Mafia: The Old Country Voice Acting Will Use Authentic Sicilian Rather Than Modern Italian

Hangar 13, the developer of the upcoming Mafia: The Old Country, has confirmed that the game will feature authentic Sicilian voice acting, addressing fan concerns regarding the initial omission of Italian from the Steam page's language list.

Addressing Fan Backlash

The game's Steam page initially listed several languages with "full audio," notably excluding Italian, despite its prominence in previous Mafia titles. This sparked considerable fan backlash, with many expressing feelings of disrespect given the game's Sicilian setting and the historical origins of the Mafia in Italy.

Hangar 13 responded on Twitter (X), stating, "Authenticity is at the heart of the Mafia franchise. Mafia: The Old Country will offer voice acting in Sicilian, reflecting the game's 1900s Sicilian setting." They clarified that Italian localization will be available through subtitles and in-game UI.

The Choice of Sicilian

The decision to use Sicilian dialect, rather than modern Italian, has been widely praised by fans. Sicilian, while closely related to Italian, possesses distinct vocabulary and cultural nuances. For example, "sorry" translates to "scusa" in Italian, but "m'â scusari" in Sicilian. This linguistic diversity, influenced by Greek, Arabic, Norman French, and Spanish, reflects the unique historical and geographical context of Sicily and aligns with the "authentic realism" promised by 2K Games.

Release and Future Updates

Mafia: The Old Country, described as a "gritty mob story set in the brutal underworld of 1900s Sicily," doesn't yet have a firm release date. However, 2K Games has promised a more in-depth reveal in December, potentially during the annual Game Awards. Further details are anticipated at this event.