If you’ve been waiting for the next entry in the iconic Mafia franchise, you’ve probably already heard chatter about how to pre order Mafia: The Old Country to get the best possible experience on launch day. As someone who’s followed the series since the first 2002 release, I’ve made my share of pre order mistakes — buying overpriced editions I didn’t need, missing exclusive skins because I ordered from the wrong retailer, and even waiting too long and losing out on limited physical copies. This guide breaks down everything you need to know to make a smart purchase, no fluff or unnecessary hype included.
What You Get When You Pre Order Mafia: The Old Country
When you pre order Mafia: The Old Country from any official retailer, you’ll first get the base pre order pack, which includes three exclusive items you can’t get any other way after launch. The first is a vintage tailored outfit for protagonist Salvatore Rossi, complete with period-accurate accessories that tie into his family’s backstory. The second is a custom 1957 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint, tuned for faster acceleration and with a unique family crest paint job you can’t unlock through regular gameplay.
The side mission included when you pre order Mafia: The Old Country is set before the main story, so you get extra backstory on the protagonist’s family and their move to Sicily after a falling out with the New York crime families. All base pre order bonuses are applied regardless of edition, as long as you purchase before launch day. Some official retailers also offer exclusive extra perks, like a physical printed map of 1950s Sicily, early access to the game’s co-op mode 3 days before launch, or a digital copy of the official soundtrack.
You don’t have to pre order months in advance to get these perks, but some retailer exclusives only apply to the first 1000 orders, so it’s worth checking the fine print before you buy. I missed out on the physical map for Mafia 3 because I ordered two weeks before launch, so I always check retailer-specific bonuses first now.
Which Edition of the Game Is Right For You?
There are three different editions available for pre order, each targeted at different types of players, so you don’t have to pay for content you’ll never use. The Standard edition is the base option, priced at $59.99, and includes the full main game plus all base pre order bonuses. If you’re a casual fan who only plays through the story once, the Standard edition is more than enough to get the full Mafia experience.
The Deluxe edition, priced at $89.99, includes the base game, all base pre order perks, plus a season pass that covers two major story DLCs dropping 6 and 12 months after launch, an exclusive weapon pack with 4 rare period-accurate guns, and a digital art book and official soundtrack. No matter which edition you pick when you pre order Mafia: The Old Country, you’ll still get the base pre order bonuses, so you don’t have to upgrade to access that exclusive side mission.
The Collector’s edition, priced at $199.99, is limited to just 5000 copies worldwide, and includes all Deluxe edition content plus a physical steelbook case, a 10-inch resin statue of Salvatore Rossi, a vinyl copy of the soundtrack, a physical copy of the game’s case file art book, and a framed map of the game’s open world. If you’re a diehard fan who’s been waiting for this game for years, you might want to lock in your pre order of the Mafia: The Old Country Collector’s edition as soon as possible, since stock is extremely limited.
Common Pre Order Mistakes to Avoid
Even if you’ve pre ordered dozens of games before, it’s easy to slip up and miss out on content or waste money you don’t need to. Over the years, I’ve made almost all of these mistakes myself, so I’ve rounded up the top ones to watch out for:
So many people get caught up in pre order FOMO that they don’t stop to think about what they’re actually buying. I’ve fallen for that too — I once paid $30 extra for a digital art book I never opened, just because it was marketed as "exclusive". Even if you’re on the fence about the game, you can pre order Mafia: The Old Country now and cancel later if reviews aren’t what you expected, no penalty required on most major platforms.
What to Expect After You Pre Order
Once you submit your order, you’ll get a confirmation email right away that lists all the bonuses you’re eligible for, so you can double check that you got all the perks you expected. For digital pre orders, you won’t be charged immediately on most platforms — you’ll get a charge notification 48 hours before the game launches, and you’ll be able to pre load the full game to your console or PC at that time too. Pre loading lets you start playing the second the game goes live, instead of waiting hours for it to download on launch day.
For physical pre orders, most retailers will ship your copy 2 to 3 days before launch, so it arrives at your door on release day. If you pay for expedited shipping, you might even get it a day early, but you won’t be able to play it until the official launch time unless you have a physical copy with no region lock. If the game gets delayed for any reason, your pre order will automatically roll over to the new release date, and all your bonuses will still be valid.
Once you pre order Mafia: The Old Country, you don’t have to do anything else until a few days before launch, when you’ll get a follow up email with next steps. If you ordered a Collector’s edition, you might get a separate shipping notification for the physical merch, since those often ship separately from the game itself to avoid damage during delivery.
At the end of the day, how you pre order Mafia: The Old Country comes down to what you want out of the experience and how much you’re willing to spend. You don’t have to drop $200 on the fanciest edition to enjoy the game’s gritty story and immersive open world, but if you’re a long time fan of the franchise, the extra perks might be worth every penny. Take your time, do a quick check of retailer offers, and you’ll be all set to dive into 1950s Sicily the second the game launches.
