New details on Hitman’s January update, including the date we can expect to see patch go live, have been released by Square Enix and Io Interactive. Few fans will be surprised to hear the update will drop alongside Hitman: The Complete First Season’s upcoming retail release. But those who’ve spent the most time with Hitman will finally see that time rewarded, courtesy of a new feature tied directly to players’ current Mastery level.
This week, Io Interactive pulled back the curtains on a new difficulty setting, Professional, that will only be available to experienced Hitman players. How experienced? The difficulty setting is unlocked on a per-map basis, once you’ve reached Mastery Level 20 for the stage in question, with improved AI, stricter rules about item usage, a limited number of saves and “advanced security camera logic.” Those who manage to complete Professional contracts will earn special rewards for Agent 47 to use on future assignments.
Io Interactive says Hitman’s January update will be available on all platforms beginning Jan. 31, the very same day the game makes its retail debut. The studio also says Professional difficulty won’t be available while exploring “live content,” like Elusive Targets or Escalation contracts. That might be bad news for anyone hoping to up the ante during next week’s hunt for Walter Williams, but it’s possible we could see Io Interactive adjust that policy if fans demand it.
For more on the new Professional difficulty coming to Hitman, check out the complete blog post on the game’s official site. Then head down to the comments section and let us know what else you’re hoping to see added to Hitman during the ongoing wait for Season Two.
Hitman is currently available for download on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC. Hitman: The Complete First Season heads to retail stores on Jan. 31.
Be sure to check back with iDigitalTimes and follow Scott on Twitter for more Hitman news in 2017 and however long Io Interactive continues to support Hitman in the coming months.
