Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick just gave Mafia fans exactly what they wanted to hear. During an interview with IGN on November 7, 2025, ahead of the company’s Q2 financial report, Zelnick confirmed that Mafia: The Old Country performed well ahead of expectations and that the franchise has a bright future. When asked directly if The Old Country did well enough to instill confidence in continuing the series, Zelnick didn’t hesitate. Definitely, he said.
This is huge news for a franchise that spent nearly a decade in limbo after the divisive Mafia 3 launched in 2016. The Old Country represented a reset for the series, shifting away from open-world sprawl to a tightly focused, narrative-driven experience set in early 1900s Sicily. The gamble worked. Fans embraced the change, critics praised the storytelling, and Take-Two is now all but confirming more Mafia games are coming.
The Reset That Worked
Mafia 3 left the franchise in a rough spot. While the game had its fans and told an interesting story about racism in 1960s Louisiana, the repetitive mission structure and technical issues drew heavy criticism. After that launch, Hangar 13 went quiet on new Mafia content for years, releasing only the well-received Definitive Edition remasters of the original trilogy in 2020.
When Mafia: The Old Country was finally announced, developer Hangar 13 and publisher 2K made it clear this wasn’t going to be another Grand Theft Auto-style open world game. They positioned it as a linear, narrative-driven experience focused on telling a compelling crime story without the bloat. Set in Sicily in the early 1900s, players follow Enzo Favara as he rises through the ranks of the Torrisi crime family.
Zelnick called The Old Country sort of a reset for the franchise, and Take-Two’s financial report backed that up. The title quickly surpassed our internal expectations and affirmed our belief that consumer demand remains strong for premium, narrative-driven experiences that over-index on value, the company stated.
The Fifty Dollar Experiment
One of the boldest decisions Take-Two made with The Old Country was pricing it at $49.99 instead of the now-standard $69.99 that most AAA games command. This wasn’t just good PR. It was a calculated move acknowledging that the game offered a more contained experience that didn’t justify premium pricing.
The strategy paid off big time. What we suspected was confirmed, Zelnick told The Game Business in a separate interview. Which is just, if you give consumers a great narrative experience that’s a lot of fun, somewhat contained, and at a fair price, then you can have the perfect result.
Fans noticed and appreciated the pricing decision. When the $50 price point was announced, communities across Reddit and social media praised Take-Two for not trying to charge full price for what they were openly marketing as a shorter, more focused game. That goodwill translated into sales that blew past Take-Two’s internal projections.
What The Old Country Got Right
Mafia: The Old Country launched on August 8, 2025 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S, and PC. Critics gave it solid marks, with IGN awarding it an 8 out of 10 and calling it a conventional but effective return to the linear and tightly story-driven format of the original Mafia and Mafia II, with a wonderful eye and ear for detail.
The game runs roughly ten hours for the main story, making it a weekend experience rather than a months-long commitment. It perfects the classic Mafia gameplay with grounded and dangerous combat systems, featuring high-stakes stealth, brutal knife fights, and intense gunplay mechanics. The focus on authenticity and period detail created an immersive experience that felt true to the Mafia series’ roots.
Player reception has been mostly positive on Steam, where the game holds a Mostly Positive rating. While not everyone loved every aspect of the game, the consensus seems to be that Hangar 13 delivered exactly what they promised. No misleading marketing, no cut features, just a well-crafted crime drama that respects players’ time and wallets.
More Content Coming
Hangar 13 isn’t done with The Old Country yet. The developer has confirmed that Free Ride mode is coming as part of a free update, giving players the ability to explore Sicily without story constraints. Additional content and updates are also in the works, though specific details haven’t been announced yet.
What Comes Next for Mafia
While Zelnick was clear that Take-Two has nothing to announce officially about future Mafia games, his comments leave little doubt that the franchise will continue. We’re really excited about Mafia, he said, and mentioned that Hangar 13 will continue to push the boundaries for cinematic experiences in this series and in future creative pursuits.
That last part is interesting. Future creative pursuits suggests Hangar 13 might not just be making more Mafia games, but could be developing other narrative-driven titles using lessons learned from The Old Country. The studio proved it can deliver focused, premium experiences at reasonable price points. That’s a valuable skill set in an industry increasingly dominated by bloated, overpriced games that take hundreds of hours to complete.
