Hitman 3 Elusive Target Arcade and more coming with Year 2

By Heidi Nicholas,

IO Interactive has both unveiled the Hitman trilogy and announced what we can expect to see in Hitman 3 Year 2, which kicks off later this month on January 20th.

Elusive Target Arcade arrives on January 20th as a new game mode that IOI says "takes the Elusive Target concept to the next level, mixes up the formula and introduces new challenges and unlockable rewards — all whilst keeping the essence of what makes Elusive Targets exciting and interesting to play." You'll be given consecutive Elusive Targets, and if you fail, you'll be given a 12-hour lockout to "keep the high-stakes gameplay that is a hallmark of Elusive Targets." Arcade Contracts are also being implemented as a permanent feature. On January 20th, there will be three Arcade Contracts, with each one featuring targets from Hitman 1, 2, or 3.

Freelancer, meanwhile, will arrive in spring 2022 as a new single-player mode that "introduces roguelike elements, strategic planning and a customisable safehouse." One of the new maps will be Agent 47's Safehouse, which will be customisable and functions as the location for your "pre-mission planning," with Agent 47 able to use a mission hub to view Freelancer campaigns. The last location you travel to will be where you find the "Leader of the enterprise." IOI adds that campaign missions have been adjusted to match Freelancer, with new NPCs like suppliers, along with other decidedly less helpful NPCs. The further you move through Freelancer, the more areas of the Safehouse you can access. "Whether you want to pick out a new suit, browse and test your weapons at the firing range or make changes to your décor, it’s all possible." Like Elusive Target Arcade, Freelancer keeps the pressure on: in Freelancer, if you leave behind your gear, you lose it for good.

We'll also apparently learn more about a new map, codenamed Rocky, later in Year 2. Finally, IOI also unveiled the Hitman trilogy, which lumps Hitman 1, 2, and 3 into one bundle, which will be available on January 20th for PS5 and PS4. Overall, there's a lot to look forward to in Hitman 3 — which bit are you most excited for? Let us know in the comments!

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Written by Heidi Nicholas

Hey, I'm Heidi! I've just finished studying a Masters in English Literature, but I've been obsessed with gaming since long before then. I began on the PS2 with Spyro, before graduating to the Xbox 360 and disappearing into Skyrim. I'm now a loyal RPG fan, but I still like to explore other genres — when I'm not playing Assassin's Creed Odyssey, or being lured back into Red Dead Redemption 2 or The Witcher 3!