The New Hitman Release Plan Has Killed Fan Hype

A new Hitman release plan hit the web a little while back. After Square Enix removed preorder packages fans got worried the anticipated title would not hit store shelves. Lucky for gamers, this title is set to release but in a very different way than expected. The new Hitman release plan is confusing, odd and hard to swallow.

[DirtyPete]

Very disappointed in the plan. I want to buy a Hitman game with no limits. I feel limited by the episodic release of the game. I want to wait for all of the content to be released but just don't know anymore. Ill have to see how this plays out to see if Im even interested anymore or if its just another sly move from the video game industry to increase income in some way...

[Averyashimself]

It just feels like we're getting small chunks of the game and also less like a legitimate title because of that.

[_-EDMIX-_]

its releasing as a final version this fall. I have no clue what releasing in chunks has to do with the overall game as watching it online, its clear its still a Hitman game.

Nothing has actually changed from the core concept, so you must elaborate on why it feels that way to you.

I mean...examples would be nice.

[SolidStoner]

As a Hitman fan I want, one full blu ray based game! with no limits by episodes, DLC or Pre order BS!

Sad but I will strongly wait and see, and buy only when the price is right in ONE PACKAGE!

We dont need a "Walking Hitman" series.. really a one game with open world stealth missions... how hard can it be?

[TheCommentator]

I'll answer that, Edmix. If the game was produced from start to finish and released on the disc, we would be assured to get the entire game the developers intend to produce. If installments don't sell as well as expected, we may not get all of the planned episodes because it's not profitable enough to continue making new episodes. Ultimately, if the latter holds true we will not get the full experience, ergo a less legitimate title.

[_-EDMIX-_]

@TheComm- "we may not get all of the planned episodes because it's not profitable enough to continue making"

I don't recall reading that the content being made was dependent on episode sales.

They already confirmed many locations and hits that are being worked on. Even if they don't make a lot of money on each episode, clearly they are still making a final product and will get their return else where, so I don't see that as being a factor to even worry about.

https://hitman.com/en-us/ne...

So many of those locations are likely already made and I doubt would take 1 month to make a whole set of missions and locations. I think they are merely releasing them month after month and changing due to user feed back.

I highly doubt they are making half a game in less then a year...

I Think many might be exaggerating this a bit too much.

From what I'm reading from the developers, this is more so how they are releasing parts of the game, not how they are MAKING parts of the game. The changes might come from number of hits, methods, placements etc. For all we know most of the game is likely already done and they are changing certain things due to feed back, I again don't think they are making levels and entire areas in 1 month as suppose to arranging certain things due to feedback.

[UltraNova]

In an age when all AAA games are reviewed and lets played to death for you to decide if you want to buy the game, I cant help but ask whats the point of chopping up a game and waiting month after month to complete it?

All I see is publisher who wants to experiment with a new business model just to see if they can make more money this way.

There's absolutely no inherent advantage in this case, at least none I can see other than the pubs low risk -high pay business model beta, one I will not participate in.

I will get the game when its on one disc and only after reviews, user feedback and a couple lets plays can provide me with a rundown of the full game.

And that's my opinion.

[_-EDMIX-_]

" I want to wait for all of the content to be released"

....then do that. No one is actually forcing you to buy it right now when it first release, you could just wait.

What does others playing it first as episodic have to actually do with you playing the final game in the fall?

So they should lose money, not release it right now, and just wait til the fall for what exactly? So you can get warm feels about old times?

I'm sorry but it has no real bases to get mad at it. Not even slightly.

From what I've read. its releasing in many parts, it will release as a disk based final game and even a final download in the fall, the community will shape the content, buying it right now gets you all the future content to be released for free.

Its as fair as it gets and I've found many who have issues with it, don't actually have real concreate claims.

Many of them are just like this. "feel limited" how? its releasing this fall in the format you want?

"don't know anymore"? What is there to know and what are you even being hurt by exactly?

What is even stopping you from being interested?

Do you not play games to actually play them or based on if others are not playing them?

If Horizon Zero Dawn released today in such a format, I'm still getting the final game in the fall, no questions asked.

I have no clue how it releasing this why right now, actually impacts gamers in the fall waiting for the final thing. If they released The Last Of Us in 10 different parts before its release all while still having a final game by the time it released, what would that really do to you?

You don't actually NEED to play it in that format and I'm finding those that are mad at this concept, don't even get effected by it as they don't even buy the format.

No one is saying a final version is even NOT releasing, I Mean.....your still getting a final version on disk and as download this fall, all added with community fixes based on feed back.

This is a win win, I have no issue with it and it doesn't actually change how I feel about the new Hitman, I actually feel more confident about its release this fall given the community will voice what is wrong with those episodes only furthering the quality of the final build.

but lets ignorantly seeking 1 method, with no one playing it, to release this fall though.

As if a benefit comes with having less options...

[FullmetalRoyale]

A real option would be to slap down sixty bucks, and get a complete game. Can I have that? No?

[_-EDMIX-_]

@Full- http://www.gamespot.com/art...

When did they say they were not doing that? I mean...is this the real reason behind folks not liking this? Being uneducated on the topic to begin with?

This is not in place of getting a full game...your still actually getting a full game in fall.

Its not as if to not do this, is to get the full game in March, you actually still not getting it til fall as its not done, thus...its not a either or, you can have both.

THAT is what many on here are failing to reailize, your GETTING BOTH!

It has NOTHING to do with episodes in march vs a full game in march.

