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 deeper to understand the issues that prompted this official statement.

Mafia: The Old Country Faced Backlash For Excluding Italian Voice Acting

‘Authenticity is at the Heart of the Mafia Franchise,’ Assured the Developers

News about the upcoming Mafia: The Old Country has sparked significant discussion, especially concerning its voice acting. Set in the early 1900s in Sicily, the game initially caused concern when its Steam page listed full audio support for several languages but omitted Italian. However, developer Hangar 13 quickly addressed these concerns via a statement on Twitter (X).

"Authenticity is at the heart of the Mafia franchise," the developers emphasized in their tweet. "Mafia: The Old Country will feature voice acting in Sicilian, reflecting the game's setting in early 1900s Sicily." They further confirmed that Italian language localization would be available for the in-game UI and through subtitles.

The initial confusion stemmed from the game's Steam page, which listed full audio support for English, French, German, Czech, and Russian, but not Italian. This omission was particularly jarring for fans, given the Italian origins of the mafia and its inclusion in previous Mafia games, leading to feelings of disrespect.

The decision to use Sicilian voice acting was met with enthusiastic approval from the fanbase. Sicilian, while closely related to standard Italian, has its own distinct vocabulary and cultural nuances. For example, the word "sorry" is "scusa" in Italian but "m'â scusari" in Sicilian.

Sicily's unique position at the crossroads of Europe, Africa, and the Middle East has influenced its language, incorporating elements from Greek, Arabic, Norman French, and Spanish. This rich linguistic tapestry likely influenced the developers' choice to use Sicilian, aligning with the "authentic realism" promised by 2K Games in their press release.

Mafia: The Old Country is set to deliver a "gritty mob story" set in the brutal underworld of early 1900s Sicily. While an exact release date remains undisclosed, 2K Games has hinted that more details about the game will be shared in December, possibly during the annual Game Awards.

For further insights into Mafia: The Old Country's announcement, explore the article below!