Latest news with #Mafia
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Daily Mail
The mafia-like turf wars of Iron Age Britain: Game of Thrones-style barons carried out 'gangland executions' of rival tribes leading to mass slaughter, new research reveals
Mafia-like gangs roamed the countryside executing rival tribes in bloody turf wars in Iron Age Britain, new research has revealed. For almost a century, historians have blamed the invading Romans for mass slaughter events involving native tribes at hill forts across the west country. But radiocarbon dating of human remains dug up in 1936 at one of Europe's biggest hill forts has revealed the victims were actually killed 100 years before the Romans arrived. And far from a bloodthirsty invading army carrying out atrocities as they swept their way across the land, 'localised gangland infighting' was behind the brutal slayings. Rival groups fought one another for control over territory. The evidence shows the victims were killed by 'lethal weapon injuries' in very public displays as a warning to others not to fall out of line, experts say. Dr Miles Russell, principal academic in prehistoric and Roman archaeology at Bournemouth University, has spent several years researching the burial site at Maiden Castle near Dorchester, where the remains of more than 50 people were found 90 years ago. He said: 'We can now say quite categorically that these individuals died a long time before the Romans arrived and over a long period of time, not in single battle for a hill fort. 'The deaths were a series of gangland-syle executions. 'People were dragged up there and put to death as a way of one group exerting control over another. 'These were Mafia-like families. Game of Throne-like barons with one dynasty wiping out another to control trade links and protection rackets for power. 'What we are seeing is he people who lost out being executed. 'Most of them had cranial trauma with no sign of defensive wounds. They were repeatedly struck with a sword to the head with the skulls smashed to oblivion. 'You are talking overkill, not a single death blow. These were gangland executions carried out in a very prominent and obvious way as a warning to others.' The research shows the executions took place over a long period of time between the late first century BC and the early first century AD. The Romans didn't arrive in Dorset until 43AD. The 'war-cemetery' at Maiden Castle is one of Britain's most famous archaeological discoveries. In 1936 dig director Sir Mortimer Wheeler suggested the deaths were the result of a 'furious but ultimately futile defence of the hillfort against an all-conquering Roman legion.' This account was accepted as fact, becoming an iconic event in popular narratives of Britain's 'Island Story'. Dr Russell said: 'Since the 1930s, the story of Britons fighting Romans at one of the largest hillforts in the country has become a fixture in historical literature. 'The tale of innocent men and women of the local Durotriges tribe being slaughtered by Rome is powerful and poignant. It features in countless articles, books and TV documentaries. 'It has become a defining moment in British history, marking the sudden and violent end of the Iron Age.' 'The trouble is it doesn't appear to have actually happened. 'The archaeological evidence points to it being a case of Britons killing Britons and the dead being buried in a long-abandoned fortification. 'The Roman army committed many atrocities, but this does not appear to be one of them. 'After they landed in Essex they invading Romans fought organised armies of kings or queens in defensive positions. 'But as they moved further west the people and communities they encountered were more scattered and was very difficult for them to dictate to people that they were under their control. 'By this stage the Romans were more about exploiting territory and getting money out of it. In the Mendips it was extracting lead, in the Weald in Sussex it was iron and in Dorset in was farming.' The work at Maiden Castle also brings into question how other archaeological cemeteries across the south west have been interpreted.
