The next iteration of IO Interactive’s esteemed stealth sandbox series Hitman has been properly showcased today for the very first time. Today’s presentation offers a glimpse at some of Agent 47’s new tricks as he travels the world yet again in search of high-value targets.
Although, in terms of new content and game mechanics, there isn’t a great deal here I’m seeing beyond a special camera, which, according to a pres release today, allows him to “open locks and analyze your performance with the return of post-mission Playstyles that are awarded based on how you complete missions.”
But perhaps the lack of new major new features isn’t entirely surprising given that it has felt as though for some time IOI has nailed a Hitman blueprint that its following adores.
Hitman 3, then, so far looks like a more polished iteration of what has come before rather than something radically different from its predecessors. As ever, the design is focused on facilitating player choice in terms of how they’re able to approach each assassination, and to that end, it certainly seems as though we’re set to experience the most open-ended iteration of the series’ signature game design yet.
Agent 47 is shown scaling buildings, hacking computers, blending into the environment, and generally using all manner of unorthodox techniques to terminate his targets.
Hitman 3 is slated to launch early next year, Jan. 20 for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox One, Google Stadia, and PC. Hitman 3 will also be coming to Nintendo Switch, playable via cloud streaming technology.
A recent article over on the PlayStation Blog confirms the game will make use of the PS5’s adaptive triggers, as well as offer full PSVR support.
For more on the game, you can check out the reveal of Chongqing in Hitman 3’s first trailer which debuted last month.