It was kind of “hide and seek” with EA’s upcoming The Godfather II, but starting today we have the final release date from the company itself and we’re sure they’ll stick to it this time. So, all of you who plan to become virtual Dons and build your crime family, you’ll get your change on April 10 this year. Which can be translated as “pretty soon”.

“The Godfather II is taking the open-world genre in an entirely new direction by combining the furious combat of acting like a mobster, with the strategic gameplay of thinking like a Don,” says Hunter Smith, Executive Producer for The Godfather II. “As game makers, when we looked at what lies at the heart of the Godfather universe, we discovered a game focused around organized crime. The Corleones and all the other families schemed and fought to gain access and control of different territories, so that they could control the flow of money in those areas. This underlying battle cloaked secrecy is what The Godfather II and mafia life is all about, and we wanted players to be in control as a Don and make those strategic decisions to lead their family’s to success.”

As a Don in the Corleone family, The Godfather II allows players to carve out their own story of deception, betrayal, and conquest in a 1960’s organized crime world. Interacting closely with major characters, your story will interweave with many of the key events from the film, such as the meeting of the Don’s in Cuba, blackmailing Senator Geary, and the Senate investigation of organized crime.

Players will have to invest in their family, manage their business, and reach out to corrupt officials – all of which is done through the revolutionary Don’s View. The Don’s View is a 3D representation of the player’s criminal empire; it allows them to coordinate their strategy, plan hits on rival made men, attack enemy rackets, and much more. By letting players call the shots, The Godfather II delivers the ultimate organized crime experience – or at least that’s what Electronic Arts promise!