Mafia: The Old Country explained: history, editions and which to buy

In brief: Mafia: The Old Country is a single-player, story-led action game from Hangar 13 and 2K, set in Sicily in 1904. It is a prequel to the whole Mafia series and is out on PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC (Steam), but not on PS4, Xbox One or Nintendo. Most new players should buy the Definitive Edition, which adds the Man of Honor story expansion. On 31 October 2026 it cost $64.99 on Steam US and PlayStation Store US and $38.99 on the Microsoft Store US (sale until 5 November 2026). PS5 players with PlayStation Plus Extra or Premium can also play the base game at no extra cost.

By Tulasiram Pemmadi · NextPlayIntel · Last updated 31 October 2026.

Mafia: The Old Country is the fifth main game in 2K's Mafia series and the first new one since Mafia III in 2016. It takes the series back to its roots. Like the 2002 original and Mafia II, it is a linear crime drama rather than a sprawling open-world sandbox. This explainer covers what the game is, how it was made, every edition and its price around the world, and which version is worth buying in late 2026. If you already own the older games, our Mafia Trilogy explainer covers the three Definitive Editions, and the Mafia: The Old Country game page keeps the live price table.

What is Mafia: The Old Country?

You play as Enzo Favara, a young man who has spent his childhood as a carusu, a forced labourer in Sicily's sulfur mines. After a mine disaster he escapes and is taken in by Don Bernardo Torrisi, and the story follows his rise inside the Torrisi crime family. 2K's tagline sums up the theme: "Family Takes Sacrifice."

The game is a third-person action-adventure. 2K's own FAQ calls it "a linear, narrative-driven game", so you move through chapters with set objectives rather than a free map full of icons. Within those chapters you can:

• Fight with period weapons such as the lupara sawed-off shotgun, revolvers and rifles, or up close with knives. Knife duels are a signature feature.

• Sneak. Stealth is optional for most of the game. A few story sections require it.

• Drive and ride. You travel by turn-of-the-century cars and on horseback, with manual-shifting and simulation-driving toggles for purists.

• Earn and spend Dinari, the in-game currency, on guns, knives, outfits, cars and horses. 2K says there are no microtransactions, so Dinari cannot be bought with real money.

The setting is the fictional Valle Dorata region around San Celeste, the town Mafia II players will recognise. The world is detailed but not fully open. Since November 2025 a free Free Ride mode has let you roam it at your own pace (more on that below).

Key facts at a glance

A short history of the game

The plan (2022). In August 2022, during the Mafia series' 20th anniversary, Hangar 13 confirmed it had "started work on an all-new Mafia project". The studio's president, Nick Baynes, later said the aim was to go "back to the roots" with a deep linear story, closer to the 2002 game than to Mafia III's open world.

The reveal (2024). A teaser debuted at Gamescom Opening Night Live on 20 August 2024, and the first full trailer followed at The Game Awards on 12 December 2024. Director Alex Cox's team moved from the studio's in-house engine to Unreal Engine 5. Some Italian fans objected that Italian voice acting was missing, and Hangar 13 responded by adding a full Sicilian voice track.

Launch (August 2025). The game launched at $49.99, cheaper than most new releases that year. Launch times rolled out worldwide. Steam unlocked at 09:00 PDT / 12:00 EDT / 17:00 BST on 7 August (16:00 UTC; 21:30 IST). PS5 and Xbox unlocked at midnight local time on 8 August, which was 21:00 PDT on 7 August in the US West. Reviews were positive but not glowing: 73 on Metacritic (PC, PS5 and Xbox) and 66% recommend on OpenCritic. Critics praised the atmosphere and the story, and some found the linear structure short.

Free Ride update (20 November 2025). This free update replaced the old Explore mode with Free Ride. It added car, horse, time-trial, Standoff and Assassination challenges, 16 outfits, new weapons, charms and cars, a Photo Mode and a Classic difficulty for veterans.

