Crime Boss game features Hollywood cast

A new crime-based game from a new Czech studio will feature performances from Michael Madsen, Chuck Norris, Vanilla Ice, and many more.

The Game Awards showed off a host of new and exciting games today, but perhaps the most surprising reveal was of Crime Boss: Rockay City from 505 Games and InGame Studios.

Crime Boss is a first-person shooter where players take on the role of Travis Baker (portrayed by Goodfellas’ Michael Madsen), a 1990s-era Florida underworld criminal. The game’s single-player story will have Baker recruit crew members and take on other crime lords to become the titular crime boss.

Alongside the single-player campaign, Crime Boss also has a full co-operative experience where up to four players can engage in turf wars, heists, and organised hits. Taking on missions in the co-op portion of the game will start to claim sections of the city for your group, until the only syndicate left are you and your group.

The game was first teased via Twitter last week, when the 505 Games account tweeted a brief video. The video showed Madsen asking for The Game Awards host Geoff Keighley, and presenting a wallet he found in the parking lot. The wallet in the video had a QR code linking to a hidden website showing a section of the game’s city.

Crime Boss has a star-studded Hollywood cast, including Chuck Norris in the role of the town sheriff. Picture: 505 Games

Madsen is one of many Holywood names set to appear in Crime Boss, as the trailer also revealed Chuck Norris as the town sheriff, Danny Trejo, Danny Glover, Damion Poitier, Kim Basinger, Michael Rooker, and Vanilla Ice. While specifics for their appearances are not yet known, each character will factor into the story in one way or another.

“The sheer volume of talent involved both in front of camera, and behind the development of Crime Boss is hugely exciting for 505 to be part of,” Neil Ralley, president of 505 Games, said in the official press release. “We’re thrilled to bring this truly exceptional organised crime game to gamers globally.”

Crime Boss will allow players to team up in co-operative gameplay to take on opposing gangs. Picture: 505 Games

Michael Madsen is no stranger to appearing in video games, with his most famous role being Grand Theft Auto III’s Toni Cipriani. He’s also made an appearance in the first Yakuza game, True Crime: Streets Of LA, The Walking Dead: The Telltale Games Series Season Two, and Dishonored.

Crime Boss: Rockay City will launch exclusively on the Epic Games Store on March 28, 2023, with a 40 per cent pre-order discount from now until December 10. Console versions are planned for later in 2023, though no official date was given.

Written by Jason Fanelli with additional editing by Oliver Brandt on behalf of GLHF.