If Take-Two continues with the Mafia franchise, expect more games in the same vein as The Old Country. Linear, story-focused experiences set in different time periods and locations within organized crime history. Maybe Prohibition-era New York. Maybe 1980s Miami. The possibilities are endless as long as the focus remains on tight storytelling rather than open-world checklists.
Context Matters: The Q2 Report
Zelnick’s praise for Mafia: The Old Country came during the same Q2 financial report that delayed GTA 6 to November 2026 and revealed that Borderlands 4 sales were softer than expected. Take-Two’s stock took a hit from the GTA 6 news, but the Mafia success story provided a silver lining.
The contrast is stark. Borderlands 4, a major franchise entry with all the marketing muscle and budget you’d expect, underperformed due to technical issues at launch. Meanwhile, The Old Country, a smaller project with modest expectations and a reduced price point, exceeded projections and earned goodwill from both critics and players.
This might be the lesson Take-Two needs. Not every game has to be a hundred-hour epic with a $70 price tag. Sometimes a focused, well-executed experience that respects players’ time and money is exactly what the market wants.
Fan Reactions and Industry Impact
The gaming community’s response to The Old Country’s success has been overwhelmingly positive. Players who felt burned by Mafia 3 are relieved to see the franchise back on track. Fans of the original two games appreciate the return to linear storytelling. And everyone seems to agree that the $50 price point was the right call.
If this success influences other publishers to experiment with mid-tier pricing for more focused experiences, that would be a win for the entire industry. The market has room for both massive open-world epics and tighter narrative games. Not everything needs to follow the GTA or Assassin’s Creed model of endless content and premium pricing.
FAQs
Did Mafia: The Old Country sell well?
Yes, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick confirmed the game performed well ahead of expectations. While exact sales numbers haven’t been provided, the company stated it quickly surpassed their internal projections and affirmed strong consumer demand for premium, narrative-driven experiences.
Will there be more Mafia games after The Old Country?
While Take-Two hasn’t made an official announcement, CEO Strauss Zelnick said definitely when asked if The Old Country’s success gives them confidence to continue the franchise. He stated they’re really excited about Mafia and that Hangar 13 will continue pushing boundaries for cinematic experiences in the series.
Why was Mafia: The Old Country only $50?
The game was priced at $49.99 instead of the standard $69.99 because it’s a more focused, linear experience rather than a massive open-world game. Zelnick confirmed this pricing strategy paid off, saying consumers responded positively to getting a great narrative experience at a fair price.
How long is Mafia: The Old Country?
The main story runs approximately ten hours, making it a more contained experience compared to typical open-world games. This shorter length was intentional and marketed transparently, contributing to the decision to price the game at $50 instead of $70.
Is Mafia: The Old Country getting DLC or updates?
Yes, Hangar 13 has confirmed that Free Ride mode is coming as part of a free update. Additional content and updates are also in development, though specific details about what those will include haven’t been announced yet.
How did Mafia: The Old Country review?
The game received mostly positive reviews, with IGN giving it an 8 out of 10 and praising its return to linear, story-driven gameplay with excellent attention to detail. It currently holds a Mostly Positive rating on Steam from player reviews.
Is The Old Country connected to previous Mafia games?
No, The Old Country is a prequel set in early 1900s Sicily with a new protagonist named Enzo Favara. It’s not directly connected to the previous games’ stories, making it a good entry point for new players while serving as a reset for the franchise.
What platforms is Mafia: The Old Country available on?
The game is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S, and PC via Steam. It launched worldwide on August 8, 2025, with both Standard and Deluxe editions available.
Conclusion
Mafia: The Old Country’s success proves that not every game needs to be a massive open-world experience with a premium price tag to succeed commercially. By delivering a focused, well-crafted narrative experience at a fair price, Hangar 13 and Take-Two found the perfect formula that resonated with both critics and players. Strauss Zelnick’s confidence in the franchise’s future suggests we’ll see more Mafia games following this same approach. For fans who’ve been waiting nearly a decade for the series to recapture what made the original games special, this is exactly the news they wanted to hear. The Mafia franchise is back, and it’s sticking around.