Mafia: The Old Country will release on August 8, and its developers at Hangar 13 have addressed concerns about the game’s length, which some players assume is short due to its $50 price tag. The team insists that the game delivers a satisfying experience, comparable to the earlier entries in the series.
Hangar 13 made some notable choices for this installment, including moving away from the open-world style seen in Mafia 3 and returning to a more focused, story-driven approach set in Sicilian Italy. The $50 price is lower than the typical AAA standard, which might have led some to expect a shorter game, but the developers want players to know that’s not the case.
Mafia: The Old Country Will Make Players ‘Super Happy’
Nick Baynes, president of Hangar 13, spoke to IGN, assuring fans that the game offers “all the depth you’d expect in terms of dialogue and the world that has been created.” He emphasized that “no one needs to be concerned about the quality of the game or it being super short.” It’s kinda refreshing to hear such confidence, right?
Baynes didn’t specify the exact length, but he hinted that players should expect something akin to the first two Mafia games, which typically take about 10 to 14 hours to complete. So, it seems like you won’t be embarking on a 50-hour open-world grind like Mafia 3 but rather a tighter, more focused experience.
The shift away from the open world was a deliberate choice. Game director Alex Cox mentioned that feedback from the Mafia Definitive Edition remake influenced this decision heavily. “We got a response from the remake that [the Definitive Edition] was the kind of Mafia game that a lot of players wanted to play,” Cox explained. They also worked on a major engine revision and wanted to stick to what they believe Mafia does best: telling great stories.
So, what does this mean for you? If you liked the earlier Mafia games’ style and pacing, this new entry might just be your cup of tea. But is it enough to satisfy fans used to sprawling open worlds? Guess we’ll find out soon enough.
