New York

Lore & Background

In the 1920s, Mafia operations in the U.S. were under the control of Giuseppe 'Joe The Boss' Masseria, whose faction consisted mainly of gangsters from Sicily and sporadically from other regions of Southern Italy like Calabria, Campania and Apulia. Masseria's faction included Charles 'Lucky' Luciano, Albert 'Mad Hatter' Anastasia, Vito Genovese, Alfred Mineo, Willie Moretti, Joe Adonis, and Frank Costello. However, powerful Sicilian mafioso Don Vito Cascio Ferro decided to make a bid for control of Mafia operations. From his base in Castellammare del Golfo, he sent Salvatore Maranzano to seize control. The Castellammarese faction in the U.S. included Joseph 'Joe Bananas' Bonanno, Stefano 'The Undertaker' Magaddino, Joseph Profaci, and Joe Aiello. The Castellammarese War was between the forces of Masseria and Maranzano. Underneath, however, there was also a generational conflict between the old guard Sicilian leadership – known as the 'Mustache Petes' for their long mustaches and old-world ways, such as refusing to do business with non-Italians – and the 'Young Turks', a younger and more diverse Italian group who were more forward-thinking and willing to work more with non-Italians. Led by Luciano, the aim of this group was to end the war as soon as possible in order to resume their businesses, because they viewed the conflict as unnecessary. On April 15, 1931, Masseria was killed at Nuova Villa Tammaro, a Coney Island restaurant in Brooklyn. While they played cards, Luciano allegedly excused himself to the bathroom, with the gunmen reportedly being Anastasia, Genovese, Adonis, and Benjamin 'Bugsy' Siegel; Ciro 'The Artichoke King' Terranova drove the getaway car, but legend has it that he was too shaken up to drive away and Siegel had to shove him out of the driver's seat. With Maranzano's blessing, Luciano took over Masseria's gang and became Maranzano's lieutenant, ending the Castellammarese War.

In Their Own Story

Rain slicks the cobblestones of Little Italy. Tommy Angelo, still in his cab driver's uniform, watches from a shadowed doorway as Salieri's men shake down a grocer. The smell of wet asphalt and cheap booze hangs in the air. A black sedan rolls past, its occupants scanning the street. Tommy's hand drifts to the revolver in his coat pocket—a gift from Paulie. The city hums with tension, a living thing that demands loyalty and punishes weakness. Tonight, the streets belong to the families.

Reader's Guide

New York is the central hub of Mafia's narrative, where players navigate the treacherous world of organized crime. The city is not just a backdrop but a tool for storytelling, with missions taking players from the opulent speakeasies of the Upper City to the grimy docks of the industrial district. Each location reinforces the game's themes of loyalty and consequence. Gameplay revolves around driving between districts, engaging in shootouts, and completing tasks for the family. The city's layout encourages exploration, though straying too far from the mission can lead to police attention. The environment is interactive, with destructible objects and period-appropriate vehicles. As a world, New York grounds the Mafia experience in a specific time and place, emphasizing atmosphere over arcade-style action. It serves as a reminder that in this world, the city is both a sanctuary and a cage—a place where fortunes are made and lives are lost.

Did You Know?

• In 1931, Salvatore Maranzano reorganized the Italian American gangs in New York City into the Five Families after winning the Castellammarese War.
• On April 15, 1931, Masseria was killed at Nuova Villa Tammaro, a Coney Island restaurant in Brooklyn, while playing cards.
• The Commission, established by Lucky Luciano after Maranzano's assassination in September 1931, consisted of the bosses of the Five Families as well as the bosses of the Chicago Outfit and the Buffalo crime family.
• In 1963, Joseph Valachi publicly disclosed the existence of New York City's Five Families at the Valachi hearings.
• The Bonanno crime family operates mainly in Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and Long Island, and has ties to the Rizzuto crime family in Quebec.