Imagine stepping into the early 1900s in Sicily with the new game, Mafia: The Old Country.
Alex Cox, the game’s director, shared in an interview with Xbox that after exploring various decades of the American mafia, the team was drawn to Sicily and its infamous early days of organized crime.
The original Mafia game was set in the 1930s, followed by Mafia II in the 1940s, and the third installment jumped to the 1960s.
Creating The Old Country has been a fresh change for Hangar 13. Instead of bustling cityscapes, they focused on the wild, natural beauty of Sicily. “Crafting this narrative has been an amazing journey for us,” Cox remarked, highlighting the joy of learning about Sicily’s past and the roots of the Mafia to create an exciting criminal saga.
Fans sometimes wonder if this game will be like the others, but it sounds like it’s something quite special!
Cox is thrilled about the historical details, from horse rides and old-timey cars to knife fights. He mentioned that players will experience driving vehicles with hand-crank engines and riding horses, which is a first for the series. “Riding across the Sicilian landscapes is such a liberating experience, unlike anything we’ve ever done,” he said.
While Sicily hasn’t been fully explored in previous games, Mafia II did feature a mission called The Old Country, where players found themselves in Sicily in 1943.
The Hangar 13 team even traveled to Sicily to immerse themselves in its culture and get everything just right. They teamed up with local Sicilian partners and consulted history experts to ensure the game accurately reflects the era, from architecture to music and language.
Set in a time before modern firearms, the game focuses on a more careful and strategic combat approach. “We’ve embraced the classic weapons of Sicilian mobsters, like lupara shotguns and stiletto knives,” Cox explained, noting the raw, authentic feel of these old tools.
Even though The Old Country introduces new characters and aims to attract new players, longtime fans will enjoy seeing how it ties into the rest of the series.
Look forward to playing The Old Country when it launches in Summer 2025 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
