Summary
- Mafia: The Old Country will cost $50 at launch, bucking the industry standards of $70+, making it more affordable.
- The game's length was a factor that led to the lower price, as it will offer a shorter, but more focused linear narrative experience.
- Video game prices are rising, with some now starting to cost $80 and others rumored to possibly rise to $100, setting Mafia apart and giving it a potential edge over other titles.
Following a nearly ten-year-long wait, Mafia: The Old Country will be bringing players back into its world of crime and underworld politics later this year. The fourth main installment of the gritty mob-based series, and developer Hangar 13's second entry after taking over the franchise from 2K Czech in 2016, Mafia: The Old Country is set to bring fans back to the earlier days of The Family during the turn-of-the-century 1900s period in Italy.
Ahead of its release, one of the most notable aspects attached to it is Mafia: The Old Country's cost compared to most other similar AAA games. After the most recent trailer dropped, outlining its new gameplay, story, and confirming a launch date, it was also revealed that the title will be cheaper than expected, with a base asking price of $50 compared to what has become the industry standard of $70 (or higher). And this choice could be what gives The Old Country a big advantage over competing games.
Mafia: The Old Country is currently scheduled to release on August 8, 2025.
Why Now is the Time to Check Out or Replay the Mafia Series
Mafia: The Old Country is shortly set to bring fans into another criminal underworld, making it a great moment to revisit or try out the prior games.
Mafia: The Old Country's Lower Price Point Gives it an Edge Over the Competition
Video Game Prices Have Been Increasing Again
The video game industry, particularly in the AAA sector, has recently been experiencing an upswing in the base price of many titles. For a while, the average price of most games sat around $60. But as the previous generation transitioned into the current, consumers have seen companies begin to charge more, and the average at this point has risen to $70, often with various special or deluxe editions being even higher. And it looks like this trend is only set to continue, with one big example being Nintendo announcing that it is planning to up the price to around $80 for digital editions and as high as $90 for physical copies of Switch 2 games.
Relatedly, Rockstar Games' hotly anticipated Grand Theft Auto 6 is rumored to be possibly costing $100, though this has not been officially confirmed by the studio. Nevertheless, audiences are looking at a general hike in game costs at a time when disposal income for many is becoming tighter than ever. Mafia: The Old County cutting against this grain by having a lower-than-usual base cost is a good sign and one that could help it further stand out.
Mafia: The Old Country's More Affordable Launch Price Matches Its Vision and Experience
Mafia: The Old Country's Standard edition will be priced at $50, while the Deluxe Edition, which includes some bonus content, will add an extra $10. In a report by Dexerto, 2K's president, David Ismailer, commented on The Old Country's price, noting that it was set as such since the experience will be shorter relative to many other modern games. He stated that he believes "there's a large audience for compelling stories that don't require massive time commitments," with The Old Country looking to deliver players a "linear, highly-polished narrative experience."
With it not being the usual kind of huge open-world title that has become the standard across much of the gaming landscape, and instead being more linear and narrative-focused, its price tag reflecting this design is perhaps an unexpected but certainly welcome consumer-friendly move. Mafia: The Old Country's lower-than-average asking price presents players with a good deal that's easy to agree to in the current climate as the cost of games ticks up. Given its stated vision and the above assessment, it's both a savvy business decision and one that has a good chance of bringing more positive attention that translates to successful sales and reception for The Old Country.
Mafia: The Old Country
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 74 /100 Critics Rec: 66%
