Mafia: The Old Country will be less of an open-world game than Mafia 3 as the devs agree it was too much and didn’t fit the series

Mafia 3 is the frequently criticized, misinterpreted installment that numerous fans highlight as the franchise moving away from its origins and transforming into something it ought not to be – and it appears the developers concur. That’s why the prequel title Mafia: The Old Country is abandoning the open-world concept and returning to a more straightforward mission design.

Though both Mafia 1 and 2 present expansive environments that you can explore at your leisure, neither is truly regarded as an open-world experience. This is because the narrative missions unfold in a predetermined sequence and there are not many side endeavors to engage in, yet if it acts like a duck and sounds like a duck…

In any case, according to a recent interview from IGN, the creators align with gamers that an entirely open world brimming with diversions does not suit the Mafia franchise. The adverse feedback regarding 3, paired with the favorable reception of the 2020 Mafia: Definitive Edition remake of the original 2002 title, prompted Hangar 13 to reassess its strategy – not every game can emulate GTA, after all.

Mafia: The Old Country is set to release on August 8, 2025, serving as a prequel to the initial trilogy. As indicated by the title, we’ll revisit the core of the mobster culture: early 1900s Sicily. It is an action-adventure title with a significant emphasis on stealth.

Even though it doesn’t align with the conventional open-world format, it will probably gain an advantage from GTA 6’s postponement. There are only a limited number of crime simulations we can handle in rapid succession.

While you’re waiting, take a look at our collection of the finest adventure games that you can dive into.

I’m Issy, a freelancer who you’ll occasionally see here reporting on news for GamesRadar. I’ve always been passionate about playing games, but I honed my writing skills while pursuing my Film and TV degrees at the University of Warwick and contributing to the student publication, The Boar. Post-university, I took a role at TheGamer before leading the news division at Dot Esports. Now you’ll find me freelancing for Rolling Stone, NME, Inverse, and various other outlets. I adore all things horror, narrative-driven, and indie, and I primarily game on my PS5.