GameSpotIn a last minute switch up, Square Enix and Io interactive have announced that the new Hitman title will be going for an episodic structure, as opposed to a full game on release. With this comes a new pricing structure, and a horde of angry internet commenters. Strain your ears and you can hear them typing now.
So now, Hitman Episode One will still launch digitally on March 11 as planned. For £11.99 ($15), you’ll get a prologue mission and a Paris location for your troubles. After that, expect the content to trickle through in monthly instalments, for an additional £7.99 ($10) per location. You’ll get Italy in April, and Morocco in May. The season will conclude in Japan later in 2016.
Each location will come with its own missions and weekly live events. Presumably there’ll be more than enough to keep you going until the next month’s content hits.
Hannes Seifert, studio head at Io says:
[The main reason behind this decision] is that will allow us to create a living game that will expand and evolve over time and establish a foundation for the future – this is the first game in a storyline which will continue and expand with future Hitman games.
You’ll be able to get the full game and access to all upcoming content for a one time price of £44.99 ($60), and a physical version of Hitman will ship at the end of 2016. Meanwhile, PlayStation 4 users will be getting exclusive access to six bonus contracts (one for each location).
A beta is still planned to go ahead in February before launch. PS4 gamers will be getting it on the February 12, while PC gamers get their turn on February 19. Beta access can be guaranteed by either buying the intro pack or full game.
Io also confirmed details of a nifty collector’s edition available alongside the intro pack. You’ll get the full game, a 10 inch Agent 47 statue, an art book, and a very swanky red tie that you should by no means put on and then go around garotting people.
Ewan Moore is a journalist at UNILAD Gaming who still quite hasn’t gotten out of his mid 00’s emo phase. After graduating from the University of Portsmouth in 2015 with a BA in Journalism & Media Studies (thanks for asking), he went on to do some freelance words for various places, including Kotaku, Den of Geek, and TheSixthAxis, before landing a full time gig at UNILAD in 2016.