Timeline

1998 May 13 – Kingpin Announced

On May 13, 1998, Kingpin: Life of Crime was officially announced as Xatrix Entertainment’s next first-person shooter, developed using an enhanced version of the Quake II engine. The announcement came shortly before E3 1998, where the game was scheduled for its first public showing.

Interplay confirmed it would publish the title, highlighting Xatrix’s shift toward a darker, crime‑themed setting. Early details emphasized:

A gritty, urban world inspired by noir and gangster fiction
Puzzle‑solving and clue‑gathering elements
Planned vehicle segments (including a gyrocopter)
A projected Q1 1999 release window

Blue’s News reported that the project was the game designer Ridah had been hinting at in his .plan updates. His notes described:

A setting influenced by 1930s gangster films
A focus on AI and gameplay systems
Research into vehicle physics for new engine features
The working title Kingpin

Sources