2K and Hangar 13 have announced Mafia: The Old Country, a brand-new entry in the long-running crime series. Set to launch August 8, 2025, the game takes things back to 1905 Sicily in a story-driven prequel built in Unreal Engine 5. It’s coming to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam, with full support to stream in the cloud on GeForce NOW on day one.
Alongside the announcement, a gameplay trailer and key details about editions, setting, and combat. In addition, a follow-up developer panel offered more insight into the world, tone, and characters featured in the game. Let’s take a closer look at what was revealed.
Mafia: The Old Country details
Platform(s): PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC
Developer(s): Hangar 13
Publisher(s): 2K Games
Genre: Action-adventure
Modes: Single-player
ESRB Rating: M (Mature 17+)
A crime family origin story set in 1905 Sicily
Mafia: The Old Country is a prequel to the original Mafia game and takes place in 1905 Sicily. You’ll play as Enzo Favara, a young man who grows up in the island’s sulfur mines and finds himself drawn into the Torresi crime family. His journey explores loyalty, family, and what it means to belong. The story focuses more on the characters and their struggles than on big action set pieces.
Enzo’s journey ties into the bigger power struggles of the era, with loyalty and sacrifice at the heart of it all. He’s not the only one with something to prove, Isabella Torresi, the Don’s daughter, is also trying to challenge societal limits placed on her. The developers shared that the story was designed to be cinematic without relying on constant cutscenes. The emotional moments rely more on body language and pacing than long stretches of dialogue.
Enzo’s choices and relationships play a major role in how the story unfolds. You’ll also encounter four familiar faces from earlier Mafia games, though their identities haven’t been revealed yet.
Combat, exploration, and what’s changed
Mafia: The Old Country takes a slower, more grounded approach to action. Knife combat is a big part of it this time. You’ll have access to different blades. Some are better for up-close fights, while others can be thrown. A few major boss battles focus entirely on knife duels, giving them a different feel compared to the shootouts from past games. Guns are still in the mix, but they fit the 1905 setting. You’ll be using revolvers, bolt-action rifles, and other weapons from that time. The developers made it clear there are no Tommy guns in this one. That choice helps keep things more focused and a bit more personal.
The game follows a mission-based structure, but you’re not locked into a straight path. There’s room to explore. For example, some missions have multiple ways through them or side areas you can check out. You’ll travel through quiet villages, hillside ruins, and even catacombs. Some missions lean into stealth. Others turn into full shootouts. It gives the game a good mix of pacing without going fully open-world. You’ll get around by car or on horseback depending on the mission, and managing your gear matters more this time. Ammo is limited, so you’ll need to think about when to fight and when to hold back.
Mafia: The Old Country isn’t an open-world game, but it also doesn’t feel restrictive. There’s enough room to explore and take in the world without pulling you too far off track. It keeps the focus on the story while still letting you breathe.
Bringing 1905 Sicily to life with Unreal Engine 5
This is the first Mafia game built using Unreal Engine 5, and it shows. Facial animation is powered by Metahuman Animator, making expressions feel subtle and believable. Additionally, those expressions carry directly into gameplay too, not just cutscenes. Hangar 13 said all dialogue is performance-captured. They also recorded vehicle sounds from real vintage cars found in Czech museums. That attention to detail helps ground the game in its time period without leaning too hard on dialogue.
Some of the most emotional moments happen without anyone saying a word. Instead, you’ll notice it through how characters move, how the camera lingers, or how a scene is framed. It’s a more visual approach to storytelling. The developers didn’t want to overload the game with long cutscenes. Their goal is to keep things cinematic while still giving you control. The tone matches that idea: quiet, personal, and focused on small moments as much as big events.
Mafia: The Old Country launches on August 8, 2025 and is available now to pre-order at Best Buy Canada
Mafia: The Old Country is set to launch on August 8, 2025. It’s coming to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. The game will also be available to stream in the cloud on GeForce NOW. Moreover, I’ve spent a lot of time with the Mafia series over the years, and this one feels like it’s doing something different. The early 1900s setting, focus on knife combat, and character-driven story really have my attention. I’m excited to see how it all plays out.
Pre-orders are now available! If you pre-order Mafia: The Old Country at Best Buy Canada, you’ll receive the Soldato Pack as a pre-order bonus. This bonus includes distinctive cosmetics and a helpful charm to use in-game.
Planning to dive into Enzo’s story this August? Let me know what you think of the setting or which Mafia game is your favourite, and stay tuned for my full review closer to launch.
Pre-order Mafia: The Old Country for Xbox Series X|S or PlayStation 5
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