Mafia: The Old Country News

[p]Spoiler Warning: The following video contains new gameplay footage from a mission in Mafia: The Old Country.[/p][p][/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p][/p][p]This week, our associates at IGN First kicked off their exclusive look into Mafia: The Old Country with 9 minutes of new gameplay from one of the game’s chapters. You can get a good look at how Enzo handles family business, including stealth mechanics, knifeplay, and tactical gun combat.[/p][p][/p][p]Which part of Enzo’s business are you most interested in mastering—stealthy infiltration, brutal knife combat, or precise gunplay? Let us know.[/p][p][/p][p]The Mafia Community Team[/p][p][/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p][p][/p][p]
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[p]Throughout July, keep an eye on our social channels and on IGN First for an exclusive inside look at Mafia: The Old Country.[/p][p][/p][p]Get ready for new gameplay this Monday, July 7, followed by hands-on previews, interviews with the team at Hangar 13 and more during the lead-up to launch on August 8, 2025.[/p][p][/p][p]Each week, we’ll drop a recap covering the latest news here. Please note: Some of the footage may contain light spoilers. But don’t worry—we’ll include clear disclaimers at the start of each recap, so you can experience Mafia: The Old Country on your own terms.[/p][p][/p][p]The business is picking up now. Keep your eyes open. The first drop lands next week.[/p][p][/p][p]The Mafia Community Team[/p][p][/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p][p][/p][p]
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[p][/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p]Sound is a key pillar of any cinematic experience, and that applies even more to the interactive, high-production-value narratives of Mafia games. The developers at Hangar 13 strive to raise the bar for visual fidelity, period authenticity, and gripping storytelling with every entry in the series—and Mafia: The Old Country's sound design is no exception.[/p][p][/p][h2]Crafting Period-accurate Sound Effects[/h2][p]As Senior Sound Designer Pavel Smely puts it in the Dev Diary video above, the sounds of Mafia: The Old Country's firearms were designed to underline the idea that one trigger-pull could "completely change the storyline." To strike the right balance between accurately depicting this arsenal and fully selling the drama of every bullet spent, they found, fired, and recorded the sounds of weapons from the era, and then took inspiration from Hollywood filmmakers' approaches to producing punchy gunfire.[/p][p]The team followed the same philosophy in recreating the rattling, raucous sounds of the game's vehicles, which can be similarly thunderous thanks to the era's lack of exhaust mufflers. Once they tracked down enough of these rare turn-of-the-century automobiles, the developers then had to thoroughly capture the sounds of each one in motion. "Our Audio Director was out hanging off the back of some of these cars with microphones as we drove around the back roads of Czech Republic," says Executive Producer Devin Hitch.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h2]Capturing Sicily's Soundscapes[/h2][p]Another reflection of the team's total commitment to authenticity is the meticulous care put into faithfully recreating the sounds of 1900s Sicily itself. The game's score, for example, takes the type of sweeping orchestral arrangements that have always been core to the Mafia franchise, then layers in authentic touches like traditional Sicilian instruments and folk melodies. Even the game's diegetic elements, like singing laborers, street musicians, or other musically inclined NPCs, add yet another dimension of sonic richness to immerse players in the world.[/p][p]"Especially when you're in San Celeste," says Hitch, "you'll walk around hearing this music float through the city's back alleys, and it really puts you in a different time and place." Associate Design Director Josh Zammit agrees about how critical these touches are. "Because we paid such close attention to historical detail, these sounds have to be accurate," says Zammit. "If players start hearing things that don't fit the scene, it's going to draw them out of the experience." These ambient notes are carefully tuned to blend naturally with the score, creating an enriching effect without any tonal dissonance.[/p][p]
[/p][p]To ensure the audio presentation is as faithful as it is comprehensive and diverse, Hangar 13 collaborated with Sicilian development studio Stormind Games to record voicelines—including a highly immersive Sicilian voiceover option—and an array of other naturalistic soundscapes. From the bustle of urban markets to the fauna of idyllic coastlines, each locale is audibly distinct thanks to the joint efforts of both studios. [/p][p]This unwavering dedication to authenticity in every layer of Mafia: The Old Country—be it sound, visuals, gameplay, or narrative—is a hallmark of the Mafia series and its overarching creative direction. You can experience for yourself how that approach elevates this unique crime drama when Mafia: The Old Country launches August 8, 2025. It's available for pre-purchase now! [/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p][p][/p][p]
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[p]Hello Mafiosos,

We know the family runs on loyalty and trust - and we’ve seen so many great conversations about Mafia: The Old Country. With the launch coming up on August 8th, we wanted to take a moment to answer some of the most common questions we’ve noticed from the community![/p][p]

Is Mafia: The Old Country an open world game?[/p][p]No, Mafia: The Old Country is not an open-world game. Enzo’s story unfolds in a structured, cinematic way, rather than choosing mission orders across a sandbox map. If you’re a longtime fan of the franchise, Mafia: The Old Country is structured similarly to Mafia and Mafia II, meaning that there will still be moments when players can leisurely take in the sights and sounds of early 1900's Sicily, and maybe even discover a few collectibles on the way.[/p][p]

Why did you choose to create a linear story game?
To quote Nick Baynes, President of Hangar 13, who shared this during the developer panel at PAX East: “With this title, we drew a lot of inspiration from the structure of Mafia: Definitive Edition and Mafia II—particularly how their focused, linear storytelling resonated with players.” Our goal with Mafia: The Old Country is to deliver that same kind of narrative experience that feels distinctly Mafia, while introducing a brand-new story and setting.

