As the Move to $80 Video Games Kicks In, Gamers Point to Mafia: The Old Country and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Hope the $50 Trend Succeeds

Mafia: The Old Country was successful 'managing expectations mode' this week, announcing a cheaper than expected $49.99 terms point, and confirming that it is perfectly not an open-world game, alternatively a linear, narrative-driven game.

The Hangar 13-developed gangster shooter showed disconnected caller gameplay successful the trailer, below, and it is awesome indeed. But this is nary GTA 6. Indeed, it is nary Mafia III. Tellingly, 2K President David Ismailer said of Mafia: The Old Country: "We deliberation there’s a ample assemblage for compelling stories that don’t necessitate monolithic clip commitments.” It felt similar a PSA much than a promo.

Based connected these comments, Mafia: The Old Country volition beryllium a comparatively abbreviated affair. There is nary multiplayer mode, truthful the communicative is the full package. How agelong volition it be? Some are speculating thing from 5 to 15 hours.

Yes, determination are immoderate complaints successful the absorption crossed the internet, mostly from those who were hoping for a Mafia crippled much on the lines of a GTA than a, say, shorter Uncharted-style game. But The Old Country was ne'er going to beryllium that benignant of game.

In December, I interviewed Hangar 13 President Nick Baynes and crippled manager Alex Cox astir each things Mafia: The Old Country, and the imaginable of moving up against GTA 6, which was inactive owed retired autumn 2025 astatine the time.

In the interview, the brace dismissed comparisons to GTA 6, insisting Mafia: The Old Country shouldn’t beryllium considered an open-world crippled astatine all.

Rather, the brace explained, Mafia: The Old Country is much similar Mafia 1 and 2 than it is the open-world Mafia 3. It is simply a “linear, narrative-driven” game, a “focused package” that offers a “cinematic experience.” You mightiness find yourself driving astir an authentic practice of 1900s Sicily successful Mafia: The Old Country, oregon adjacent riding astir connected horseback a spot similar that different Rockstar game, Red Dead Redemption 2, but the similarities to Rockstar games halt there.

So, portion determination are the possibly inevitable complaints astir the scope of The Old Country, I’ve seen positivity astir the acquisition connected offer. Many are saying they’re much funny successful a precocious quality, cheaper, shorter story-driven Mafia crippled than a bloated open-world crippled filled with repetitive mechanics.

Indeed, determination seems to beryllium a increasing telephone for much of these cheaper, manageable games, with Sandfall’s well-received Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which has sold an awesome 2 cardinal copies contempt being disposable day-one connected Game Pass, held up arsenic a imaginable trend-setter.

This comes arsenic crippled prices are becoming much expensive, with some Nintendo and Microsoft hitting $80. In a marketplace erstwhile Mario Kart World costs $80, a $50 Mafia: The Old Country looks similar a bargain.

“I deliberation mounting the terms astatine $50 is the move,” said IGN scholar BabyGroot1 successful effect to the Mafia news. “Look astatine Clair Obscur sales.”

“Yea, I deliberation determination could beryllium a batch of fence-sitters that spot $70-80 and hold for a crippled to beryllium connected merchantability astir $30,” added Automating_The_Game. “But astatine $50 they're similar f*** it, getting it now.”

It’s a akin sentiment crossed societal media and reddit. "I hatred putting things connected a fig scale, but if this is 1 of those games that are similar a bully 10-12 hour, 8/10 acquisition I consciousness similar we person to enactment it arsenic champion arsenic possible,” said 99DGE of Mafia. “$50 erstwhile publishers are pushing for $80 is truthful fascinating that we request to reward and ballot with our wallets if it’s worthy it (that is of course, we tin spend it fixed the economical climate).”

“I was astir apt going to walk connected this arsenic I conscionable don't person it successful maine for astir unfastened satellite games anymore, but proceeding that it's linear, communicative focused, and priced astatine $50? I'm connected committee time 1 now,” said ElJacko170.

“I'd alternatively person a abbreviated Mafia crippled for $50 than 1 with a needlessly bare unfastened satellite with astir thing to bash successful them similar each the erstwhile Mafia games,” said everythingsc0mputer.

“If they're not gonna adhd broadside quests oregon broadside activities for you to bash similar the erstwhile Mafia games, past mightiness arsenic good support it abbreviated and linear.”

For each this positivity online, for steadfast 2K and developer Hangar 13 it volition beryllium sales of Mafia: The Old Country that find its and the franchise’s future. The crippled volition person a income people it needs to deed successful bid for the task to beryllium declared successful, and societal media and forum posts bash not make revenue. Hard income do.

All eyes volition beryllium connected Mafia: The Old Country to spot if the occurrence of Clair Obscur truly is the commencement of thing sustainable for the video crippled industry.

Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him connected Twitter astatine @wyp100. You tin scope Wesley astatine [email protected] oregon confidentially astatine [email protected].