Mafia 3 Has Old Sicilian Voice Acting, Not Modern Italian

Responding to fan concerns, the developers of Mafia: The Old Country have confirmed the game will incorporate genuine Sicilian voice acting. Continue reading to understand the community concerns that prompted this official developer statement.

Mafia: The Old Country Faced Criticism for Omitting Italian Voice Acting

'Authenticity Defines the Mafia Franchise,' Developers Affirm

The upcoming Mafia: The Old Country has generated significant discussion regarding its vocal performance choices. Set in early 20th century Sicily, the newest installment in the acclaimed Mafia series initially caused confusion when its Steam page appeared to list full audio support for multiple languages - excluding Italian. Developer Hangar 13 promptly addressed these concerns via their official Twitter account.

"Authenticity defines the Mafia franchise," the development team stated. "Mafia: The Old Country will feature authentic Sicilian voice acting, accurately reflecting the game's early 1900s Sicilian setting." They further clarified: "Italian language options will be available through UI localization and subtitles."

The controversy stemmed from the game's Steam page indicating complete audio support for English, French, German, Czech, and Russian - notably omitting Italian despite its inclusion in previous series entries. This exclusion surprised many fans, particularly given the Italian origins of organized crime syndicates depicted in the franchise.

Happily, Hangar 13's commitment to authentic Sicilian voice acting has been well-received. While Sicilian shares roots with standard Italian, it features distinct vocabulary and cultural expressions. For example, the Italian "scusa" (sorry) becomes "m'â scusari" in Sicilian.

Sicily's geographic position at the crossroads of Europe, Africa, and the Middle East has created a language enriched by Greek, Arabic, Norman French, and Spanish influences. This linguistic diversity likely influenced the developers' decision to use Sicilian rather than Italian, aligning with the "authentic realism" promised by publisher 2K Games.

The new Mafia installment presents a "raw organized crime narrative set in the unforgiving underworld of early 20th century Sicily." While a specific launch date remains unannounced, 2K Games has hinted at significant reveals coming this December. With The Game Awards occurring that month, fans anticipate major announcements during the prestigious ceremony.

For additional information about Mafia: The Old Country's initial announcement, explore our related coverage below!