The Mafia series is putting on its best suit and heading back to the Old Country. Hangar 13’s newly announced Mafia: The Old Country is firing up fan anticipation with a refreshed vision of early 20th-century Sicily. With a debut trailer and a flood of new in-game shots, this narrative-driven spin-off promises a vibrant setting and a return to the roots of organized crime storytelling. But is this focused approach just what the family needed?
Hangar 13’s next chapter trades open-world sprawl for a linear, story-rich experience-one that brings the bustling streets and sun-drenched alleys of fictional San Celeste to the forefront. Can a tighter focus on narrative and setting recapture the magic after Mafia III’s divisive reception?
Key Takeaways
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Publisher | 2K Games |
| Release Date | August 8, 2025 |
| Genres | Action-Adventure, Narrative-Driven |
| Platforms | PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC |
Set in the fictional Sicilian city of San Celeste, Mafia: The Old Country moves away from the free-form open world of its predecessors. Instead, Hangar 13 is putting all its chips on a deeply cinematic, linear story-one that puts players into the shoes (and moral dilemmas) of Enzo Favara, a young miner drawn into Don Torrisi’s criminal empire. This shift in direction, a clear step back from Mafia III’s mixed reception and Metacritic score of 68, signals a studio eager to recapture the emotional punch of Mafia’s storytelling roots.
The reveal trailer and recent gameplay snippets have sparked a wave of excitement online. Streets teeming with life, elaborate period architecture, and a medley of Sicilian sights and sounds-all serve as a love letter to the franchise’s European roots. This isn’t a map sprinkled with icons, but a living, breathing city designed for narrative immersion. Fans have already taken to social media to praise the “incredible” new look and atmosphere, with one viral video in particular turning heads for its authenticity and vibrant city life.
Crucially, The Old Country is a solo-only affair—no multiplayer modes, no sprawling open-world distractions. Hangar 13 aims to double down on a guided, character-focused plot, much like the original Mafia games that found critical acclaim through their cinematic storytelling. Enzo’s journey, from humble miner to would-be mafioso, promises a blend of historic detail and personal drama, all at a launch price of €49.99—noticeably more affordable than other AAA releases.
With the August 8, 2025 release date set for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, Mafia: The Old Country is positioning itself as both a nostalgic return and a bold experiment. Will a more focused, story-driven approach deliver the emotional impact fans crave? Or will the absence of sandbox freedom leave some wanting? One thing’s for sure: the old country has never looked—or sounded—this alive.
TL;DR: Mafia: The Old Country, out August 8, 2025 on PS5, Xbox Series, and PC, reinvents the franchise with a focused, story-driven single-player campaign in a vibrant 1900s Sicilian setting. Priced at €49.99, it’s a visually stunning, narrative-centric take that steps away from open-world formulas, centering on Enzo Favara’s rise in the criminal underworld of San Celeste.
Source: 2K Games via GamesPress