Lincoln is able to use small firearms with either his left or right hand. According to Haden Blackman, the developers discovered in their research of the time that soldiers in Vietnam were taught to shoot with both hands so that they would never be at a disadvantage. Lincoln's ambidexterity is a result of his military training.
When Lincoln's health gets low, the screen turns gray and what sounds like muffled helicopter blades can be heard. This is likely a result of Lincoln's time in Vietnam, where wounded soldiers were carried off the field via helicopter.
The game has been in development since 2012. The writers and developers from Mafia 2 were originally creating the game, but the rights were given to Hadean Blackman to find Hanger 13 to direct and write Mafia 3, as 2k was still involved in producing the game.
The game's setting, New Bordeaux, is a fictionalized version of New Orleans
Former UFC fighter Kyle "Kingsbu" Kingsbury is the body model for Lincoln Clay.