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‘Hitman: Game of the Year Edition’ adds new ‘Patient Zero’ campaign
When developer IO Interactive separated from publisher Square Enix, it got to keep the popular Hitman franchise, giving the now-independent studio control over the 2016 stealth shooter game it developed. Back in June, the company released the first episode of Hitman for free to attract new customers, and now it's putting out a "Game of the Year" version of the game for PS4, Xbox One and PC on November 7th. The new edition will include the entire first season, a brand new 'Patient Zero' campaign, new Escalation Contracts, new weapons, new suits, new challenges and improved graphic and lighting effects.
Dabble in the murderous world of 'Hitman' for free
Since it was announced that publisher Square Enix was selling off Hitman developer IO Interactive, the studio's fate has been uncertain. With last week's news that IO bought the Hitman license, things have been looking up, though. And now, in an effort to get more people playing (and purchasing) its fantastic back-to-basics reboot of the long-running stealth franchise, the newly independent studio is giving it away. Well, a portion of the murderous puzzle game, at least. Specifically, Hitman's the ICA Facility section of the first episode is available for free on Steam, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
First season of 'Hitman' ends on Halloween, in Japan
The first season of Hitman's episodic experiment comes to a close on October 31st -- no tricks. This final installment takes place in Hokkaido, Japan and according to publisher Square Enix, it's "the culmination of everything players will have learnt in terms of both gameplay and story." So hopefully you've been paying attention. The mission takes place in a remote compound replete with Zen gardens, an organic sushi restaurant (fingers crossed you can poison the shashimi) and a Japanese hot spring.
Oculus makes achievements a part of Gear VR and Rift games
Oculus is joining the ranks of Xbox Live, PlayStation Network, Steam and even GameCenter. That's right: Rift and Gear VR games are adding achievements. They're live in a handful of games now including Minecraft and Hitman Go and it'll only be a matter of time before they become the rule rather than the exception. As The Verge writes, the update will be rolling out over the next few weeks, and you'll be able to opt out of sharing the meta-challenge activities if you want. You know, if you're ever embarrassed of playing the inevitable Candy Crush VR in the future.
If you excel at 'Hitman' games, it's because of repetition
If you've ever played a Hitman game, you've probably ended up at the end of a mission with a pile of bodies, your target dead in the center of a mansion, and errant guards prowling around to take you out. Nothing to be ashamed of. It happens to everyone. But how could you ever truly channel Agent 47, ruthless assassin as he is, when you can barely get the "stealth" portion of the game right?
'Hitman' will take you to Morocco on May 31st
Where do you go after murdering the French fashion scene and defending the art of assassination in Italy? For Agent 47, the hired killer that defines the Hitman games, that's up to his handlers -- and on May 31st, they're sending him to Morocco.
'Hitman Go' lands on PS4, Vita and PC next week
Hitman Go is an incredible mobile title that launched in 2014 and spawned a new line of subtle strategy games from developer Square Enix Montreal, including Lara Croft Go. Now, the Hitman Go: Definitive Edition is heading to PlayStation 4, Vita and PC via Steam on February 23rd in the US (February 24th in Europe). The Definitive Edition includes the full game and all of its add-on content, featuring updated visuals, for $8 (€8 / £6.50).
'Hitman' blows his cover next week on PlayStation 4
The cold, calculated killer known only as Agent 47 returns to do what he does best sooner than we thought. That's assuming you have a PlayStation 4 and have pre-ordered the next game starring the cloned assassin, of course. While it might be going a different direction in terms of structure (multi-season, downloadable and episodic versus a traditional retail release), publisher Square Enix is sadly clinging to old methods of promo.
Square Enix Montreal gets what makes mobile games great
Apple recently named Lara Croft Go its game of the year, and deservedly so. But the back-to-basics 2D puzzler wasn't developer Square Enix Montreal's first stab at mobile gaming. The studio was initially formed to work on a now-cancelled Hitman project for consoles and then transitioned to making premium smartphone and tablet games.Since releasing Hitman Go in 2014 the team has been quietly kicking a lot of ass in the space, launching the excellent Hitman Sniper and Lara Croft Go within roughly two months of each other. It's this type of repeat success that's afforded lead programmer Antoine Routon and his mobile-exclusive team at Square Enix Montreal the freedom to tinker with publisher Square Enix's biggest properties in fresh ways."We have a lot of creative freedom we acquired by delivering good games," he says. "What's the opposite of street cred? Exec cred?" he asks, laughing.
