Hitman 3 Year 2 includes Elusive Target Arcade, Freelancer mode, and more
IO Interactive has unveiled its plans for the second year of Hitman 3 support.
Year 2 gets underway on January 20th with the release of the Elusive Target Arcade mode. In a twist on the Elusive Target formula, this mode tasks you with taking down consecutive Elusive Targets, one contract after the other. Each one must be completed to proceed to the next, but, if players fail, they will have to wait 12 hours to try again from the beginning.
“Our aims with this game mode are; to give players the chance to engage and play Elusive Target content more frequently, provide a new challenge for long-time players in the Elusive Target game mode, create a new type of recurring content that will reward players with desirable unlocks,” the developer explains.
At launch, the Arcade will feature three contracts to complete with each focusing on one entry in the World of Assassination Trilogy. More contracts will be released throughout the year.
Also arriving on January 20th is VR support for PC. VR is available for all three games in the trilogy and will support “the most popular hardware.”
“We’ve incorporated VR specific setups to some Hitman controls to make them feel as intuitive as possible and natural during gameplay. For example, you use two hands to throw items; aim with your left and ‘fling and release’ with your right,” IO Interactive added. “Whether you throw straight-on, a ninja-like sidethrow or any other way, it’s going to feel satisfying.”
Looking forward to spring, IO Interactive plans to release another new mode for Hitman 3 titled Freelancer. This mode introduces roguelike elements, planning, and a customizable safehouse. The safehouse acts as a new map for Hitman 3 that players can explore, with new areas and customization options unlocking as players progress through the mode.
Using this safehouse, players can access the mission hub which contains all of the currently available Freelancer campaigns. Each campaign represents a criminal enterprise from the World of Assassination and will take Agent 47 on a globetrotting journey across several locations. Players can choose to tackle the locations in any order, with the final one being home to the leader of the enterprise.
The locations in Freelancer mode have new NPC types that will either help or hinder, safes filled with items, and even other NPC assassins. Unlike other Hitman missions, gear in Freelancer is not persistent, so anything not brought back to the safehouse is gone forever. More information about the mode will be shared closer to launch.
Finally, IO Interactive teased a new map for Hitman 3 that has the codename “Rocky.” Expect a full reveal later this year.
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