Hitman: Absolution

Hitman: Absolution
Developer(s)IO Interactive[a]
Publisher(s)Square Enix Europe[b]
Director(s)
  • Tore Blystad
  • Peter Fleckenstein
Producer(s)Hakan B. Abrak
Designer(s)Lee Varley
Artist(s)Martin Vestergaard Madsen
Writer(s)
  • Greg Nagan
  • Tore Blystad
  • Michael Vogt
Composer(s)
SeriesHitman
EngineGlacier 2
Platform(s)
ReleasePlayStation 3, Windows, Xbox 360
20 November 2012
OS X
15 May 2014
PlayStation 4, Xbox One
11 January 2019
Genre(s)Stealth
Mode(s)Single-player

Hitman: Absolution is a 2012 stealth video game developed by IO Interactive and published by Square Enix's European branch.[3] It is the fifth installment in the Hitman series and the sequel to 2006's Hitman: Blood Money. Before release, the developers stated that Absolution would be easier to play and more accessible, while still retaining hardcore aspects of the franchise.[4] The game was released on 20 November 2012 for Windows, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360.[5] On 15 May 2014, Hitman: Absolution – Elite Edition was released for OS X by Feral Interactive;[6] it contains all previously released downloadable content, including Hitman: Sniper Challenge, a "making of" documentary, and a 72-page artbook.[6] On 11 January 2019, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment released enhanced versions of Absolution and Blood Money for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One as part of the Hitman HD Enhanced Collection.[7]

Absolution's single-player campaign follows genetically engineered contract killer Agent 47 and his efforts to protect a similarly genetically enhanced teenage girl from various parties who wish to use her potential as an assassin for their own ends, including a private military company, several criminal syndicates, and 47's own former employers, the International Contract Agency (ICA). For the first time in the series, the game featured an online component called "Contracts", which allowed players to create their own custom objectives for any of the missions in the base game and share them with others.

The game was met with a polarized reception upon release, with most of the praise focusing on its graphics, environments and locations, as well as varied gameplay options. However, many critics and players disliked the game for its narrative, issues with the disguise system, and the game’s linear structure as opposed to the open ended nature of previous installments. As of March 2013, the game had sold over 3.6 million copies. Following Absolution's reception, the series received a soft reboot in 2016's Hitman, which despite being set in the same continuity as previous installments, returned to a more open-ended style of gameplay and featured a new storyline.

  1. ^ "Hitman: Absolution". Nixxes. Archived from the original on 6 September 2019. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  2. ^ IO Interactive (20 November 2012). Hitman: Absolution (Windows/PlayStation 3/Xbox 360/OS X). Square Enix. Scene: Ending credits.
  3. ^ Johnny Cullen (10 May 2011). "Square Enix announces Hitman: Absolution with teaser". VG247. Archived from the original on 10 February 2020. Retrieved 20 May 2011.
  4. ^ Dutton, Fred (27 May 2011). "Hitman: Absolution to be "more accessible"". Eurogamer.net. Archived from the original on 12 November 2020. Retrieved 21 July 2012.
  5. ^ Harman, Stace (10 May 2012). "Hitman: Sniper Challenge official, launching next week". VG247. Archived from the original on 31 October 2018. Retrieved 10 May 2012.
  6. ^ a b "Hitman: Absolution – Elite Edition for Mac now out in the field" Archived 16 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine.
  7. ^ Briesenick, Stefan (11 January 2019). "IOI explains changes in Hitman HD Enhanced Collection". Gamereactor. Archived from the original on 11 January 2019. Retrieved 11 January 2019.


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