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

Mafia: The Old Country’s developers have responded to fan concerns by confirming that the game will feature authentic Sicilian voice acting. Dive into the details of the controversy and the developers' reassuring 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 early 20th-century Sicily, the latest installment in the Mafia series initially caused a stir when its Steam page omitted Italian from the list of languages with full audio, which included English, French, German, Czech, and Russian. This omission led to fan backlash, as previous games in the series had included Italian, and the Mafia is deeply rooted in Italian culture.

However, developer Hangar 13 quickly addressed these concerns on Twitter (X). "Authenticity is at the heart of the Mafia franchise," they stated. "Mafia: The Old Country will offer voice acting in Sicilian, in line with the game’s setting in 1900s Sicily." They also confirmed that Italian language localization would be available for the in-game UI and subtitles, alleviating fans' worries.

The decision to use Sicilian voice acting has been warmly received by the fanbase. Sicilian, distinct from standard Italian, has its own unique vocabulary and cultural nuances, such as saying "m'â scusari" for "sorry" instead of Italian's "scusa." The language reflects Sicily's rich history, influenced by Greek, Arabic, Norman French, and Spanish, due to the island's strategic location at the crossroads of Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. This choice aligns with 2K Games' commitment to "authentic realism," as mentioned in their press release.

Mafia: The Old Country promises a gripping narrative set in the harsh underworld of 1900s Sicily. While a specific release date remains undisclosed, 2K Games has hinted at a deeper reveal in December, potentially coinciding with the annual Game Awards, a prime platform for such announcements.

For more insights into Mafia: The Old Country’s announcement, explore the related article below!