'Hitman' delayed to March 2016
IO Interactive needs a few more months to bulk out the new Hitman -- the studio has pushed the game's release date back from December 2015 to March 2016. The delay applies to all versions: PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Steam. Wherever and whenever you end up playing Hitman, it's going to be a slightly different experience for the series. IO Interactive and publisher Square Enix plan to release Hitman in chunks, starting with a large initial launch. Afterward, the game's remaining locations will be released over time. The new Hitman's tagline is, "Enter a world of assassination," which feeds into the idea of a constantly updated, evolving landscape.
The new 'Hitman' will be an 'ever-expanding world of assassination'
At Square Enix's E3 press conference today, developer IO Interactive revealed more details about the upcoming Hitman, an assassination-based shooter. But for this new title, due out December 8th on PS4, Xbox One and Steam, the developer's taking a different tactic that meshes well with the game's digital release: It'll constantly evolve. That's right, IO Interactive will continually release updates that will add new locations, missions and hits. And it's worth noting that some of these new targets will be a one-time deal (read: permadeath). IO will also take cues from the Hitman community to inform these future updates and also to work together to take out targets. Hitman is available to pre-order today. Check here for everything happening at E3 2015!
Report: Hitman film not blowing its cover until August 2015
Hitman: Agent 47 is the latest silver-screen video game adaptation to go the way of the delay, according to multiple reports. Hollywood Reporter and Deadline says the film based on IO Interactive's stealth series is due on August 28, 2015, after 20th Century Fox pushed it back six months from its original date of February 27. For those of you just tuning in, this isn't Hitman's first showing on the big screen. Indeed, we're coming up to the 7th anniversary of the first Hitman film, a critically panned affair as attested to by its 14% score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Hitman Go's 'Airport Box' update filled with 15 new levels
Hitman Go received an update that brings 15 new levels to Square Enix Montreal's puzzler on iOS today. The "Airport Box" update will soon arrive on Android, and is the first content update for the game since it launched in April. Airport Box also adds a new "civilian mode," moving walkways, new enemies and the ability to skip turns to the diorama-like strategy game inspired by the Hitman series. Hitman Go's new levels can be unlocked through natural progression in the game, or purchased for $0.99 (£0.69, 0.99 euros). Following the success of Hitman Go, the developer announced Hitman: Sniper in early June, which is expected to launch for free later this year. As Square Enix Montreal told Joystiq at E3, its design concepts could allow the studio to approach any Square Enix property with a "new recipe" for mobile platforms. [Image: Square Enix]
Hitman Go dev locks and loads Hitman: Sniper
Square Enix Montreal announced a new game based on the Hitman series for mobile devices today, Hitman: Sniper. As with the developer's recent approach to mobile in Hitman Go, Sniper is "tailor-built for touch screen devices." It plans to show off the game on undisclosed smartphones and tablets at E3 next week. Hitman: Sniper is a "massively competitive sniping game that will focus on the subtlety of execution," according to the developer. Players will complete contracts that include any number of assignments and targets, each expected to be worth replaying multiple times to topple other players' scores on leaderboards. Square Enix Montreal drew comparisons to IO Interactive's Hitman: Sniper Challenge, which launched ahead of Hitman: Absolution, and that those familiar with the stand-alone game will "have a pretty good idea of the sort of action you can expect" from Hitman: Sniper. When the developer announced Hitman Go in February, it noted that it was working on "something else" that fit "perfectly within the Hitman fantasy." The sniping game sure seems to fit that bill, and will launch "later this year" for free with optional in-app purchases. Square Enix Montreal just began offering Hitman Go on Android devices yesterday and is "working hard on the next set of levels" for the game. [Image: Square Enix]
Hitman Go now accepting contracts on Android gadgets
Having already surprised the iOS audience with its pleasantly novel take on contract killing, Hitman Go is now ready to dispatch targets on Android devices. Unlike prior games in the stealthy series, Hitman Go is more akin to a puzzle game, where players must carefully maneuver the bald assassin through stages that resemble a traditional board game. The core goals of remaining undetected and finding the most efficient means to kill a target remain paramount, but Hitman Go infuses these traditional elements with a quiet subtlety not found in prior entries. "The play style recalls the strategic thinking of the console/PC games, but does so with an entirely new style that fits touch-based devices like a fine leather glove," wrote Anthony in our 4 of 5 stars review. Those interested in picking up Hitman Go can now find the game on the Google Play Store at a price of $5. Be careful not to confuse Hitman Go with the similarly-titled Hit Mango, a 2D fighter in which you beat fruit into a pulp. [Image: Square Enix]
IO's next Hitman sitting E3 out, first concept art published
IO Interactive revealed the next, sandbox-rooted Hitman game isn't ready to show at this year's E3 conference, so don't go scanning for barcode-heads in two weeks' time. Still, the Danish studio is ready to show the first concept art for the game, featuring a glitzy-looking shindig in Central Europe. You'll be able to creep around the entire building, IO claims, and the structure itself is larger than any location in Hitman: Absolution. As for "Sanguine," which you can see written on the banner in the picture, it derives from the Latin for bloody. Is that implying we'll see more of a Blood Money vibe to the new game, or are we reading too much into an extraneous sign? Definitely the latter? Okay, then.
