameplay, and the unique abilities and actions that fans get to do in the game.

Lead writer Bill Harms emphasized during an interview with GameSpot that the story is not about a hero but a criminal that is Lincoln Clay.

He said that in coming up with the protagonist for "Mafia 3," they kept in mind that "it's not always important to have a likable character."

"You need to have a character that people can empathize with, and with Lincoln, it breaks along two lines," Harms explained, adding that this is partly because he was an orphan who "doesn't know where he belongs in the world."

"And that's one of the reasons he joined the army. He thinks he can find his place in the world in the military, but he doesn't, so when he comes back he is still searching for that, and I think that's pretty universal," the writer explained.

The other reason is that the "Mafia 3" protagonist suffered losing the only two people he ever loved. This "tremendous loss" is something that Harms expects fans will relate to at some point.

Harms also clarified that the portrayal of racism and prejudice in "Mafia 3" was only integrated to accurately depict the time period the game is set, which is the 1960s. The game actually opens with a "heartfelt" note from Hangar 13 explaining this.

It was also revealed that "Mafia 3" will give players the ability to feed a man to an alligator, which is something that Hangar 13 chief Haden Blackman made happen.

"Mafia 3" also allows Lincoln's lieutenants Vito, Burke, and Cassandra to betray him. The three will offer their services to him in exchange for access to the hideouts and territories. One can abandon and grass on Lincoln if they feel that he is giving more to the others.

"Mafia 3" will be released Oct. 7.