Mafia: The Old Country’s “Free Ride” update goes live today — new mode, races, Photo Mode, in-car view, and “Classic” difficulty

Following yesterday’s announcement, the Free Ride update for Mafia: The Old Country is going live today, November 20. This free drop adds a dedicated Free Ride mode, car and horse races, combat and stealth challenges, in-car (cockpit) driving, a full Photo Mode, plus a throwback “Classic” difficulty. You’re also getting new weapons, charms, cars, and outfits — rolling out to PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S owners.

Free Ride functions as a separate mode built around open exploration and replayable activities across Valle Dorata. With Cinema Siciliano, the entire presentation can switch to a black-and-white, period film tone, while the in-car camera makes driving feel more intimate and cinematic. “Classic” doesn’t just boost enemy toughness — it leans into stricter resource management (ammo/health) and fewer UI helpers, aimed squarely at series veterans who miss the old-school tension curve.

The new challenges span time trials, combat/stealth routes, and secret tasks. Dev notes also nudge players to poke around Enzo’s apartment: scattered notes reportedly point toward a hidden piece of content. The update ships with a Photo Mode featuring granular controls (composition, focus, depth of field) for capturing Sicily’s turn-of-the-century vibe.

Publishers pegged deployment for this evening (8:00 PT / 11:00 ET / 17:00 CET). In addition, PlayStation Plus Premium members will get a short Game Trial starting tomorrow (November 21). A fresh trailer recaps the headline additions and the spirit of the freeform loop.

Free Ride also reads like a reputation fixer: at launch, many players wished the game had more room for freeform experimentation and repeatable activities in such a richly built setting. This drop aims to carve out a satisfying explore–challenge–reward loop — whether you’re here for contemplative street photography or the sharp bite of Classic difficulty.

Sources:
– PC Guru – Huge free update hits Mafia: The Old Country
– PlayStation Blog – Mafia: The Old Country’s Free Ride update launches November 20
– 2K Games – Free Ride Update details
– Gematsu – ‘Free Ride’ update launches November 20
– Video Games Chronicle – Free Ride adds new mode and content
– Wccftech – Free Ride brings Classic difficulty, new races, challenges