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

The developers of Mafia: The Old Country have addressed fan concerns regarding the game's voice acting, confirming that authentic Sicilian dialogue will be used. This follows an initial backlash sparked by the game's Steam page.

Addressing the Backlash: Authentic Sicilian, Not Modern Italian

Authenticity Takes Center Stage in the Latest Mafia Installment

News surrounding Mafia: The Old Country recently took a turn, focusing on the game's audio. Set in 1900s Sicily, the game initially raised concerns when its Steam page listed multiple languages with full audio, notably omitting Italian. However, developer Hangar 13 quickly responded on Twitter (now X).

In a tweet, the developers stated, "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 further clarified that Italian language localization would be available for the in-game UI and subtitles.

The confusion stemmed from the Steam page listing English, French, German, Czech, and Russian with "full audio." The absence of Italian, a staple in previous Mafia games, led to fan disappointment and accusations of disrespect, given the Italian origins of the Mafia.

Hangar 13's decision to use Sicilian dialect has been met with positive feedback. While closely related to Italian, Sicilian possesses unique vocabulary and cultural nuances. For example, "sorry" translates to "scusa" in Italian and "m'â scusari" in Sicilian.

Sicily's unique geographic location at the crossroads of Europe, Africa, and the Middle East has resulted in a rich linguistic tapestry influenced by Greek, Arabic, Norman French, and Spanish. This linguistic diversity aligns with the "authentic realism" promised by 2K Games in their press release, making Sicilian the ideal choice for the game's setting.

Mafia: The Old Country promises a gritty mob story set in the brutal underworld of 1900s Sicily. While a release date remains unannounced, 2K Games has hinted at a more detailed reveal in December, potentially during the Game Awards.

For further details on the Mafia: The Old Country announcement, see the linked article below.