Mafia: The Old Country Features Sicilian Voice Cast

In response to player feedback, Mafia: The Old Country's developers have confirmed the game will utilize genuine Sicilian dialect voice acting. Continue reading to understand the concerns that prompted this official clarification.

Mafia: The Old Country Faces Criticism Over Initial Italian Voice Acting Exclusion

'Authenticity Defines the Mafia Series,' Developers Affirm

The upcoming Mafia: The Old Country has generated significant discussion regarding its voice acting direction. Set in early 20th century Sicily, the latest installment initially surprised fans when its Steam listing revealed comprehensive audio support for multiple languages - except Italian. Developer Hangar 13 quickly addressed these concerns via Twitter.

"Authenticity defines the Mafia series," the studio stated. "Mafia: The Old Country will feature Sicilian language voice acting, reflecting its historical Sicilian setting." They clarified: "Italian language options will be available for interface elements and through subtitles."

Initial confusion stemmed from the Steam page displaying six languages with full audio support (English, French, German, Czech, and Russian), while omitting Italian despite its inclusion in previous franchise entries. This omission led some fans to question the decision, particularly given the Italian origins of mafia culture.

Hangar 13's commitment to Sicilian voice acting ultimately received widespread support from players. Sicilian, while sharing roots with standard Italian, possesses distinct vocabulary and cultural expressions. For example, "sorry" translates to "scusa" in Italian but becomes "m'â scusari" in Sicilian.

Sicily's unique position as a cultural crossroads between Europe, Africa, and the Middle East has significantly influenced its language. Greek, Arabic, Norman French, and Spanish linguistic elements contribute to Sicilian's distinctive character - making it ideal for achieving the "authentic realism" 2K Games emphasized in their announcement.

The new Mafia installment promises a "raw organized crime narrative rooted in early 1900s Sicilian underworld." While awaiting concrete release details, 2K Games hints at substantial Mafia: The Old Country reveals coming in December - likely coinciding with The Game Awards ceremony.

For additional coverage of Mafia: The Old Country's announcement, explore our related article below!