Mafia: The Old Country PC Settings and Performance Review

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In the fourth installment of the “Mafia” series, gamers journey to “The Old Country,” delving into an unexplored aspect of the Italian criminal world, while still following a traditional storyline about climbing the ranks. Previously, Hangar 13 assumed control of the “Mafia” franchise with “Mafia 3,” significantly updated the original game in “Mafia: Definitive Edition,” and is now aiming to impress fans once more with the upcoming title, “Mafia: The Old Country.

In our review of “Mafia: The Old Country”, you’ll find our overall thoughts about the game. However, we decided to delve deeper and specifically examine the performance of the PC version on contemporary hardware systems. Given the historically system-intensive graphical nature of the “Mafia” series, we were eager to compare how well “Mafia: The Old Country” fits into this legacy.

The game “Mafia: The Old Country” on PC offers an impressive visual experience. The game begins with a captivating mine scene that showcases remarkable low-light and shadow technology, and once you venture out into quasi-open-world Italy, the stunning vistas and architecture continue to impress. Although some characters may not be overly realistic, there is still a high degree of detail evident in various aspects such as facial features, expressions, and clothing.

“Italy is truly captivating as a travel destination, and Hangar 13 does a fantastic job of recreating this charm in the game Mafia: The Old Country. This visually stunning game abounds with breathtaking sights that are perfect for screenshots.

Game Rant iBUYPOWER Test PC Specs

Motherboard: MSI PRO Z790-A MAX WiFi

CPU: Intel Core i9-14900KF CPU

CPU Cooler: iBUYPOWER 360mm Addressable RGB Liquid Cooling System

GPU: GeForce RTX 5090 Asus Tuf Gaming

Memory: 64GB DDR5 (6000MHz)

Storage: 4TB (2x2TB) M.2 NVMe Gen4 SSD

PSU: 1000 Watt – High Power PCIe GEN 5 PSU

Case: iBUYPOWER HYTE Y70 Touch Infinite – Black

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To put it simply, while Mafia: The Old Country runs smoothly on our powerful computer with a constant frame rate of 144+ FPS, there’s a significant problem when it comes to transitions between and out of cutscenes. As the cutscenes play at 30 FPS, the game has to drop its own frame rate to match, creating an abrupt stuttering effect that can be quite noticeable.

During gameplay, the transitions are less conspicuous as Enzo tends to stay still when you take control again. However, these minor glitches are quite evident. If Hangar 13 were to implement an option for increased frame rates during cutscenes, similar to many PC games, these issues could be significantly reduced. As of now, this is a somewhat disheartening aspect in the otherwise impressive presentation of the game.

The primary reason I often mention this game is due to its collision problems. Occasionally, an unseen object within the game will cause visual anomalies on the screen, such as large chunks of geometry materializing unexpectedly during cutscenes or gameplay. Typically, it’s impossible to pinpoint the source of these issues, but you can observe them in the video below, specifically during a scene where Enzo is chasing a horse-drawn cart.

In Mafia: The Old Country, you can tailor the graphics to suit your computer’s capabilities, as it offers multiple customization options. At the moment, Ray-Tracing is not available, making it a game that requires decent system power. On Epic settings without upscaling, our top-tier PC ran at approximately 60 frames per second, though there were occasional drops into the upper 50s.

What stands out about Mafia: The Old Country is its unconventional approach to graphics settings. Instead of offering Low or even Medium options, this game often maxes out at Epic. However, a few graphics options don’t have a Low setting at all. This is an unusual choice, but in essence, it means that the Medium option will be more suitable for computers with lower hardware specifications.

Mafia: The Old Country Graphics Options

  • Anti-Aliasing and Upscaling: Unreal TSR, Nvidia DLSS, AMD FSR, Intel XeSS
  • Motion Blur: On, Off
  • Global Illumination: High, Epic
  • Shadows: Medium, High, Epic
  • Reflections: Low, Medium, High Epic
  • View Distance: Near, Medium, Far, Epic
  • Textures: Low, Medium, High, Epic
  • Foliage: Low, Medium, High, Epic
  • Effects: Low, Medium, High, Epic
  • Post-Processing: Medium, High, Epic

For those who own an Nvidia 50-series graphics card, you can maximize its potential by using the Override feature within the Nvidia app and enabling Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS), which can increase Frame Generation up to x3 or x4. This enhancement led us to achieve around 240 FPS. Alternatively, if you prefer, you can adjust any visual settings to enhance performance without using DLSS or another similar technology, but they remain viable choices as well.

There is currently no Ray-Tracing in Mafia: The Old Country.

Despite some areas needing refinement, which Hangar 13 can polish with post-launch updates, Mafia: The Old Country stands out visually. It’s a game with a rich visual aesthetic that performs exceptionally well on top-tier hardware. There are numerous settings to adjust for optimal performance on various systems. The inclusion of upscaling and frame generation technology is commendable, as it helps the game avoid the problematic Unreal Engine 4 stutter that has been a common issue in many recent PC versions.

As an enthusiast, I must say that the hiccups in those transitions are quite jarring and take me out of the immersive experience. It’s essential to tackle this issue promptly. For now, I suggest we patiently wait for the first update, but rest assured, there’s a promising game hidden beyond a crucial improvement.

Game Rant recently evaluated “Mafia: The Old Country” on the iBUYPOWER RDY Y70 TI B03, a versatile gaming PC that can cater to any gamer’s preferences. If you’re interested in seeing how we built our setup, take a look at Game Rant’s iBUYPOWER configuration or explore more gaming deals on their website.

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2025-08-07 16:55