Joystiq Weekly: Mario's links, socially conscious awards and a mobile hitman
Welcome to the Joystiq Weekly wrap-up where we present some of the best stories and biggest gaming news from our sister-publication.
Hitman GO is really killing it
If you've ever played a Hitman game, your eyebrow probably immediately raised at the prospect of a new Hitman game for iOS. The stealth action titles for PC and consoles focus on picking off guards and taking out assassination targets, and in that way Hitman GO stays true to the franchise. Everything else about the game, however, is completely different. Hitman GO is a board game of sorts, with turn-based puzzles taking the place of actual sneaking and hiding. You control your character piece, the titular assassin Agent 47, on a board where your movements are restricted to pre-determined grids. Each level has its own layout, with guards who either stand still or patrol, and either an assassination target or an exit slot you must travel to in order to proceed to the next level. You can trick guards with noise generating items like cans and rocks, and either make your way around them or take them out in order to clear your path. The puzzles range from very simply early on to mind-bendingly challenging, forcing you to memorize guard patterns and use the rare pieces of cover to your advantage. Besting a level is very satisfying, especially when you take out your primary assassination target -- who are always dressed in red -- with Ave Maria playing in the background, and GO manages to feel like a real Hitman title despite a complete change in format. The most striking thing about the presentation of GO is how gorgeous the faux board game looks on a Retina display. You feel like you're actually moving pieces around the board, and the ability to tweak your viewing angle adds to this greatly. Hitman GO is available for US$4.99, and the only in-app purchases on offer are in the form of hint packs, walkthroughs, and early level unlocks, but each board is so much fun to play and beat that you'll have little reason to consider it.
Hitman Go launches April 17 on iOS, Android 'shortly after'
Square Enix Montreal will launch mobile strategy game Hitman Go on iOS on Thursday, April 17. Based on the publisher's popular Hitman series, the diorama-style, turn-based game will cost $5 (£3 / 4.50 euros). Announced in February, the first game from the developer has players navigating fixed, grid-like spaces while using familiar tools from the series, such as Agent 47's Silverballers. Hitman Go will include eight special "Curtains Down" levels based on Hitman: Blood Money. While Square Enix didn't set a release date for it, the Android version of the game will arrive "shortly after" it launches on the App Store. [Image: Square Enix]
Steam weekend sale discounts Deus Ex, Hitman and other Square Enix games
Steam is hosting a Square Enix publisher sale this weekend, discounting games in the Hitman, Just Cause, Legacy of Kain and Deus Ex series, among others. On now until Monday, March 31 at 1:00 p.m. EDT, the Director's Cut edition of Deus Ex: Human Revolution ($4.99), the Just Cause Collection ($7.49), the Sleeping Dogs Collection ($9.99) and the Hitman Collection ($11.24) are each 75 percent off. Individual games and DLC packs in each bundle are either 75 or 76 percent off as well, for those that already own pieces of the collections. The sale also includes the Dungeon Siege Complete Pack and Legacy of Kain Collection, both 60 percent off ($7.99 each). Additionally, The Last Remnant and Mini Ninjas are both discounted to $3.99 for the weekend, 60 percent off their previous prices. The Steam sale overlaps Square Enix's other sale on the Humble Store, which ends tomorrow and features Tomb Raider's Game of the Year edition for $12. [Image: Square Enix]
