Hangar 13, developers of the upcoming Mafia: The Old Country, have confirmed the game will feature authentic Sicilian voice acting, addressing earlier fan concerns. The initial Steam page listing sparked controversy by including full audio for several languages but omitting Italian, a significant oversight given the game's Sicilian setting and the Mafia's Italian origins.
Authentic Sicilian Dialect Takes Center Stage
The developers clarified on Twitter (X), emphasizing the importance of authenticity to the Mafia franchise. Mafia: The Old Country will utilize Sicilian dialect, reflecting the game's 1900s Sicily setting. They further confirmed that Italian language support will be available through subtitles and in-game UI.
The Steam page initially listed English, French, German, Czech, and Russian with full audio, leading to fan backlash. Many felt the exclusion of Italian was disrespectful, given the Italian roots of the Mafia.
Hangar 13's decision to use Sicilian, however, has been largely welcomed. Sicilian, while closely related to Italian, possesses distinct vocabulary and cultural nuances. For example, "sorry" translates to "scusa" in Italian, but "m'â scusari" in Sicilian.
Sicily's unique geographical 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 likely informed the developers' choice, aligning with 2K Games' promise of "authentic realism" in their press release.
The game, described as a "gritty mob story set in the brutal underworld of 1900s Sicily," lacks a firm release date. However, 2K Games has hinted at a more detailed reveal in December, possibly coinciding with The Game Awards.
