Since the announcement of the release of Mafia: The Old Country, the fans of the series have been left with one question in their heads: Will Vito Scaletta or Lincoln Clay be returning in any fashion? These two iconic heroes of Mafia II and Mafia III, respectively, made such a lasting impact on the series. With that being said, however, The Old Country is a tonal and chronological shift.
We dissect below what is known of their function (or not) in the newest Mafia game and where the title sits in context to the larger narrative of the franchise.
A New Setting, A New Era
Mafia: The Old Country is set in early 1900s Sicily, the oldest chronologically in the Mafia series timeline. It’s an alternate prequel that explores the roots of organized crime in Southern Italy long before the American debut of the mob that previous games were based on.
The game takes place in the life of Enzo Favara, a completely new protagonist who begins life in poor Sicilian countryside and rises through the ranks of a brutal and evolving crime world. The new story diverges from the American Mafia narrative of Vito and Lincoln.
Since Vito Scaletta wasn’t born until 1925—and Lincoln Clay not until 1945—there can be no possibility of either man showing up in the game’s mainline realistically. Briefly, The Old Country’s action takes place decades before their own stories even begin.
Vito Scaletta: Legacy Without Presence
Vito Scaletta is an important character in Mafia II and also makes a significant appearance in Mafia III. Since he is the son of Sicilian immigrants, his story is heavily tied in with the crime and heritage elements. Due to this reason, fans were sure that The Old Country would be about his heritage—perhaps even his father, Antonio Scaletta, who was Sicilian.
That being the case, however, in more recent developer interviews and community reveals, there are currently no proposals for an appearance by a Scaletta family member within the game. The narrative is stand-alone, a fresh slate setting up the origins of the Mafia without reference to prior protagonists or leaning on callbacks.
And yet, the game still doesn’t completely disown Vito’s heritage. Franchise loyalty rewards are given to owners of Mafia II or Definitive Edition Trilogy, some of which include references to Vito—such as his 1911 pistol as a cosmetic unlock in The Old Country. These are Easter eggs and nothing more than nods to veteran players and not in-game or narrative appearances.
Lincoln Clay: Absent by Design
Lincoln Clay, the Vietnam veteran-turned-mob boss in Mafia III, is also not present in The Old Country. Similar to Vito, his narrative occurs at a later point in time—the late 1960s—and is closely connected with the American South and the city of New Bordeaux.
While Lincoln’s tale broached the subjects of race, betrayal, and revenge in an urbanizing crime society, The Old Country largely travels on the honor codes, tradition, and struggle for survival of traditional Sicily. There is a clear thematic and generational divide that makes Lincoln’s presence impossible, if not improbable, within such a setting.
No voice lines, character references, or family ties now connect Lincoln to any existing character in the prequel.
Franchise Loyalty Instead of Continuity
Even if Mafia: The Old Country boasts a new hero and era, 2K did not cut out long-time fans of the series who have been around since the beginning. Owners of Mafia II, Mafia III, or Definitive Trilogy will receive themed in-game content in The Old Country with a Franchise Loyalty Program. These include:
- Vito’s legendary sidearm
- A token inspired by Lincoln Clay
- Themed cosmetics from other games
These are either symbolic or cosmetic in nature and do not relate to the story at all. They give long-time players an option to introduce a bit of those classic characters into the new experience without impacting the story.
