Mafia: The Old Country Reveals What Year It’s Set In and More Details

The newly published ESRB rating for Mafia: The Old Country has revealed new details about the game, including an early 1900s setting, bloody gameplay mechanics, and early teasers for some of the cutscenes. Mafia: The Old Country is currently slated to release for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, and the ESRB page has ignited fresh excitement among fans ahead of the launch of the newest entry in a classic franchise.

For those unfamiliar, the first Mafia game was originally released for Windows PC back in 2002 before getting a console port to the PlayStation 2 and Xbox in 2004. Mafia 2 was released six years later in 2010, followed by Mafia 3 launching another six years later in 2016. With the next installment in the Mafia video game franchise potentially releasing almost a decade after its predecessor, fans have been anxious to get a closer look at where the story will lead in Mafia: The Old Country.

According to the official ESRB website, Mafia: The Old Country will have a Mature 17+ rating due largely to the inclusion of extreme violence, sexual scenes, and adult language, and the game has now been confirmed to be a decades-old prequel to the existing titles in the series. The full game description given by the ESRB states that Mafia: The Old Country will be set in Sicily in 1905 and will see players “engage in various criminal activities” that will include the use of “knives, pistols, rifles, shotguns, and explosives.” Blood splatters, pools of blood, throat slitting, and close-quarters executions also will be included in the game’s combat mechanics, along with sexually suggestive scenarios, foul language, and drunk driving. Players will soon get a closer look at the brutal gameplay with a fresh Mafia: The Old Country trailer set to release on May 8.

When is Mafia: The Old Country Releasing?

While there has not been an official announcement, a since-deleted PAX East presentation leak revealed a potential August 8 release date for Mafia: The Old Country. Whether that date is accurate to the studio’s plans remains unknown, though many are anticipating the new May 8 gameplay trailer to shed some light on a possible launch day. It has been over 20 years since the first Mafia game was released, and expectations are high for Mafia: The Old Country to bring back beloved gameplay elements while introducing a fresh story that will entice both returning and first-time players.

Following the delay of Grand Theft Auto 6 to 2026, audiences are expecting a number of games to confirm 2025 release dates, and many are hoping that Mafia: The Old Country will be among the biggest video games coming in 2025. Interested players should look out for more updates on Mafia: The Old Country, including any potential new information revealed in the May 8 gameplay trailer.