Hitman Sniper Assassins - What We Know So Far
Following the success of the final entry in IO Interactive's rebooted Hitman trilogy, Hitman 3, Square Enix announced at the Square Enix Presents event in March that a new mobile game called Hitman Sniper Assassins is on the way.
For anyone who isn't already in the loop, the Hitman series follows Agent 47, a conspicuously bald, stern-faced assassin who travels the globe hunting down high-profile targets in exciting locations. The fans and critics have long celebrated the series for its open-ended approach to completing objectives and terminating targets, alongside the almost puzzle-like structure that some of its fan-favorite missions take on. Previous mobile games based on the Hitman franchise, such as Hitman GO, have focused on this puzzle element to create a board game-inspired experience that revolved around enemy avoidance. However, based on the title, Hitman Sniper Assassins may have more in common with the 2015 mobile game Hitman Sniper.
There aren't many details confirmed about Hitman Sniper Assassins, but Square Enix has given some clues about what to expect. Here is everything we've sorted out about Hitman Sniper Assassins.
What is the release date for Hitman Sniper Assassins?
While the Square Enix Presents event didn't offer many hints towards the release date beyond a teaser with the words "Coming 2021" towards the end, the company elaborated in a press release sent out after the reveal. In that document, lead game designer Fahad Khan noted that, "2021 will be one of the best years to be a fan of the Hitman franchise."
From those two pieces of information, Hitman fans can be reasonably confident that Hitman Sniper Assassins will arrive this year — at some point. However, in that same press release, there was one last clue. Dominic Allaire, Square Enix Montréal's executive producer, said, "Project Hitman Sniper Assassins will be an evolutionary leap forward for the genre, and we can't wait for players to share our excitement when they get their hands on it in the coming months."
Considering Square Enix Montréal sent out that press release on March 18, 2021, a release "in the coming months" would likely be sometime in the mid-summer or early fall. Fans will have to wait for more concrete information, but a mobile release ahead of the frenzied holiday season seems likely.
Is there a trailer for Hitman Sniper Assassins?
As of right now, the most significant source of information for Hitman Sniper Assassins is the 30-second teaser trailer, which, while short, does contain some interesting insights.
The first detail shown is a man who does not appear to have any hair unlocking and opening a briefcase. However, the teaser's voice over says, "Greetings, 426," implying that Agent 47 will not be the new mobile adaptation's protagonist. The narration also emphasizes the need to work together as the shot zooms out to show three agents reviewing a target dossier and inspecting weapons in briefcases.
A final important detail appears at the reveal of the title, Hitman Sniper Assassins. In small, barely legible text beneath the name, viewers can make out the words "working title," meaning Hitman Sniper Assassins may get a name change before its release.
Which characters will appear in Hitman Sniper Assassins?
While the first figure shown in the Hitman Sniper Assassins teaser trailer appears to be a bald male, it may not be who fans expect. In particular, the figure does not have Agent 47's signature barcode tattoo on the back of his head; instead, he has extensive forearm tattoos, meaning it may be a new agent.
The trailer also features a female voiceover which sounds a lot like Diana Burnwood, Agent 47's liaison, most recently voiced by Jane Perry, indicating that she may make an appearance in the game. As the trailer progresses, two other potential agents are seen, at least one of whom appears to be a woman. The third character is largely obscured, making it difficult to discern any distinguishing characteristics. The only other possible hints as to potential characters come from the dossier the agents are inspecting, which features a glasses-wearing man in a suit.
While this may not be a lot to go on, the press release does mention that "The new mobile game will feature a wholly original Hitman story, with new playable assassins and brand-new gameplay features." Fans will just have to wait a bit longer to learn who those new assassins might be.
Which operating systems will Hitman Sniper Assassins be available on?
While the official Hitman Sniper Assassins press release did not specify platforms or operating systems, only describing it as a "mobile game," the trailer features both the Apple App Store logo and the Google Play logo. As such, fans can expect the game to arrive on both major mobile operating systems.
Though that should be reassuring for anyone worried that the game might be exclusive to either Android or iOS devices, fans can also look at some of Square Enix Montréal's past releases to predict what platforms it might find its way to in the future. The original Hitman Sniper was only ever released for iOS and Android, indicating Hitman Sniper Assassins may remain on those platforms. However, some of Square Enix's other mobile games, such as Hitman GO and Lara Croft GO, were later ported to PC, PlayStation 4, and PS Vita. Hitman GO eventually even received VR support.
It is too early to predict what other platforms Hitman Sniper Assassins might end up on later. Still, it is clear that Square Enix Montréal is willing to expand support for games that have demonstrated their popularity.