Addressing Fan Concerns: Mafia: The Old Country Confirms Authentic Sicilian Voice Acting
Hangar 13, the developer behind the upcoming Mafia: The Old Country, has responded to fan concerns regarding the game's audio. Initial listings on Steam suggested support for multiple languages, notably omitting Italian, despite the game's Sicilian setting. This sparked significant backlash from fans.
The developers clarified on Twitter (now X), emphasizing the importance of authenticity to the Mafia franchise. Mafia: The Old Country will feature authentic Sicilian dialogue, reflecting the game's 1900s Sicilian backdrop. They further confirmed that Italian language support will be available through subtitles and in-game UI.
The initial omission of Italian from the Steam audio listing caused confusion and disappointment. Many felt the choice was disrespectful, given the Italian origins of mafia culture.
This decision to use Sicilian, however, has been largely welcomed by fans. Sicilian, while closely related to Italian, possesses unique vocabulary and cultural nuances. The use of Sicilian aligns with the "gritty realism" promised by 2K Games in their earlier press releases. The linguistic diversity of Sicilian, influenced by Greek, Arabic, Norman French, and Spanish, due to Sicily's geographical location at the crossroads of Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, likely contributed to the developers' choice.
Mafia: The Old Country, described as a "gritty mob story set in the brutal underworld of 1900s Sicily," remains without a firm release date. However, 2K Games has hinted at a more detailed reveal in December, possibly coinciding with The Game Awards.
Further details on the Mafia: The Old Country announcement can be found in the linked article (link not provided, as it was not included in the original text).
