Mafia 4 game is set in 19th century Sicily claims latest rumour

Mafia screenshot — Do you want to see Don Salieri’s younger days? (pic: Take-Two)

Only this week, Take-Two has been talking about increasing its output of games, doubling the number of big budget titles it makes over the next three years. As previously rumoured, this seems to include a new Mafia game, with new info suggesting that it is indeed a prequel to the first game.

Considering the first game is set in the 1930s that means that any prequel would have to be even earlier, and the latest rumour suggest that it’s based in the late 1800s and early 1900s, but in Sicily instead of the US.

What’s more, it will apparently focus on the early life of Don Salieri from the original Mafia, while being more linear than the open world Mafia 3.

Being more linear might sound like a negative but Mafia 3 was heavily criticised for its banal mission design and the poor use of its open world environment, which squandered its otherwise strong storytelling.

These latest rumours, propagated by XboxEra co-founder Nick Baker, suggest that developer Hangar 13 has learnt its lesson and will be playing more to its strengths in the new game.

The obvious problem with a 19th century setting is that weapons and vehicles are so archaic they’re not much fun to use, which was already a major issue for the first Mafia.

Hopefully Hangar 13 are aware of the pitfall though because it would be an interestingly different setting for any video game.