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IO Interactive explains the HITMAN situation

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Hitman

There’s a new Hitman game, bringing everyone’s favourite bald, murderous (and dashing in a black suit) psychopath Agent 47 back to gamers’ screens. It’s going to be a little different though. Instead of being released as a straight up retail game, it’ll be released digitally, with new content being added in 2016, and beyond. Not quite Early Access, and not quite episodic. It’s caused both consternation and confusion for Hitman fans.

Looking to clear things up, developer IO Interactive has explained in detail how the game will work, after being obtuse and vague since the game’s announcement at E3.

Here’s the skinny, in Q&A format:

How exactly are you releasing HITMAN?


We’re doing things a bit differently, as you may have read in our ‘Announcing HITMAN’ blog post. HITMAN will launch on PS4, Xbox One and PC on December 8th this year as a digital download. That’s when the experience will begin. And it’s really important to us that this is understood as a ‘beginning’.
What we release on December 8th is not the full game. It’s a sizeable chunk of it. Throughout 2016 we’ll release more locations and missions until the story arc is done and finished. All of that content is included in the $60 price.

Is HITMAN an ‘early access’ game?

No. Early access can often mean something unfinished or unpolished. That’s simply not the approach we’re taking. All of the content we release live to our players will be complete and polished, whether that’s the locations and missions we release on December 8th, the live events or the locations and missions that we will release in 2016. It will always be a polished Hitman experience.

Is HITMAN episodic now?

We think the word ‘episodic’ sets up the expectation that we will sell individual content drops for individual prices but that’s not something we’re planning to do. That said, there are some episodic elements to the story in the sense that it’s delivered in chunks over time, so experiencing the story will probably feel episodic. But there is also a ton of other content including live events, which have nothing to do with the story. We’ll also be improving and changing the game constantly whilst you’re playing it. Our ambition is to have a stream of content available from December 8th until the story arc is finished.

What does it all cost? How much do I have to pay to experience everything?


The entire game will cost you $60 or the regional equivalent.
That $60 includes everything we create in this story arc; from what we release on December 8th through to the end of the story arc in 2016 and all the live events too. There’s no micro-transactions or hidden costs in there. No extra paid DLC on top either. It’s one package, all-in for $60. We want that to be simple and clear and it was important for us to be up-front about that.

Is HITMAN digital only?

 

No, we’re leading with digital, so it’s ‘digital first’. At some point in 2016, we’ll release the game on a disc.

Can I play HITMAN offline or do you have to be connected all the time?


You will be able to play the locations and missions offline. To play the live events, download updates or see things like leaderboards, you’ll need you to be online.

I’m both interested, and sceptical all at the same time. While I’d very much love to jump in to the shoes of the silent killer once again, this “stream of content” stuff doesn’t really sit all that well with me. It’s a bit like they’re selling half a game, and adding content as time goes on (thankfully, without charging for that extra content).

That’s what the hairy, miserable and cynical bastard in me feels, but I very, very much hope to be wrong. Initial response to the closed alpha has been positive, with many saying that the game is a little more like Blood Money than Absolution. I’m cool with that.

Last Updated: July 10, 2015

20 Comments

  1. Alien Emperor Trevor

    July 10, 2015 at 09:11

    So they want you to pay upfront for what they might release. And of course, it won’t be reviewed because it’s not in the base game. So… you don’t know what you’re getting, you don’t know if it’s any good, but you must pay now, and if it doesn’t sell well what happens? Is this what they call “games as a service”?

    Fuck off, not falling for it.

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      July 10, 2015 at 09:17

      Less and less people will buy games day one. They’ll be content to sit back and wait for the waters to calm after the game releases. I know I’m getting closer to that phase.

      Reply

      • WitWolfy

        July 10, 2015 at 10:10

        Sometimes it feels like we’re going back to the Atari 2600 days. Paying expensive prices for games that dont last you a fortnight.

        Reply

    • BurninZ

      July 10, 2015 at 09:35

      And they are really not catering for us 3’rd world countries. How big will the downloads be? I know not everybody has a crappy telkom line like i do, but game downloads for me take a considerable time. 4 – 5 gigs takes a full day of downloading (that’s if Eskom is kind enough not to switch the power off). I will just wait for the disc copy, and reviews on the full game to ensure i don’t have another “Evolve” situation on my hands

      Reply

  2. Hammersteyn

    July 10, 2015 at 09:11

    They forgot the most important question namely, Will this game make me forget Timothy Olyphant’s portrayal of Hitman?

    Reply

    • Sageville

      July 10, 2015 at 09:29

      Those scars are still fresh…

      Reply

      • Dutch Matrix

        July 10, 2015 at 09:30

        Come on. Tim wasn’t that bad! I would have liked to see an uglier actor play 47 though.

        Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        July 10, 2015 at 09:47

        We should start a support group

        Reply

        • Deceased

          July 10, 2015 at 10:52

          Hi, I’ve watched Hitman, and I am Deceased 😐

          Reply

          • Hammersteyn

            July 10, 2015 at 10:58

            XD

  3. JHN

    July 10, 2015 at 09:12

    So we are back to here buy this piece of probably shit, and we promise you will get more and better stuff. Here is a revolutionary idea finish the game completely, test it work out the bugs , then fucking release it.

    Reply

    • Dutch Matrix

      July 10, 2015 at 09:23

      Annnddd did you put Pink Unicorn on your Xmas wish list too? XD

      Reply

  4. Peter Pan

    July 10, 2015 at 09:12

    Semantics, and still confusing!

    Reply

  5. Jonah Cash

    July 10, 2015 at 09:56

    Hahahaha!! This just joined Batman on the list of games that I will wait for the complete experience before buying!! Well done gents, you have all saved me mega bucks over the last 6 months.

    Reply

  6. WitWolfy

    July 10, 2015 at 10:08

    Uhhh… So the game is incomplete but shareholders want the $$$ NOAW!!!! AS IN NOAW!!!!

    Reply

  7. Rock789

    July 10, 2015 at 11:03

    Hahahahaha… No!

    Reply

  8. UltimateNinjaPandaDudeGuy

    July 10, 2015 at 11:13

    I am very excited for the game, but I will wait till it is all released and reviewed.

    Reply

  9. Gr8_Balls_o_KFM_Fire

    July 10, 2015 at 21:50

    Uhhh no thanks. Thats why you announced the game so close to “release”. Because its only level one! This business model will NOT work.

    Vokofpolisiekar

    Reply

  10. collinjack

    July 12, 2015 at 05:32

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    July 12, 2015 at 05:32

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