Mafia: The Old Country is not a massive open-world sequel. Instead, it follows the structure of Mafia: Definitive Edition, with a story that takes around 10.5 hours to complete, or about 13 hours if you explore some side content.
That might sound short, but it is intentional. According to executive producer Devon Hitch and 2K president David Ismailer, the game was built for players who enjoy polished, linear stories you can finish in a weekend or two. IGN’s preview also supports that estimate, with 3 chapters completed in 3 hours, suggesting a 10–12 chapter structure overall.
Take-Two president Strauss Zelnick added that this kind of tight, story-first structure is meant to appeal to players with limited time, like working adults or parents. The devs are not trying to stretch the playtime – they want it to feel like a weekend mafia movie in playable form.
Pricing, Platforms, and Release Date
The game launches on August 8, 2025, for $50 on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. A Deluxe Edition with bonus content will be available for $60.
Take-Two Interactive (the publisher) explained that the lower price point reflects the game’s scope. Their goal is to go for a broader reach, not just longer playtime.
The game also supports full offline play and has no cash shop, which we covered in more detail here.
A Prequel With Familiar Faces
Set in early 1900s Sicily, The Old Country tells an original story starring Enzo – a young man torn between ambition and loyalty. The narrative seems to focus heavily on classic mafia themes and is, more or less, designed to feel like a cinematic crime drama.
This is a prequel to the original trilogy, with at least four returning characters from past games making an appearance. Some are small cameos, others play big roles. It is fully standalone, but if you are a longtime fan, you will spot plenty of connections if you are paying attention.
You can also check out this short video from Mafia Game Videos for more gameplay clips and info shared by the developers.
Not an Open World, But Still Room to Explore
Just like Mafia: Definitive Edition, the world is handcrafted around the story rather than being a full sandbox. You will be able to explore in between missions, pick your gear, and even decide if you want to ride into a mission by car or on horseback.
Gameplay and Combat Systems
Combat sticks closely to the Mafia formula, but with a few updates. Knives now come in multiple archetypes, including throwable ones, and stealth lets you chain together silent kills. You will always have a knife as a backup weapon, which gives the gameplay a bit more flexibility.
One interesting new system is Amulets – passive items like rosary beads that slightly change your playstyle or weapon behavior. It is not full customization, but it adds some variety without overcomplicating things.
There is also a revamped “Intel View” inspired by Mafia III, reworked to fit Enzo’s background growing up in the mines. It highlights enemies and interactables but remains completely optional.
Horses Are Real, and You Can Pet Them
Horses play a small but charming role in the game. You can use them for certain missions instead of cars, and they are fully integrated into the travel system. They cannot die, crash, or be damaged, which makes them a bit more forgiving than vehicles.
Also, yes – you can pet them.
Strong Visuals and Language Options
The game is being polished for high-end systems, especially PS5 Pro. Footage shown so far was captured on PlayStation 5 hardware.
English voice acting has already received lots of compliments for its performances, and the game will also ship with a Sicilian language track. Players are encouraged to try them all to see what fits the mood best.
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