Mafia 2 has some great missions, a rousing ‘50s soundtrack, and a central story that matches the best of the original game, but when it first arrived in 2010, a lot of us were disappointed at the size and scale of the open world. This was the same year that brought us Red Dead Redemption – it wasn’t that long after the release of Grand Theft Auto 4, which to this day boasts one of the most convincing cities in videogame history. If you ever wanted Mafia 2 to feel bigger and more alive, a transformative mod has the same, grand ambition. GTA 6 may be on the way, and of course, Mafia The Old Country, but now’s the time to give Mafia 2 another shot.
I remember Empire Bay, the broad recreation of New York City that serves as Mafia 2’s setting, feeling lifeless and empty. There weren’t enough cars on the streets, or pedestrians on the sidewalks – an open-world game with well-developed characters and convincing performances, Mafia 2 nevertheless felt sterile, artificial. Given how great Mafia 3 was, however, when the Mafia The Old Country release date rolls around, it’s hard to imagine the sequel having the same problems.
Neverthess, the expansive ‘Final Cut’ mod makes Mafia 2 larger and more interactive. In some cases, it adds superficial but world-building new features like a working metro system, or the ability to sit in bars and other interior locations. More significantly, Final Cut rebuilds missions, cutscenes, and environments that were removed before Mafia 2’s public launch – and now it’s about to get bigger.
Created by a team of modders named Night Wolves, the next version of Mafia 2 Final Cut, update 1.3, is now confirmed for 2025. Looking at the short reveal trailer, you can see some pretty notable additions to the original version of Mafia 2. Taxis, buses, and overground trains now appear to be accessible, and you can use them to quickly travel around town. There’s even a car showroom where you will possibly be able to buy vehicles, and some robust melee combat.
The opening mission, set in Sicily in World War Two, also appears to have been greatly expanded. Likewise, the mission where Vito and Joe are selling stolen cigarettes from the back of a truck and the later chapter where the pair are peddling drugs to different gangs around Empire Bay look like they’ve been extended. We see Vito carrying a briefcase and approaching some potential buyers. In the original game, this happened in a cutscene, but now it looks like it’s been turned into gameplay.
Most significantly, the trailer for update 1.3 seems to tease the addition of a new, alternative ending. I won’t spoil anything, but if you’ve played Mafia 2 before, the final few moments of the trailer will definitely stand out. We don’t have a release date for Mafia 2 Final Cut 1.3 yet, but when it arrives, it should make the brilliant but flawed crime game feel more complete than ever. In the meantime, you can get the in-progress version on Nexus Mods. Keep in mind this is for the classic edition of Mafia 2, not the definitive re-release.
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