Hangar 13 wrapped up its Mafia: The Old Country developer panel at PAX East. It offered a deeper look at the upcoming game’s story, setting, and design. While the trailer and release date were revealed earlier (see our earlier breakdown here), the panel went further. It drove into how the team approached character development, worldbuilding, and gameplay in this new prequel set in 1905 Sicily.
Here’s a closer look at what was shared, from new character reveals to fresh details about combat, exploration, and the game’s cinematic presentation.
New Character Details Revealed
Mafia: The Old Country follows Enzo Favara, a young orphan raised in the sulfur mines of Sicily. Sold into labor at a young age, Enzo’s early life is harsh and unforgiving. When he’s offered a place in the powerful Torrisi crime family, it gives him a sense of belonging he’s never had. And, it also forces him to weigh loyalty against freedom. His path forward is shaped by choices about what family really means. And, what he’s willing to sacrifice to be part of it.
The panel introduced two more central characters: Don Bernardo Torrisi and his daughter, Isabella. Don Torrisi is described as powerful, respected, and driven by legacy. He offers Enzo life-changing opportunities, but expects total loyalty in return. Isabella, meanwhile, is intelligent and ambitious—pushing against the limits of the conservative, male-dominated society she was born into. Her story adds another layer to the game’s central theme of family, creating a contrast to Enzo’s journey.
The developers also confirmed that Mafia: The Old Country includes four returning characters from earlier games in the series. They didn’t say who, but noted that some will be more noticeable than others.
Knife Duels, Scarce Ammo, and a More Tactical Approach
The panel confirmed that Mafia: The Old Country will feature grounded, tactical combat. Knife dueling plays a central role, with multiple blade types offering different perks. Some can be thrown, while others provide bonuses in close-quarters fights. Several boss encounters revolve around knife combat, replacing the over-the-top shootouts of previous entries with something slower and more deliberate.
Guns are present, but consistent with the early 1900s setting. You’ll be using revolvers, bolt-action rifles, and other period-authentic weapons. The developers emphasized that there are no Tommy guns, aligning with the time period and the more restrained tone of combat.
The overall gameplay is built around a linear structure with room for exploration. Missions include a mix of action and stealth, with examples ranging from stealth sequences in catacombs to large-scale shootouts in ruined Greek structures. Vehicles and horseback traversal are still part of the experience, and resource management will play a bigger role than in past Mafia games.
Authenticity Through Research: Building 1905 Sicily
During the panel we learned that Hangar 13 spent years researching early 20th-century Sicily to bring Mafia: The Old Country to life. The team visited real sulfur mines, studied regional dialects, and consulted with local historians to ensure historical accuracy. The contrast between the island’s natural beauty and the harsh conditions of the time plays a major role in how the game’s tone and environments are shaped.
The game will include a full Sicilian dialect voiceover option. It gives players a choice between English and historically rooted language for added immersion. According to the developers, everything from clothing to social customs was researched to reflect the culture and power dynamics of 1905.
This grounded approach extends to the game’s environments, which include locations like villages, ruins, and catacombs. Exploration is encouraged within a mission-based structure, offering optional paths and details for those who want to dive deeper into the world.
Cinematic Presentation Powered by Unreal Engine 5
Mafia: The Old Country is the first game in the series built using Unreal Engine 5. And, the developers used the panel to show how the new tech is shaping its look and feel. Facial animation uses Unreal Engine 5’s Metahuman Animator, giving the characters more subtle, realistic expressions that carry through seamlessly from cinematics into gameplay.
The team also emphasized how much work went into sound and animation. All dialogue is performance-captured, and vehicle audio was recorded using era-accurate cars found in Czech museums. This focus on detail is part of the studio’s goal to make the story feel cinematic without overusing cutscenes. In some scenes, characters say nothing at all—letting body language and visual framing carry the emotion.
Hangar 13 described this approach as a natural extension of the game’s tone: grounded, emotional, and shaped by small moments as much as major events.
A Deeper Look Ahead of Mafia: The Old Country’s Launch
The PAX East panel offered a closer look at the work and detail going into Mafia: The Old Country. From knife duels and grounded combat to historically researched settings and lifelike facial animation, the team at Hangar 13 shared how they’re shaping this 1905 prequel into something distinct from past entries.
They also confirmed that four characters from earlier Mafia games will return in some form—though the names weren’t revealed.
Mafia: The Old Country launches August 8, 2025 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC via Steam, and GeForce NOW. Which returning character are you hoping to see? Let us know in the comments.
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