Series veterans looking forward to playing Hitman 3 on PC may have to repurchase content from Hitman 2 if they want the full experience, unlike their more fortunate console counterparts. Despite the rocky road since the first game hit in 2016, the incoming release of Hitman 3 will complete the trilogy on the developer's terms and let them pursue other franchises in the future.
Because IO Interactive is now without a major publisher backing their latest game, the company has made deals with several platform holders in order to help fund the release. On the console side of things, Sony has marketed the game as if it were a PlayStation exclusive, even though the game is coming to Xbox and Switch day and date. The game will feature a PlayStation VR mode for PlayStation 4 players, a first in the series. PC is where things get more tricky, as IO has signed with Epic Games for the usual exclusivity deal on the Fortnite maker's storefront. Hitman 3 is meant to carry forward progress from the previous two games in the series, but Steam users will be in for a long wait on all fronts.
IO Interactive is going over the process by which players will be able to keep their progress in all versions of Hitman 3. Console players will find the process more intuitive, as their digital storefronts will just detect purchases and grant access to those levels in the new game. On PC, the original Hitman did see release on the Epic Games Store as a free promotion when the Hitman 3 deal was announced, but Hitman 2 never received the same courtesy. This means that those who want to play with all the levels on the Epic Store will have to repurchase the levels in the form of Access Pass DLC.
IO Interactive states in the guide that the Access Pass will be on heavy discount in the first week of launch as well as several other points throughout the exclusivity period on the Epic Games Store. Regardless, many players are upset considering that the developer has promised that players would be able to transfer their progress free of charge from both games. The developer revealed this potential extra purchase five days before the launch of the game, ensuring that many players may find out about it only after they've already secured their purchase on launch day.
Because of the shifting nature of PC storefronts and the deal that Epic is giving out to developers, IO Interactive is in a tough spot regarding Hitman 3. There's no indication that this is simply a case of the team wanting more money from their player base. If anything, going with an exclusive Epic deal shows that it's simply trying to make the numbers work as it move forward as an independent studio. Even so, it's unfortunate that PC players will have to jump through financial hoops that players on console won't have to in order to get the full experience.
Hitman 3 will be available for PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC, and Google Stadia on January 20, 2020.
Source: IO Interactive
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