Co-Developer Claims Mafia: The Old Country Delivers Authentic Experience

Hangar 13 Unveils Developer Insights on Mafia: The Old Country

Today, Hangar 13 released an engaging developer diary that sheds light on the creation of their upcoming title, Mafia: The Old Country. This exciting project sees the collaboration between Hangar 13 and Stormind Games, a renowned Italian studio notable for titles such as Remothered: Broken Porcelain, Batora: Lost Haven, and the recent adaptation, A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead. Situated in Sicily, Stormind Games has played a vital role in ensuring the game’s authenticity, immersing players in a richly detailed experience.

Prioritizing Authenticity

Salvo Fallica, Senior Project Manager at Stormind, emphasized their commitment to realism: “Our priority has always been to ensure that everything in the game feels authentic.” This commitment to authenticity is echoed by Matthew Aitken, Lead Writer at Hangar 13, who stated: “The details are absolutely key in keeping the immersion of the player.”

Grounding the Narrative in Real History

Game Director Alex Cox highlighted the importance of historical accuracy: “We need to make sure that the game is grounded in the real history of the Sicilian Mafia. Experts in their field help us contextualize things that we read and see on the screen with real lived experiences.” This commitment extends to the game’s visual elements as well, with Art Director Steve Noakes sharing insights into their research process: “We had to dig very deep… we went into some tiny little backwater of a machine shop where this guy and his son were still crafting knives by hand.” Such meticulous detail ensures the game reflects the unique cultural aspects of the region.

Natural Settings and Player Immersion

Focusing on the shift from urban environments to the vivid landscapes of Sicily, Associate Art Director Jakub Vavrik noted: “Previous Mafia games were more or less city heavy, and now we are moving to a more organic wildlife setting of Sicily.” Cox further elaborated: “A very realistic, high fidelity, authentic setting will take players back to 1900 Sicily… Players will develop a connection with Sicily throughout the game.” This element of immersion is critical, with Noakes asserting: “The landscape is always a character in any Mafia game, especially true of this location and time period.”

An Immersive Gameplay Experience

Cox encapsulated their vision for the game: “The promise is to play a classic mob movie… allowing players to imagine themselves back in that time, experiencing life as a Sicilian gangster.” He expressed his hopes that players will find the experience as thrilling as the development team does.

Release Date and Pricing

Mafia: The Old Country is set to launch on August 8, priced at $50. Unlike its predecessors, the game will be strictly narrative-driven, enhancing the storytelling experience. For those interested, detailed PC system requirements are available for review.

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