Business Mayor
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Mayor
Mafia: The Old Country was inspired by The Godfather and Sicilian knife fights
Table of Contents Table of Contents The passage of time Knives out During PAX East 2025, 2K revealed its latest trailer for Mafia: The Old Country . The latest entry in the long-running crime series will deliver familiar mob action that fans have come to expect, but it's bringing one big change too. Rather than taking place in America, players will now get to run wild in Sicily. Shortly after the trailer was revealed, Digital Trends sat down with members of the Mafia development team to chat about the latest installment. The team tells us why it decided to take the series to Italy and revealed how the Sicilian setting changed the game. One big impact that the shift had? Knife fighting. Lots of knife fighting. The Mafia series has a long history of putting players in the cement shoes of various mobsters from the 20th century. The majority of its installments up until now take place all throughout America, primarily on the East Coast. That's all while telling a compelling story with characters to which players typically get attached. Mafia: The Old Country is looking to shake things up. Game director Alex Cox had a simple elevator pitch for the latest entry. 'The way we described this from the very beginning was Mafia meets The Godfather in 1900s Sicily,' Cox tells Digital Trends. 'That's the internal phrase we used when talking to other developers, because it gives you a really clear image in your head of what the game is immediately.' Nick Baynes, studio president at Hangar 13, reassures fans that it will be a 'classic Mafia mob story.' The only difference is that it'll take place in a 'brand new, beautiful location.' One of the many things that has Baynes excited is that it's a prequel to the other installments. That's because he sees it as 'a great jumping on point' for new players. Hangar 13 / 2K Games Both setting and time are crucial to The Old Country . Since it'll be taking place in the early 1900s, players will see the transition from one era to another. That's by design, because the passage of time plays a major thematic role in the story. 'It's a period of change in Sicily,' Cox says. 'There's a big number of Sicilians at that time who started to emigrate to America. That's something we've tried to reflect on through the whole creative development from the story and mechanics as well.' Baynes says that players will begin to notice this as they play through the game. He points to the world's streets as an example, explaining how players will quickly notice how some roads in-game are better suited for horse travel while others are clearly made with vehicles in mind. As they progress further into the story, players will begin to see horse roads slowly being phased out in favor of ones built for cars. The team really wanted to focus on combat this time around, making it feel more dangerous. Every bullet counts, which is why the devs implemented a looting feature that players can perform after combat. Ammo preservation is paramount, so some dirty scavenging is required to stay alive. Players won't just mow down rivals in shootouts, though. Knives play an important role in combat this time, as blades come with distinct abilities. The addition of knife dueling isn't just a twist for the sake of change; it ties back into the story and setting. Read More Crash Bandicoot: N. Sane Trilogy surpasses 20M copies sold 'Sicily has a knife-fighting tradition, and it's something we felt was quite iconic for the idea of Sicilian gangsters,' Cox says. '[Knife Dueling] is a special gameplay mode, where certain characters will appear as bosses, and you have to fight them to death with your knife.' This is probably the only time we visit a location like this in the Mafia series. Getting this right was so important that the team sent a few members to Sicily to meet those who make traditional Sicilian knives and watch how these knife fights would play out in real life. It wasn't just a cool field trip for the team, but important research to make sure that the combat felt as accurate to its inspiration as possible. That bleeds into a larger theme with The Old Country , as Italian authenticity was the goal. The team wanted to ensure that players got a unique cultural experience while still staying true to the Mafia identity. ''How is it different to play in Sicily?' It's the knives, the location. We're having combat in Greek ruins and in catacombs under the ground. Locations that are very distinctive to Sicily. We have horse chases [where you] jump onto cars.' 2K It was essential to create this sense of adventure because it may be one of a kind. 'This is probably the only time we visit a location like this in the Mafia series,' Cox says. Since The Old Country isn't in an urban environment like previous titles, it allowed the team to 'go heavy' when it came to leaning into the 'thrilling adventure vibe.' The team is putting in a lot of work to ensure that Mafia: The Old Country respects Sicilian culture while still creating something that fits in the Mafia universe. You can see all of this for yourself in the new trailer, which features glimpses of knife fights and the new setting. Even if you're a Mafia newcomer, The Old Country seems like it will be a strong starting point that functions both as an entry to the series and a portal to another era. Mafia: The Old Country launches on August 8 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.
