In a significant announcement for the gaming industry, Hangar 13 and 2K have revealed that Mafia: The Old Country will launch on 8 August 2025, with a notable $50 price point. The upcoming title promises a focused narrative experience set in early 1900s Sicily, marking a strategic departure from traditional AAA game pricing and length.
The game’s competitive pricing strategy reflects 2K’s commitment to delivering a more accessible gaming experience. At $50, significantly below the current $70 standard for AAA titles, the publisher acknowledges that the game offers a more streamlined narrative without requiring extensive time investment from players.
Set against the backdrop of turn-of-the-century Sicily, the game follows the compelling journey of Enzo Favara, who rises from childhood labour to become a member of the influential Torrisi crime family. This narrative approach maintains the series’ reputation for cinematic storytelling whilst exploring the historical origins of the Sicilian Mafia.
The game’s development represents a return to form for Hangar 13, known for their work on Mafia III. Their latest creation serves as a prequel to the original Mafia title, promising to deliver an immersive historical experience through its linear, narrative-driven gameplay structure.
In terms of accessibility, Mafia: The Old Country will be available exclusively on current-generation platforms, including PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC via Steam. Notably, the game will not be available on older console platforms or through subscription services like Game Pass or PlayStation Plus at launch.
The development team’s focus on creating a more concentrated gaming experience suggests a shift in industry thinking about game length and value. This approach could potentially set a new precedent for AAA game pricing and content delivery, particularly for narrative-focused titles.
The announcement positions Mafia: The Old Country as part of 2K’s robust 2025 gaming lineup. With Borderlands 4 scheduled for September and other major releases in the pipeline, the summer of 2025 is shaping up to be a significant period for gaming enthusiasts.
For the Mafia series, which has consistently delivered compelling crime narratives, this new instalment represents both a return to roots and an evolution. The focus on the Sicilian Mafia’s origins provides a fresh perspective while maintaining the series’ commitment to historical authenticity and dramatic storytelling.
This strategic release demonstrates 2K’s understanding of changing player preferences and time constraints. By offering a more focused experience at a lower price point, they may be establishing a new model for narrative-driven games in an industry often dominated by lengthy, open-world experiences. In a world of overly bloated, never-ending, and gacha games consistently diluting the gaming world and turning what was once a simple hobby that everyone enjoyed into a needlessly expensive and overly long experience that most people can’t either afford or have the time to play. However, 2k’s approach with Mafia The Old Country comes as a breath of fresh air that almost everyone will enjoy, and at a $50 price point, it might just pull the industry back from the brink of pricing games at $100.
