Hangar 13 addresses fan concerns, confirming authentic Sicilian voice acting for Mafia: The Old Country. The decision follows an initial backlash over the apparent omission of Italian voice acting from the game's Steam page listing.
Developer Hangar 13 Clarifies Voice Acting Choice
The upcoming Mafia: The Old Country, set in 1900s Sicily, initially sparked controversy when its Steam page listed several languages with full voice acting but excluded Italian. This led to considerable fan outcry, with many expressing feelings of disrespect given the Italian origins of the Mafia.
However, Hangar 13 quickly responded on Twitter (X), stating, "Authenticity is at the heart of the Mafia franchise. Mafia: The Old Country will feature authentic Sicilian voice acting, reflecting the game's setting." They further clarified that Italian language support would be present via subtitles and in-game UI.
The Steam page initially listed English, French, German, Czech, and Russian with full voice acting. The absence of Italian, a staple in previous Mafia titles, fueled the initial negative reaction.
The developer's choice to use the Sicilian dialect has been largely welcomed by fans. Sicilian, while closely related to standard Italian, possesses distinct vocabulary and cultural nuances. For example, "sorry" translates to "scusa" in Italian but "m'â scusari" in Sicilian. This linguistic diversity, influenced by Greek, Arabic, Norman French, and Spanish, reflects Sicily's unique historical position at the crossroads of Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. This aligns with the "authentic realism" promised by 2K Games in their earlier press release.
Mafia: The Old Country promises a gritty mob story set in the harsh underworld of 1900s Sicily. While a precise release date remains unannounced, 2K Games has hinted at a more detailed reveal in December, possibly coinciding with The Game Awards.
For further details on the game's announcement, please refer to the linked article.