Digital Trends
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Digital Trends
Mafia: The Old Country was inspired by The Godfather and Sicilian knife fights
Table of Contents Table of Contents The passage of time Knives out During PAX East 2025, 2K revealed its latest trailer for Mafia: The Old Country. The latest entry in the long-running crime series will deliver familiar mob action that fans have come to expect, but it's bringing one big change too. Rather than taking place in America, players will now get to run wild in Sicily. Shortly after the trailer was revealed, Digital Trends sat down with members of the Mafia development team to chat about the latest installment. The team tells us why it decided to take the series to Italy and revealed how the Sicilian setting changed the game. One big impact that the shift had? Knife fighting. Lots of knife fighting. Recommended Videos The passage of time The Mafia series has a long history of putting players in the cement shoes of various mobsters from the 20th century. The majority of its installments up until now take place all throughout America, primarily on the East Coast. That's all while telling a compelling story with characters to which players typically get attached. Mafia: The Old Country is looking to shake things up. Game director Alex Cox had a simple elevator pitch for the latest entry. 'The way we described this from the very beginning was Mafia meets The Godfather in 1900s Sicily,' Cox tells Digital Trends. 'That's the internal phrase we used when talking to other developers, because it gives you a really clear image in your head of what the game is immediately.' Nick Baynes, studio president at Hangar 13, reassures fans that it will be a 'classic Mafia mob story.' The only difference is that it'll take place in a 'brand new, beautiful location.' One of the many things that has Baynes excited is that it's a prequel to the other installments. That's because he sees it as 'a great jumping on point' for new players. Both setting and time are crucial to The Old Country. Since it'll be taking place in the early 1900s, players will see the transition from one era to another. That's by design, because the passage of time plays a major thematic role in the story. 'It's a period of change in Sicily,' Cox says. 'There's a big number of Sicilians at that time who started to emigrate to America. That's something we've tried to reflect on through the whole creative development from the story and mechanics as well.' Baynes says that players will begin to notice this as they play through the game. He points to the world's streets as an example, explaining how players will quickly notice how some roads in-game are better suited for horse travel while others are clearly made with vehicles in mind. As they progress further into the story, players will begin to see horse roads slowly being phased out in favor of ones built for cars. Knives out The team really wanted to focus on combat this time around, making it feel more dangerous. Every bullet counts, which is why the devs implemented a looting feature that players can perform after combat. Ammo preservation is paramount, so some dirty scavenging is required to stay alive. Players won't just mow down rivals in shootouts, though. Knives play an important role in combat this time, as blades come with distinct abilities. The addition of knife dueling isn't just a twist for the sake of change; it ties back into the story and setting. 'Sicily has a knife-fighting tradition, and it's something we felt was quite iconic for the idea of Sicilian gangsters,' Cox says. '[Knife Dueling] is a special gameplay mode, where certain characters will appear as bosses, and you have to fight them to death with your knife.' This is probably the only time we visit a location like this in the Mafia series. Getting this right was so important that the team sent a few members to Sicily to meet those who make traditional Sicilian knives and watch how these knife fights would play out in real life. It wasn't just a cool field trip for the team, but important research to make sure that the combat felt as accurate to its inspiration as possible. That bleeds into a larger theme with The Old Country, as Italian authenticity was the goal. The team wanted to ensure that players got a unique cultural experience while still staying true to the Mafia identity. ''How is it different to play in Sicily?' It's the knives, the location. We're having combat in Greek ruins and in catacombs under the ground. Locations that are very distinctive to Sicily. We have horse chases [where you] jump onto cars.' It was essential to create this sense of adventure because it may be one of a kind. 'This is probably the only time we visit a location like this in the Mafia series,' Cox says. Since The Old Country isn't in an urban environment like previous titles, it allowed the team to 'go heavy' when it came to leaning into the 'thrilling adventure vibe.' The team is putting in a lot of work to ensure that Mafia: The Old Country respects Sicilian culture while still creating something that fits in the Mafia universe. You can see all of this for yourself in the new trailer, which features glimpses of knife fights and the new setting. Even if you're a Mafia newcomer, The Old Country seems like it will be a strong starting point that functions both as an entry to the series and a portal to another era. Mafia: The Old Country launches on August 8 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.
