Mafia III Gets 60 FPS on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, but Saves Won’t Transfer

Ten years after its original release, Mafia III: Definitive Edition has received native PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S versions with 60 FPS gameplay, alongside a substantial Steam update addressing long-standing technical problems.

Released on October 8 to mark the anniversary of Lincoln Clay’s 2016 revenge story, the new console editions offer improved loading times, more consistent lighting and vegetation rendering, and fixes for progression issues that could prevent players from completing certain missions.

Gameplay and real-time cinematics support 60 FPS, although some pre-rendered cutscenes remain at 30 FPS. Improvements to Trophy and Achievement tracking, vehicle behaviour, NPC interactions and map objectives are also included.

Sony’s PlayStation Store additionally lists the PS5 version as PS5 Pro Enhanced, with DualSense trigger effects supported. However, 2K has not detailed specific PS5 Pro rendering modes or resolution targets.

The upgrades are available at no additional cost to eligible existing owners, including those who purchased Mafia III: Definitive Edition through Mafia: Trilogy or Mafia: The Omertà Collection.

There are important differences depending on how the original game was purchased.

PlayStation owners: Both physical and digital PS4 copies qualify for the PS5 upgrade. Disc owners need a PS5 with a disc drive, must claim the upgrade through the Game Hub and must keep the original disc inserted to play. However, 2K explicitly excludes copies claimed through PlayStation Plus Monthly Games.

Xbox owners: Digital Xbox One purchases qualify for the Xbox Series X|S version. Players who own Mafia: Trilogy or The Omertà Collection should find the upgrade in their library, while standalone Definitive Edition owners may need to claim it through the Microsoft Store. The announced offer does not extend to Xbox One physical copies.

Players experiencing ownership problems can follow 2K’s upgrade guidance, which also explains how to locate the correct version on each storefront.

The biggest drawback is that existing save files and Trophy or Achievement progress do not transfer from PS4 or Xbox One to the new editions. Anyone switching versions must begin a fresh campaign and earn the new platform’s unlocks separately.

I’d be reluctant to abandon a campaign halfway through just for the higher frame rate. The improvements are welcome, particularly for a game with a history of technical frustrations, but restarting Lincoln’s lengthy criminal takeover is a substantial trade-off.

PC players have received a separate Steam patch rather than a new edition. It addresses mission-blocking problems in objectives including Get Enzo Conti, Kill Tommy Marcano and the Epilogue, alongside crashes, unreliable achievement tracking and incorrect map markers.

The update also tackles wiretap and junction box problems after Stones Unturned, improves lighting draw distance and reduces flickering textures. New FPS lock options of 120, 144, 180 and 240 FPS give players with high-refresh-rate monitors greater control, alongside improvements to windowed mode and multi-monitor setups.

Mafia III: Definitive Edition continues to include all three story expansions, Faster, Baby!, Stones Unturned and Sign of the Times, as well as the Family Kick-Back and Judge, Jury & Executioner bonus packs. No additional story content has been announced for the anniversary.

The release also follows an unusual week on the PlayStation Store. On October 6, GLN reported an unexplained £0 UK listing for the original Mafia III. That was a separate PS4 listing, and 2K has not clarified whether accounts that claimed it through the unexpected offer qualify for the new PS5 version.

Mafia III’s arrival on current-generation consoles also follows 2K’s wider efforts to modernise the series. Back in August, a new ESRB rating for Mafia: Definitive Edition appeared, which identified separate PS5 and Xbox Series versions of the 2020 remake before their official announcement.

For players buying the game now, the UK PlayStation Store is offering the PS5 Definitive Edition for £5, while the Xbox Store lists it at £4.99, both representing an 80% discount. Steam is also running an 80% promotion.

The PlayStation offer ends on 21 October, Steam’s discount ends on 22 October, and Xbox’s promotion continues until 29 October. Eligible existing owners do not need to repurchase the game to receive the enhanced version.