If you’re a fan of gritty open-world crime narratives that feel pulled straight from classic gangster films, you’ve probably already had your eye on the latest entry in the beloved Mafia franchise. I picked up my copy of Mafia: The Old Country Digital Deluxe Edition three days after launch, and I’ve put nearly 28 hours into it so far, testing every extra feature and bonus content that comes with the premium tier. A lot of players ask if the digital deluxe upgrade is worth the extra cost, especially if they already plan to buy the base game. This guide breaks down exactly what you get, how to make the most of every exclusive perk, and whether the upgrade is a good fit for your playstyle.
What’s Included in Mafia: The Old Country Digital Deluxe Edition
When you pay the premium for the digital deluxe tier, you don’t just get a fancy skin or a single bonus mission. The package is packed with content that adds dozens of hours of extra playtime and deeper immersion into the 1920s Sicilian setting. I was surprised by how much value was packed in, compared to other deluxe editions that feel like afterthoughts. The full list of exclusive content includes:
- Exclusive Story Expansion: “The Family’s Honor” – A 3-hour side campaign that follows a young consigliere’s rise through the ranks, with choices that impact the main game’s ending
- 4 Exclusive Vehicle Skins & 3 Weapon Skins – Period-accurate luxury car designs and engraved firearms that can be unlocked within the first hour of gameplay, no extra grind required
- Digital Art Book & Official Soundtrack – 120 pages of concept art and behind-the-scenes notes, plus 27 additional tracks not included in the base game’s audio library
- Early Access to the “Bootlegger” Game Mode – A cooperative online mode where you and up to 3 friends run smuggling rings across the island, available 2 weeks before it launches for base game players
None of this content is pay-to-win, for what it’s worth. All the weapon and vehicle skins are purely cosmetic, and the story expansion doesn’t lock any critical main plot points behind a paywall. That was a big relief for me, since I hate when premium tiers force players to pay extra for core story content.
How to Get the Most Out of Your Deluxe Edition Perks Early On
A lot of players make the mistake of saving their deluxe edition perks for late game, but you can get way more value out of them if you use them during the first 10 hours of play. Many of the bonuses that come with Mafia: The Old Country Digital Deluxe Edition are designed to make your early game experience smoother, so don’t leave them sitting unused in your inventory. For example, the engraved shotgun skin comes with a small, permanent accuracy boost that makes early-game shootouts against rival gang members way easier. You don’t have to wait until you’re halfway through the main story to unlock it, either.
The first thing you should do after launching the game is head to the small pawn shop in the northern corner of Palermo’s old town. The owner will have a quest marker for deluxe edition owners, and you can claim all your skins and bonus items within 10 minutes of starting the prologue. I missed this on my first playthrough, and I didn’t get my bonus items until 8 hours in, which was a huge waste.
You should also prioritize playing the “Family’s Honor” expansion before you finish the main story’s third act. The choices you make in the expansion unlock extra dialogue options and side quests in the main game, and you’ll get a special ally who can help you during the final heist mission. If you play the expansion after beating the main game, you’ll miss out on all those cross-over benefits entirely.
For the cooperative Bootlegger mode, try to team up with other deluxe edition players for your first few runs. Everyone will have access to the same bonus starting items, so you won’t be stuck carrying teammates who haven’t unlocked the same smuggling vehicles yet. I’ve found that runs with all deluxe players finish 30% faster on average, and you earn twice as much in-game currency to spend in the main game.
Is the Digital Deluxe Edition Worth the Extra Cost?
This is the question I get asked most often by friends who are on the fence about upgrading. The short answer is that it depends on how much you enjoy the Mafia franchise and what you want out of your playthrough. I’ve bought a lot of disappointing deluxe editions over the years, but this one actually feels like it’s worth the extra $20 price tag for the right player.
If you’re the type of player who only plays through the main story once and never touches side content, you can skip the deluxe edition. The core game is fully complete on its own, and you won’t miss any critical plot points if you stick to the base version. The extra story expansion is fun, but it’s not required to understand the main character’s arc or the game’s ending.
If you’re a long-time Mafia fan, though, or you love exploring every corner of open world games, the deluxe edition is a no-brainer. The art book has tons of references to the original 2002 Mafia game that long-time fans will love, and the Bootlegger mode adds nearly infinite replay value once you finish the single player campaign. I’ve already put 12 hours into the mode alone, and I’m still finding new routes and smuggling strategies.
The only real downside I’ve found is that the digital art book and soundtrack are only accessible through the game’s launcher, not as separate downloads. I would have loved to save the soundtrack to my phone to listen to on commutes, but that’s a small gripe for an otherwise solid package. You also don’t get any physical merchandise with the digital deluxe edition, so if you prefer collector’s items like statues or physical art books, you’re better off waiting for the physical special edition release later this year.
Common Deluxe Edition Mistakes to Avoid
After playing through the deluxe edition twice and talking to dozens of other players in community forums, I’ve noticed a few common mistakes that ruin a lot of people’s premium experience. Avoid these, and you’ll get way more value out of your purchase.
First, don’t ignore the bonus side quests that unlock with the deluxe edition. A lot of players assume they’re just filler content, but one of them unlocks a free safe house in the center of Palermo that lets you store weapons and vehicles without paying the regular in-game fees. That saves you thousands of dollars over the course of a playthrough, and it cuts down on travel time significantly since it’s located right in the middle of the map.
Second, don’t skip the tutorial for the Bootlegger mode. I thought I could jump right in since I knew how to drive and shoot in the main game, but the mode has completely different mechanics for managing smuggling routes and avoiding police checkpoints. I wasted three full runs before I finally went back and watched the 5-minute tutorial, which would have saved me a ton of frustration.
Third, don’t sell your bonus weapons for quick cash early in the game. A lot of new players do this when they need money to buy their first car, but those weapons have unique engraving that you can’t get anywhere else in the game, and they can be upgraded to be just as powerful as late-game weapons. You’re better off doing a couple of small side missions to earn the cash you need instead of getting rid of your exclusive items.
At the end of the day, Mafia: The Old Country Digital Deluxe Edition is one of the best premium game releases I’ve picked up in the last couple of years. It doesn’t nickel and dime players for basic content, and all the extra features add real value to the overall experience, whether you’re a casual player or a long-time fan of the franchise. If you’re still on the fence, you can always wait for a sale a few months after launch, but if you plan to sink 30+ hours into the game, the upgrade will pay for itself in extra content and quality of life perks almost immediately. I know I haven’t regretted my purchase for a second, and I’m still finding new little hidden details in the expansion that make the whole Sicilian setting feel even more alive.