Time of India
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Mafia The Old Country release date, platforms, and more
Image via Hangar 13. After nine long years, the long-hailed Mafia gaming franchise is back with Mafia: The Old Country. As part of 2K's Gamescom showcase, the fourth mainline entry in the Mafia franchise was revealed in August 2024. The publisher has previously promised that the game would launch in 2025. The Old Country will serve as the prequel of the very first game of the series, which actually set the tone for the franchise in 2002. Operation Sindoor 'Did not want to...': Pak def min gives absurd excuse for army's failure to withstand Op Sindoor Blackouts, sirens & Pak's failed attacks: 10 things that happened in the last 36 hrs '1971 war was not remotely as terrifying': Residents of border areas shell-shocked It's been almost a year-long wait for the fans, but that wait is over because Hangar 13 has recently revealed the trailer of the game, announcing the release date and other info. Everything you need to know about Mafia: The Old Country Mafia: The Old Country is releasing on August 8. | Image via Hangar 13. Hangar 13 has shared the game's first official trailer as well, bearing the official release date which is on August 8, 2025. However, it was already leaked . Initially it was confirmed that the game would be released on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Windows. Now, the developers have confirmed it will be released on GeForce Now as well. So, whoever owns a subscription of this service, will be able to stream it on PC. Mafia: The Old Country - 'Whatever it Takes' Gameplay Trailer | PS5 Games In this game, players have to fill their shoes in the role of Enzo Favara who will embark upon his journey in Cosa Nostra in 1900s's Sicily, where he will fight for his survival. The interesting part is that this upcoming title is not going to be priced in the typical modern AAA bracket. The game is now available to pre-order in two editions: Standard and Deluxe, which are priced at $49.99 and $59.99 respectively. For those who pre-order, the Solidato Pack is included with both editions. The Soldato ensemble, the Scannaturi Speciale knife, the Tesor horse and accessories, and the Lupara charm are all included. Along with all of these, Deluxe Edition comes with Padrino Pack, Gatto Nero Pack, and many other perks. Not only is this the first mainline entry in the Mafia franchise, this installment also marks the first title to be powered by Unreal Engine 5. More information on Mafia: The Old Country will be revealed by Hangar 13 at its next PAX East developer panel, which is set to begin later today at 2 PM. ET/11 a.m. PT/7 PM BST. Read More: Mafia: The Old Country trailer gives a sneak peek into the brutal underworld of early 90s Sicily
CNET
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CNET
Mafia: The Old Country Won't Be Open World and Will Cost $50
Mafia: The Old Country will release on Aug. 8, 2025, publisher 2K Games announced today. The game, developed by Hangar 13, will feature a standard edition for $49.99 and a deluxe edition for $59.99, and will be available for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, as well as prepurchase on PC via Steam. You can check out the first official gameplay trailer. "Mafia: The Old Country is a compelling story that doesn't require a massive time commitment, and we believe these prices reflect the value of this highly polished linear narrative experience," the developer said in a statement. This is good news, considering the cost of most games and consoles is set to increase. A game that doesn't break the bank, yet promises a compelling story and action-focused gameplay seems right up my alley. No open world, no problem If you were expecting the next installment in the Mafia series to be a sprawling, open-world romp through the organized crime world, think again. But honestly, that's probably for the best. Screenshot by Evan Zimmer/CNET The game's visuals look great, and the action-focused combat seems compelling. If it's anything like Mafia: Definitive Edition -- which was excellent and delivered a similarly shorter, linear game with an emphasis on story and characters -- it'll be a day-one buy for me. What's Mafia: The Old Country about? This time around, Hanger 13 is turning back the clock to the 1900s. Mafia: The Old Country puts players in control of Enzo Favara as he navigates the dark underworld of Sicily. You'll join the Torrisi crime family and uncover the origins of organized crime in Hanger 13's Mafia series. The game seeks to deliver an authentic, mob-movie experience. It'll take players across crumbling Sicilian ruins and sprawling vineyards, filled with a colorful cast of unpredictable allies and rival gangs. The game's FAQ page says there'll be a mix of gunplay and stealth mechanics, along with close-quarters knife fights and races on horseback and behind the wheel. You can preorder the game now and make your oaths to the Cosa Nostra when it comes out in August.
