All Articles: Hitman: Absolution

Square Enix has unleashed a double tap of Hitman: Absolution information today. First, they’ve tagged the PC, PS3, and Xbox 360 game with a November 20 release date, putting Agent 47’s next mission at the tail-end of the Fall gaming frenzy.

But to assuage fans for that far-off release date, they’ve also officially announced Hitman: Sniper Challenge. The GameStop pre-order incentive was leaked a few days ago, so most of the details are already out there. But we now know that the fabulous prizes gamers will be competing for include in-game perks for Absolution such as “Controlled Breathing” and “Extended Clip.”

Oh, and a trip to Denmark to meet the team at IO Interactive (and have their likeness digitized into the next Hitman game) will be awarded to the top sniper. In-game unlockables are cool and all, but that’s a prize.

The Hitman: Sniper Challenge will be available to download on May 15 for anyone who pre-orders the PS3 or Xbox 360 version of Hitman: Absoluton from GameStop. PC players will be able to download it from Steam on August 1.

Publisher Square Enix and developer IO Interactive are teasing a major Hitman: Absolution announcement this Thursday, May 10. But an ad in the newest issue of Game Informer has beaten them to the kill.

According to the ad, gamers who pre-order Hitman: Absolution from GameStop will receive access to the Hitman: Sniper Challenge downloadable level. The best part, it appears to be a standalone mini-game (“Available NOW,” according to the ad) that comes complete with prizes for high scores.

What kind of prizes? Will the mini-game be downloadable by regular joes who don’t plan to pre-order Hitman: Absolution? We’ll have to wait until the official announcement to answer those questions.

[Source: Push Square]

Square Enix has announced that Powers Boothe (probably best known for his turn as Vice President Daniels in “24”) and Shannyn Sossamon (best known for naming her child Audio Science A Knight’s Tale) have agreed to lend their voices to Hitman: Absolution.

Boothe will play Benjamin Travis, a new handler for the International Contract Agency (ICA). His backstory is explored in the trailer above with imagery by comic artist Ben Oliver. Sossamon will voice a character named Jade that is currently a bit of a mystery, but it’s likely she’s a sassy brunette who doesn’t take any guff from anybody. That’s right, I said guff.

Hitman: Absolution will be released for the PC, PS3, and Xbox 360 later this year.

Agent 47 continues his stealthy march back to the top tier of video game assassins thanks a new trailer that debuted during this year’s Spike TV Video Game Awards. He’s even got a new nickname to help with the transition: “The Original Assassin.”

Nicknames seem a little uncouth for Agent 47, don’t they?

Hitman: Absolution will be released for the PC, PS3, and Xbox 360 in 2012. You can check out the full trailer after the break. (more…)

So you’re undercover as a police officer, wouldn’t you try to hide the very distinctive barcode tattoo on the back of your head? Apparently, not if you’re Agent 47.

Square Enix has released the first gameplay trailer for Hitman: Absolution, the first game in the series designed exclusively for the PC, PS3 and Xbox 360. In the minute-long trailer, 47 is stalking a group of cops by dressing up as one of them. The publisher has promised an uncut gameplay walkthrough will be available soon at YouTube.com/hitman.

Hitman: Absolution will be available in 2012.

After releasing a teaser trailer this morning, Square Enix has revealed a little bit more about Hitman: Absolution this afternoon.

Scheduled for release in 2012 for the PC, PS3 and Xbox 360, Hitman: Absolution that developer IO Interactive is calling a “familiar and yet significantly different experience from other Hitman games.” The game will be powered by the all-new Glacier 2 engine, which is an enhanced version of the company’s proprietary engine last seen in Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days. We’ve also learned a few storyline details:

Hitman: Absolution follows Agent 47, a cold-blooded assassin, who takes on his most dangerous contract to date. Betrayed by those he once trusted — and now hunted by the police — he suddenly finds himself at the center of a dark conspiracy and must embark on a personal journey through a corrupt and twisted world.

Hitman: Absolution will make its worldwide debut at this year’s E3 Expo, which will be held from June 7-9.