Man of Honor and the Definitive Edition (14 August 2026). The paid Man of Honor expansion adds two story chapters set in winter 1905, between the original Chapters 5 and 6, in which Enzo works with a young Ennio Salieri, the Don from the first Mafia game. The same day, 2K replaced the Deluxe Edition with the Definitive Edition and launched the four-game Mafia: The Omertà Collection.

PlayStation Plus (October 2026). From 20 October 2026 the base game joined the PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium Game Catalog on PS5. Man of Honor is not included.

How it fits into the Mafia series

The Old Country is the earliest story in the series. Here is how the five games line up by setting:

You do not need to have played the others first. Fans of the first game will spot the links, especially Salieri in Man of Honor. If you want the whole saga, the Mafia: Trilogy hub explains the 2020 remakes and their free PS5 and Xbox Series X|S upgrades.

Every edition, and what is in it

2K now sells two editions of the game itself, plus the four-game bundle:

The cosmetic packs add, among other items, the Lupara Speciale shotgun, Eckhart Speciale limousine, Carozella Nero race car, three outfits and two horses. They are nice to have, not essential. Man of Honor itself adds three guns, three knives, five charms, three vehicles, two horses, three outfits and five hats, plus new Free Ride jobs, Wanted Posters, Stunt Jumps and destructible Sulphur Trucks.

Prices worldwide (checked 31 October 2026)

The Microsoft Store sale ends on 5 November 2026 at 09:59 UTC (01:59 PST, 09:59 GMT). After that the Xbox price should return to $64.99. Mafia: The Omertà Collection cost $98.53 / £85.79 / €98.53 as a Steam bundle (with Complete Your Collection discounts if you own some games) and $99.99 / £89.99 / €99.99 on PlayStation and Xbox, where owners of earlier Mafia games get a discount.

Which edition should you buy?

• Most players: the Definitive Edition. At $64.99 it costs $15 more than the Standard Edition and includes the $9.99 expansion plus all the cosmetic packs. On Xbox it is the best deal in this table at $38.99 until 5 November.

• PS5 owners with PS Plus Extra or Premium: play the base game from the Game Catalog first. If you love it, buy Man of Honor ($9.99) separately. 2K says it works while the game stays in the catalog and carries over if you later buy the game.

• Want all of Mafia: the Omertà Collection ($99.99 on PlayStation Store US) costs less than buying the Definitive Edition ($64.99) and Mafia: Trilogy ($59.99 on PlayStation Store US, checked 30 October 2026) separately.

• Physical collectors: only the Standard Edition comes on disc (PS5 and Xbox Series X), so you would have to buy Man of Honor digitally.

• Steam Deck users: Valve rates the game Unsupported because of graphics performance, so it is a poor fit for handheld PC play.

PC requirements

On PC you need to be online the first time you launch. After that it is mostly playable offline, except after updates or major hardware changes. Consoles are fully playable offline. The August 2026 update brought DLSS 4.5 and FSR 4.0.3.

For players in India

• Prices on 31 October 2026: Steam India sold the Standard Edition for ₹2,899 and the Definitive Edition for ₹3,799. PlayStation Store India listed Rs 3,799 (Standard) and Rs 4,799 (Definitive). The Xbox Store India Definitive Edition was on sale for ₹2,879.40 (list ₹4,799) until 5 November 2026, 15:29 IST. Man of Honor was ₹579 on Steam and Rs 749 / ₹749 on PlayStation and Xbox.

• Cheapest route: for PC players, Steam's regional price is the lowest. For PS5 owners who already pay for PS Plus Extra, the catalog version costs nothing extra.

• Launch timing in IST: Steam unlocked at 21:30 IST on 7 August 2025. Consoles followed at local midnight on 8 August.

• Language: there is no Hindi option. Use English voice and subtitles, or Sicilian voice with English subtitles for the most authentic feel.

Where to go next

• Setting up on console? Read how to play Mafia: The Old Country on PS5.

• Looking for cheats? Read Mafia: The Old Country cheats and unlockables. In short, there are no codes.

• Hardware: see our PS5, PS5 Pro, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S pages, or browse the full games catalogue.