New Bordeaux

Lore & Background

New Bordeaux is a city of festering wounds and gilded cages. In the French Ward, the scent of beignets and cigar smoke drifts from clubs where trumpets wail under neon signs, while just miles away, the Bayou Fantom's murky waters choke on rusted car wrecks and the bones of those who crossed the Marcano family. The city's geography is a map of its divisions: the manicured lawns and riverfront mansions of Tickfaw Harbor are guarded by Sal Marcano's private army, while the Hollow and Southdowns simmer with the resentment of black and immigrant communities crushed under a boot of systemic corruption. For decades, the Marcano family has bled the city dry—skimming from union coffers, running whores through the River District's flophouses, and flooding the streets with heroin—all while the cops look the other way, their palms greased with blood money.

In Their Own Story

The rain fell in sheets over the French Ward, washing the blood from the cobblestones as Lincoln Clay stepped out of Sammy's bar. The neon sign flickered, casting a sickly green glow on the empty street. In the distance, a police siren wailed, but no one came. The Marcano men had made sure of that. Lincoln lit a cigarette, the smoke mingling with the steam rising from the pavement. He had a list: Sal Marcano, his sons, his lieutenants. One by one, he would tear down their empire, brick by brick, until all that remained of New Bordeaux's old order was ash and memory.

Reader's Guide

New Bordeaux is the central hub of Mafia III, divided into ten distinct districts: Bayou Fantom, Delray Hollow, Barclay Mills, Frisco Fields, Pointe Verdun, Tickfaw Harbor, Southdowns, River Row, Downtown, and the French Ward. Each district features unique architecture, demographics, and rackets tied to the Marcano family's operations. Players explore the city on foot or by vehicle, engaging in missions such as assassinations, sabotage, and territory takeovers. The game's soundtrack features several licensed songs composed by various musicians who were active during the time period. New Bordeaux's role in the game is twofold: it provides a sandbox for open-world activities—such as side missions, collectibles, and environmental storytelling—and serves as a narrative stage for Lincoln Clay's revenge story. The city's design emphasizes verticality and hidden passages, encouraging exploration. Key locations include Sammy's bar (a safe house), the French Ward's St. Louis Cathedral, and the Marcano family's estate in Tickfaw Harbor. The city's layout and lore reward players who pay attention to its historical and cultural details, making it a character in its own right.

Did You Know?

• New Bordeaux is made up of ten districts: Bayou Fantom, Delray Hollow, Barclay Mills, Frisco Fields, Pointe Verdun, Tickfaw Harbor, Southdowns, River Row, Downtown, and the French Ward.
• The game's map is larger than the Mafia and Mafia II maps combined.
• The city's design was influenced by the real-life aspects of the southern United States during the time period, primarily the city of New Orleans.
• Several team members conducted field research around Louisiana to capture footage for the design team.
• The game's soundtrack features several licensed songs composed by various musicians who were active during the 1960s.