With Mafia: The Old Country, we want you to feel like you’re playing through a classic mob movie. Your journey throughout the game follows Enzo’s descent into the dark criminal underworld of 1900s Sicily, with each tightly paced mission and cutscene conveying the weight of a gritty gangster drama. We can't wait for you to experience all the carefully crafted moments that tell Enzo's story.[/p][p]

What inspired the combat mechanics and design in Mafia: The Old Country?
Our vision for combat was to immerse players deeply in the brutal, often desperate reality of the criminal underworld in 1900s Sicily. This isn’t an era of advanced weaponry or easy brawls—it’s a time where every confrontation has weight, and survival often comes down to your will to live. The firearms of the early 1900s, for instance, are less forgiving than their modern counterparts. They demand a more deliberate use of cover, careful resource management, and knowing how to make every single shot count.

Knife fights are at the heart of combat in Mafia: The Old Country. In an era when many didn’t have easy access to guns, disputes were often settled the traditional way: with a blade. In 1900s Sicily, fights were personal, up close, and vicious; that historical reality shaped how we designed our combat system.[/p][p]

Do I need to play the previous Mafia games to understand Mafia: The Old Country?
No. Mafia: The Old Country is something of an origin story for the Mafia series, plunging you into the turn-of-the-century Sicilian underworld where it all began. It's a brand-new story with new characters; a standalone narrative designed to enrich you in the origins of organized crime.[/p][p]Whether you’re new to the series or have been with us for a long time, you’ll be able to experience Enzo's storyline from a fresh perspective. No prior knowledge is needed to navigate Enzo’s world. However, if you've experienced the sagas of Tommy, Vito, and Lincoln, you might just catch a few subtle nods to the wider timeline of Mafia. What will those nods be? You’ll have to play through the Mafia franchise to find out.[/p][p]
What makes Enzo a unique protagonist compared to Vito, Lincoln, and Tommy?[/p][p]Tommy Angelo, Vito Scaletta, and Lincoln Clay are all men who were irrevocably shaped by American cities while navigating different eras of organized crime in the United States. Each of our protagonists in the Mafia franchise found their way into organized crime through a different dark path. Lincoln Clay, for example, was fueled by an all-consuming need for revenge, while Vito Scarletta was enticed by the promise of wealth and power. When we forged Enzo Favara’s story for Mafia: The Old Country, we returned to the birthplace of the Mafia to explore a motivation that is far more fundamental: Freedom.

Enzo’s journey begins not with a choice, but with a primal fight for survival. Having been sold into the brutal forced labor of the Sicilian sulfur mines as a boy, he endured a stolen childhood until a path opened to salvation. To him, the path into the Torrisi crime family doesn't represent greed or vengeance; it offers the one thing he's never had—a chance to shape his own destiny. The sacrifices he'll face, and the kind of honor he might find or forfeit, will be uniquely his own, born from an entirely new struggle far removed from the motivations of our previous protagonists.[/p][p][/p][p]
Will there be an "Online" mode or a Multiplayer mode?
Mafia: The Old Country is focused on delivering a cinematic, single-player story experience. At this time, there are no plans for multiplayer or online modes. [/p][p]

Will the game have DLC?[/p][p]For those who want to descend into Sicily's criminal underworld in style, the Deluxe Edition offers a variety of bonus items for your collection. As for Story DLC, we are currently focused on making Mafia: The Old Country a complete and gripping narrative experience from start to finish, one that feels like a full, satisfying saga on its own. That said, we're always listening to what resonates with you, looking toward your thoughts and suggestions for what you’d love to see in the world of Mafia. [/p][p]

How is it similar/different to other games in the genre?[/p][p]Every Mafia title is about becoming a gangster within distinct periods of organized crime. It’s a focus that carves its own path in the narrative genre. With Mafia: The Old Country, we continue that tradition and game direction, and we curated a story where you play through the most foundational period of all: 1900s Sicily, the birthplace of organized crime itself. Playing Mafia: The Old Country is like playing through a classic mob movie, featuring high-stakes chases, brutal gunplay and knifeplay, tense life-or-death situations, and more. We're immersing you not only in a setting of historical authenticity, but also in a compelling story about loyalty, betrayal, and sacrifice.[/p][p]

What is the purpose/reason behind burning the Mary card?[/p][p]The burning Saint card is inspired by an initiation ritual, believed to have been used by the Sicilian Mafia. The burning of a holy image—often of the Virgin Mary—was a way to pledge an oath of loyalty. This act symbolized cutting ties with one’s old life and making a full commitment to the Mafia. It also served as a warning that breaking the oath would come with serious consequences. We recreated this ritual during Enzo’s initiation as a nod to that history and to highlight the weight of the choice he’s making.[/p][p]

Who is making a return?[/p][p]During our live Developer Panel at PAX East, Game Director Alex Cox hinted that four characters might appear in the gameplay of Mafia: The Old Country. While we can’t disclose any specifics, be sure to let us know down below who you think they are![/p][p][/p][p]Will you show us more gameplay footage before launch?
Yes, there will be more opportunities to get a glimpse of Mafia: The Old Country’s gameplay as we approach launch! To stay up to date on the development of Mafia: The Old Country, make sure to follow our social channels for the latest updates.[/p][p][/p][hr][/hr][p][/p][p]We'll share more about Mafia: The Old Country in the lead-up to launch on August 8, so be sure to stay tuned. The loyalty you've shown the Mafia legacy is not taken lightly, and we appreciate you joining us on this journey. [/p][p]We've poured our hearts and souls into crafting an experience that honors the franchise while carving out Mafia: The Old Country's own path. We truly cannot wait for all of you to experience it.[/p][p]Thank you, and remember: Family Takes Sacrifice.

[/p][p]The Mafia Community Team[/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p][p][/p]