"For such a budget, it's most likely on the verge of failure": an analysis of Mafia: The Old Country in the new episode of "What's Up with the Game?"
The second half of the month is the traditional time for the deconstruction show “What's with the Game?,” where industry experts dissect new releases in terms of design, narrative, and other aspects. The latest episode focused on Mafia: The Old Country.
The special guest of the broadcast was Ilya Gutov, CEO of the gaming accelerator Meridian Play and an expert on the Asian market. He joined the show’s regular hosts, Alexander Semenov, head of the media division at WN Media Group, and Maxim Fomichev, an independent expert and former producer of the upcoming RPG The Expanse: Osiris Reborn.
Initially, the hosts discussed the metrics of Mafia: The Old Country. Within the first five days, its sales exceeded 800,000 copies across all platforms. However, the game quickly fell off the charts, and its user rating on Steam dropped to “mixed.”
“I don’t know what its production budget is, but I’d guess $50–60 million, considering the number of cutscenes. For such a budget, it’s likely a flop or on the verge of one,” Fomichev speculated, adding that eventually, Mafia: The Old Country will reach the break-even point. However, as of now, it cannot be called a commercial success.
Speaking about the game itself, Fomichev noted that the project attracts with its narrative, while all other elements are rather average. The core gameplay of the new Mafia comprises four types:
- a simple and unremarkable cover-based shooter;
- mediocre stealth, whose level of detail Fomichev compared to “Polish shooters”;
- horse and car rides;
- knife fights around which boss battles are structured.
None of the mechanics stand out or surprise the player. According to Gutov and Fomichev, The Old Country turned out to be a very even game that evokes neither negative nor positive emotions.
“When I completed it to 'platinum', I realized—they didn’t finish it. Maybe the team wasn’t given the necessary resources. They just chose a plot that would suit everyone. My motivation to play was solely because it was the Mafia series. During play, nothing triggers you. Questions arise when you start analyzing individual elements after completing it,” Gutov concluded.
While The Old Country cannot be deemed a must-buy hit, Gutov believes that supporting such projects is still necessary, particularly for those who enjoy small narrative adventures.
“What's with the Game?” is a monthly show aired on the educational platform WN Academy. The recording of the latest broadcast is available in the special section with an archive of all episodes.
The next episode of “What's with the Game?” will air on October 29. To join the broadcast, registration is required via this link.