"Mafia: The Old Country Uses Authentic Sicilian Voice Acting"

Mafia: The Old Country’s developers have responded to fan concerns by confirming the use of authentic Sicilian voice acting in the game. This decision addresses the initial backlash regarding the exclusion of Italian voice acting and underscores the franchise's commitment to authenticity.

‘Authenticity is at the Heart of the Mafia Franchise,’ Assured the Developers

The anticipation surrounding Mafia: The Old Country has been intense, especially with its setting in early 20th-century Sicily. The game's Steam page initially listed full audio support for multiple languages, excluding Italian, which sparked controversy among fans. However, Hangar 13 quickly clarified the situation on Twitter (X), stating, "Authenticity is at the heart of the Mafia franchise. Mafia: The Old Country will offer voice acting in Sicilian, in line with the game’s setting in 1900s Sicily." They further confirmed that Italian language localization would be available for the in-game UI and subtitles.

The initial confusion stemmed from the game’s Steam page, which listed full audio support for English, French, German, Czech, and Russian, but omitted Italian. This omission was particularly jarring for fans, given the Italian origins of the mafia and its inclusion in previous games in the series.

The decision to use Sicilian voice acting was met with enthusiasm from the fanbase. Sicilian, while related to standard Italian, has its own distinct vocabulary and cultural nuances. For example, the word "sorry" is "scusa" in Italian but "m'â scusari" in Sicilian. This choice reflects the game's setting in Sicily, a region where the languages of Greek, Arabic, Norman French, and Spanish have influenced the local dialect. This linguistic diversity aligns with the "authentic realism" that 2K Games promised in their press release.

Mafia: The Old Country is set to deliver a "gritty mob story" in the harsh underworld of 1900s Sicily. While an exact release date remains undisclosed, 2K Games has hinted that more details will be unveiled in December, possibly at the annual Game Awards.

For further updates and announcements about Mafia: The Old Country, stay tuned to the latest news and developments.