Hitman to launch March 11th as an episodic game experience

Well, now we at least know what’s going on with Square Enix and Io-Interactive’s new Hitman title for the PS4, Xbox One and PC. It’s officially going episodic, with the first batch of content launching on March 11th, and then additional content and “locations “being released throughout the year.

There will be a full disc version, but that won’t be available until the end of the year. The Intro Pack will contain the Prologue and Paris levels and will be priced at $15. Each additional location will cost $10. Gamers can purchase the whole thing up front for $60 if they wish.

Square Enix also confirmed that the PS4 and PC beta is still on track for a February 12th and 19th respectively, with guaranteed access for those who pre-order the Intro pack or the full game.

Check out the beta trailer and a couple of screens below and read on for the announcement.

Hitman beta trailer:

Hitman beta screens:

Io-Interactive today released further details for HITMAN which launches on March 11^th for the PlayStation 4 computer entertainment system, Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, and Windows PC.

A change to the release structure, sees HITMAN become a truly episodic AAA game experience, with a major live component. Where players will perform contract hits on powerful, high-profile targets in exotic locations around the world.

Starting with a Prologue Mission and a Paris location on March 11^th, followed by the next location, set in Italy releasing in April and then Morocco releasing in May. From there HITMAN will deliver regular monthly content updates, including three additional locations; Thailand, the US and Japan until the season concludes in Japan later in 2016. With weekly live events and additional planned content in between the monthly updates.

?We decided to take the full leap and publish HITMAN as a truly episodic game experience,? said Hannes Seifert, Head of Studio at Io-Interactive. ?Part of that decision is for that little bit of extra time to ensure every location we release is at the quality level fitting for a HITMAN game. But the main driving reason is that this 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.?

A new Intro Pack now contains Prologue and Paris levels and will release at the new price of $15 (or local equivalent). Each subsequent location will be priced at $10 as an add-on item to the Intro Pack*. Alternatively, players can buy the Full Experience up front for $60. This includes all of this year?s content as it?s released, and guarantees them not to miss any live or bonus content.

The disc version of HITMAN will ship at the end of 2016.

PlayStation users will also gain access to The Sarajevo Six. 6 Bonus Contracts, one of which will be released with each location and sees Agent 47 travel the world in pursuit of six former members of a paramilitary unit called CICADA in this self-contained side-story exclusive for PlayStation 4 users.

For players wanting to get into the game early, the HITMAN beta starts on February 12^th on PlayStation 4 and February 19^th on PC. Players can guarantee access to the beta by pre-ordering the Full Experience or the new Intro Pack.

* If players buy the Intro Pack but then want to get into everything the Full Experience offers, they can also choose to buy the Upgrade Pack for $50.