Mafia: The Outdated Nation was in ‘managing expectations mode’ this week, asserting a less expensive than anticipated $49.99 value level, and confirming that it’s completely not an open-world recreation, quite a linear, narrative-driven recreation.
The Hangar 13-developed gangster shooter confirmed off new gameplay within the trailer, under, and it’s spectacular certainly. However that is no GTA 6. Certainly, it’s no Mafia III. Tellingly, 2K President David Ismailer mentioned of Mafia: The Outdated Nation: “We predict there’s a big viewers for compelling tales that don’t require large time commitments.” It felt like a PSA greater than a promo.
Primarily based on these feedback, Mafia: The Outdated Nation can be a comparatively quick affair. There is no such thing as a multiplayer mode, so the story is the whole package deal. How lengthy will it’s? Some are speculating something from 5 to fifteen hours.
Sure, there are some complaints within the response throughout the web, principally from those that have been hoping for a Mafia recreation extra alongside the traces of a GTA than a, say, shorter Uncharted-style recreation. However The Outdated Nation was by no means going to be that type of recreation.
In December, I interviewed Hangar 13 President Nick Baynes and recreation director Alex Cox about all issues Mafia: The Outdated Nation, and the prospect of working up in opposition to GTA 6, which was nonetheless due out fall 2025 on the time.
Within the interview, the pair dismissed comparisons to GTA 6, insisting Mafia: The Outdated Nation shouldn’t be thought of an open-world recreation in any respect.
Relatively, the pair defined, Mafia: The Outdated Nation is extra like Mafia 1 and a pair of than it’s the open-world Mafia 3. It’s a “linear, narrative-driven” recreation, a “centered package deal” that gives a “cinematic expertise.” You would possibly end up driving round an genuine illustration of 1900s Sicily in Mafia: The Outdated Nation, and even using round on horseback a bit like that different Rockstar recreation, Purple Lifeless Redemption 2, however the similarities to Rockstar video games cease there.
So, whereas there are the maybe inevitable complaints in regards to the scope of The Outdated Nation, I’ve seen positivity in regards to the expertise on provide. Many are saying they’re extra involved in a top quality, cheaper, shorter story-driven Mafia recreation than a bloated open-world recreation crammed with repetitive mechanics.
Certainly, there appears to be a rising name for extra of those cheaper, manageable video games, with Sandfall’s well-received Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which has offered a formidable 2 million copies regardless of being obtainable day-one on Recreation Move, held up as a possible trend-setter.
This comes as recreation costs have gotten dearer, with each Nintendo and Microsoft hitting $80. In a market when Mario Kart World prices $80, a $50 Mafia: The Outdated Nation appears like a discount.
“I feel setting the worth at $50 is the transfer,” mentioned IGN reader BabyGroot1 in response to the Mafia information. “Have a look at Clair Obscur gross sales.”
“Yea, I feel there may very well be numerous fence-sitters that see $70-80 and watch for a recreation to be on sale round $30,” added Automating_The_Game. “However at $50 they’re like f*** it, getting it now.”
It’s an identical sentiment throughout social media and reddit. “I hate placing issues on a quantity scale, but when that is a kind of video games which can be like an excellent 10-12 hour, 8/10 expertise I really feel like we have now to help it as greatest as attainable,” mentioned 99DGE of Mafia. “$50 when publishers are pushing for $80 is so fascinating that we have to reward and vote with our wallets if it’s value it (that’s after all, we are able to afford it given the financial local weather).”
“I used to be most likely going to go on this as I simply haven’t got it in me for many open world video games anymore, however listening to that it is linear, story centered, and priced at $50? I am on board day one now,” mentioned ElJacko170.
“I would quite have a brief Mafia recreation for $50 than one with a needlessly empty open world with virtually nothing to do in them like all of the earlier Mafia video games,” mentioned everythingsc0mputer.
“If they are not gonna add facet quests or facet actions so that you can do just like the earlier Mafia video games, then would possibly as nicely preserve it quick and linear.”
For all this positivity on-line, for writer 2K and developer Hangar 13 it will likely be gross sales of Mafia: The Outdated Nation that decide its and the franchise’s future. The sport could have a gross sales goal it must hit to ensure that the venture to be declared profitable, and social media and discussion board posts don’t generate income. Arduous gross sales do.
All eyes can be on Mafia: The Outdated Nation to see if the success of Clair Obscur actually is the beginning of one thing sustainable for the online game trade.
Wesley is the UK Information Editor for IGN. Discover him on Twitter at @wyp100. You’ll be able to attain Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
