"Mafia: The Old Country to Feature Authentic Sicilian Voice Acting"

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

The buzz around the upcoming Mafia: The Old Country has been intense, especially concerning its voice acting. Set in the early 1900s in Sicily, the latest installment in the Mafia series initially sparked controversy when its Steam page indicated full audio support for multiple 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 will be available for both in-game UI and via subtitles."

The initial confusion stemmed from the game's Steam page, which listed six languages with "full audio": English, French, German, Czech, and Russian. The absence of Italian, a staple in previous Mafia games, led fans to question the developer's decision, feeling it overlooked the Italian origins of the mafia.

Fortunately, Hangar 13's choice to incorporate Sicilian voice acting was warmly received by the fanbase. Sicilian, while 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.

Additionally, Sicily's unique geographical position at the crossroads of Europe, Africa, and the Middle East has influenced its language, with Greek, Arabic, Norman French, and Spanish contributing to its rich linguistic tapestry. This diversity likely influenced the developers' decision 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 harsh underworld of early 1900s Sicily. While a specific release date remains under wraps, 2K Games has hinted that more details about Mafia: The Old Country will be unveiled in December. With the annual Game Awards scheduled for the same month, it's likely that new insights will be shared at this renowned gaming event.

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