"Mafia: The Old Country Opts for Authentic Sicilian Voice Acting"

Mafia: The Old Country's developers have responded to fan concerns by confirming the game will feature authentic Sicilian voice acting. Learn more about the issues that prompted this official statement.

Mafia: The Old Country Faced Backlash For Excluding Italian Voice Acting

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

The buzz around the upcoming Mafia: The Old Country has sparked significant discussion, particularly about its voice acting choices. Set in 1900s Sicily, the game initially raised concerns when its Steam page listed full audio support for multiple languages but omitted Italian. In response, developer Hangar 13 quickly addressed these concerns via a tweet on X.

"Authenticity is at the heart of the Mafia franchise," the developers stated. "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 will be available for both in-game UI and via subtitles."

The initial confusion stemmed from the game’s Steam page, which listed full audio support in English, French, German, Czech, and Russian, but not Italian. This omission was particularly jarring for fans, given Italy's historical connection to the mafia, and led to feelings of disrespect among the community.

The decision to use Sicilian voice acting was met with enthusiastic approval from fans. Sicilian, while related to standard Italian, has its own unique vocabulary and cultural nuances. For example, the word "sorry" is "scusa" in Italian but "m'â scusari" in Sicilian.

Sicily's strategic location at the crossroads of Europe, Africa, and the Middle East has resulted in a rich linguistic tapestry, influenced by Greek, Arabic, Norman French, and Spanish. This diversity is likely why the developers chose Sicilian over Italian, aligning with the "authentic realism" promised by 2K Games in their press release.

Mafia: The Old Country aims to deliver a "gritty mob story set in the brutal underworld of 1900s Sicily." Although an exact release date hasn't been announced, 2K Games has hinted that more details will be shared in December, possibly during the annual Game Awards.

For further details on Mafia: The Old Country’s announcement, explore the article below!