2K Games and Hangar 13 have finally unveiled the first gameplay trailer for the highly anticipated crime adventure sequel Mafia: The Old Country, promising a return to the franchise’s linear roots by providing a focused, narrative experience. Best of all, the game is just three months out from its release on 8 August 2025.
Announced via an in-depth developer insights trailer, the game will bring the crime franchise away from the hustle and bustle of its usual city setting, instead set in the rural countryside of 1900s Sicily, birthplace of organised crime. The game follows the story of Enzo Favara, a man with a troubled past, as he joins and rises through the ranks of Don Torrisi’s crime family.
Built on Unreal Engine 5, the game will feature the familiar cover shooting formula seen in past games like the original game’s 2020 remake, Mafia: Definitive Edition, with a stronger emphasis on stealth and hand-to-hand combat. According to the developers, ammo is set to be scarce, encouraging players to tactically manage their resources and not just go in guns blazing. As with all Mafia games, fans can also expect an abundance of period-accurate vehicles to traverse the countryside, alongside the introduction of horse-riding, with the trailer even revealing the ability to shoot firearms while on horseback.
Following fans’ tepid response to the open-world design of 2016’s Mafia III, Mafia: The Old Country will bring the series back to its roots by providing “a focused, linear experience that combines quality storytelling, authentic era immersion and a refined take on the familiar Mafia gameplay”, as said by developer Hangar 13’s president Nick Baynes in a news release, explaining that this approach allowed the team to “deliver a story that’s gritty, grounded, brutal and emotional.”
“We think there’s a large audience for compelling stories that don’t require massive time commitments,” added 2K Games president David Ismalier, who also explained that the game could “easily complement the other more persistent games our players also love and engage with on a more consistent basis.” Having a less time-consuming, linear experience is a smart move for the title, especially since it differentiates it from the other crime-related third-person adventure, the recently delayed Grand Theft Auto VI.
Due to its linear nature and smaller scope compared to many other open-world titles in recent years, Mafia: The Old Country will also launch with a much more wallet-friendly price tag, with its standard edition being only S$70 on Steam, which is surprising in this age of S$100 AAA game releases. Fans don’t have to wait too long to jump into the game either, as it will release on 8 August 2025 for the PS5, Xbox Series X and PC.
Kevin is a reformed PC Master Race gamer with a penchant for franchise “duds” like Darksiders III and Dead Space 3. He has made it his life-long mission to play every single major game release – lest his wallet dies trying.
Joey Leong
