Hitman developer IO Interactive has released the first batch of information on its next entry in the stealth-action franchise starring the iconic bald assassin, Agent 47.
Over on the franchise's official site, the studio confirmed that Contracts Mode, a game option first introduced in Hitman: Absolution, will be making a return. In an open letter to fans, IO Interactive teased what is next for Agent 47, saying:
In the next game you will experience a globetrotting Agent 47 at the prime of his career – the apex predator stalking his prey across the world, with the support of his long-term handler Diana Burnwood and the whole of the ICA.
The game concentrates on the core Hitman fantasy of using a wide range of tools to take out a diverse group of targets across expansive, exotic locations around the world. We are building this game on the backbone of the Glacier 2 engine, using the best parts and what we have learnt through Hitman: Absolution and drawing inspiration from past titles like Contracts and Blood Money to fulfill the core Hitman fantasy. That means we’re packing in an extreme level of detail on the largest levels we have ever built for a Hitman game. We’ve adopted an open, non-linear level design approach to the game, ensuring the game will play out across huge, checkpoint-free, sandbox levels. Our aim is to create living, breathing and believable levels which will allow gamers to play around with the AI to create those unique moments every fan of the Hitman franchise loves.
It sounds awfully ambitious, but I'd expect nothing less from IO Interactive as it gears up for its first big release on new hardware. Are you psyched for a new entry in the Hitman franchise? How do you think IO can improve the series? Let us know in the comments below.
