The developers of Mafia: The Old Country have allayed fan concerns regarding the game's voice acting, confirming the use of authentic Sicilian dialect instead of modern Italian. This decision follows an initial backlash stemming from the game's Steam page, which initially listed several languages with full audio but notably omitted Italian.
Hangar 13's response, shared on Twitter (X), emphasized the importance of authenticity to the Mafia franchise. The tweet clarified that Mafia: The Old Country, set in 1900s Sicily, will feature Sicilian voice acting, reflecting the game's historical setting. Italian will still be available via subtitles and in-game UI.
The omission of Italian from the initial Steam listing caused significant fan upset, with many feeling the decision disrespectful given the Italian origins of the Mafia.
However, the choice to use Sicilian has been largely welcomed by fans. Sicilian, while closely related to Italian, possesses unique vocabulary and cultural nuances, adding to the game's intended realism. The linguistic diversity of Sicilian, influenced by Greek, Arabic, Norman French, and Spanish, reflects Sicily's rich history and aligns with 2K Games' promise of "authentic realism." For example, "sorry" translates to "scusa" in Italian, but "m'â scusari" in Sicilian.
Mafia: The Old Country promises a gritty portrayal of 1900s Sicilian organized crime. While a precise release date remains unannounced, 2K Games hints at further reveals in December, possibly during the Game Awards. Further details on the game's announcement can be found in the linked article below.