I've read numerous times on here of folks citing that they would rather have the full game. Thats fine, what does that actually have to do with what they are currently doing? This is not actually stopping that from happening, its not releasing AS SUPPOSE or RATHER THEN or INSTEAD OF.

Its merely releasing in this format while the final game is being done and using user feedback to make it happen.

Getting it for $60 for the full thing is not an either or, its happening this fall and you can have that then.

This format doesn't stop what is happening this fall and was not done as suppose to getting it in full in March, its not even complete to do that...

[-Foxtrot]

Oh come on man why defend these shitty practices.

I understand if Square Enix had hearts of gold but they don't...every decision they make isn't for us it's for them.

You and Kalebninja are doing major damage control for them

[N0TaB0T]

Every Hitman was complete at launch, and if anyone is using that True Scotsman fallacy to defend anything, then they should hold their tongue if they turn up disappointed.

[Darth_Apathicus]

I can't understand why some people defend this so much, i can only assume you don't really get what Hitman really is. About having options to wait and don't care about other people playing first is not true, some of this "downloads" and "events" for the levels are only going to be available for specific days and not after that, effectively forcing you to buy it in parts if you want to get "the full experience". Being uneducated on the topic that is.

[AsheXII]

You can buy the game in full if you want to. On the plus side, people like me who would never buy the game in the first place can now dig in for 15 bucks. Ill buy it for sure.

Episodic content takes a lot out of consumer regret.

[TheSuperior]

Destroyed every last inch of hype I had for the game. Wait to crap on my excitement just weeks before my most anticipated game of 2016 comes out square enix...

[Relientk77]

I don't have much hope for Hitman

[Germany7]

When you think Square Enix is getting better...

[jmac53]

I never thought that.

[-Foxtrot]

Like a Roller coaster

Up and up and up and up and up and.....ZOOOOM...down you go

[N0TaB0T]

Judging from the comments people are already 'okay' with this decision and slinging True Scotsman fallacies left to right. Consumers are pretty submissive these days.

[Kalebninja]

Watch the game sell completely fine anyway its only sites like these where everyone complains but for the main audience that's interested they are going to buy it anyway.

[_-EDMIX-_]

Agreed. Consider they did the same thing with Star Wars Battlefront, as if millions and millions are all seeing the same thing they are lolz.

Game went on to break record sales.

I don't care much for the doom and gloom crowd on N4G as most of them don't even have real concrete examples on why such a thing is even bad, merely that they don't like it.

Nothing about how it hurts gaming, nothing about sales, nothing even about consumers.

Merely that they don't want to wait, never mind that they are still waiting for the final game EVEN if this didn't release in this format LMFAO!

But god forbid if others got to play some of it at a lessor price EVEN WITH THE FINAL GAME COMING OUT THIS YEAR FOR ALL!

LMFAO! I see what Square is doing and its a brilliant idea.

Those that want it each month can get it.

Those that want it in full can get it this fall.

Those that get it early assist the development in fixing certain issues regarding missions, hits etc.

Thus helping the final version for the rest.

This is easily a win/win and I've found nothing to actually show otherwise. Those that don't want it, are also they type of gamers that are scared of change merely due to the concept of any type of change...

Again...a final version is coming in fall as disk and as download. How is this actually hurting anyone buying it this fall?

Soooooooo their mad others are playing it before them? Um....ok then, first world problems it is.

[immabadguy]

What the hell are you even trying to say in your comment? That we should all just shut our mouths and quit speaking our minds about games because they go on to sell well anyways?

[_-EDMIX-_]

@Imma- Nope.

To have reason behind what your saying. Thus far, no one on here has had a real logical reason why this should happen this way and many on here that are even mad, keep citing they have to wait.

You where always going to wait for the final game.

Your still getting a final game this fall.

The feedback helps you as the consumer when you buy the final game this fall.

What I also mean about what folks say on here, is that MOST times its an extreme exaggeration that the majority don't actually agree with. ie the whole Battlefront mess, most actually don't care that much about those features evident by its sales. If its bad for real, the market will reflect that.

You can never tell with forums or news sites etc.

I'm merely saying, if your going to bash this game, list some real logical reasons why this method is either bad, won't work etc.

MOST are saying reasons that are not only untrue, but don't even effect the game or the consumer.

You nor I need to buy this game in this format, we can just wait til fall. Thus....how exactly is this hurt anyone if your just getting an option of something?

[sarlucic]

I don't think this is the case, the joke and insult that was hitman absolution killed all the hype for every single upcoming hitman games until they redeem themselves.

[jmac53]

A what if situation, but what if this game sells horribly and Square Enix just decides to cut their loses and you don't get the remaining episodes or the production values on them are next to nothing. No more promises for my hard earned money.

[Christopher]

I like the release plan since I can try it out for $15 and go from there rather than being forced into a $60 game I may not like at all.

[Derekvinyard13]

Dude it's $60 up front and you get the rest later.

[Christopher]

Sorry, but you're wrong.

Source: https://hitman.com/en-us/ne...

"The new Intro Pack, which includes Prologue and Paris will be priced at $15. Each subsequent location can be purchased for $10 as an add-on item after you buy the new Intro Pack. If you buy the Intro Pack and want to get into everything the Full Experience offers, you can also choose to buy the Upgrade Pack for $50. This will give you access to all of the content released after March 11th and guarantees you won’t miss any live or bonus content."

[Kalebninja]

Wrong completely, the game was never 60 upfront. 60 was an option by the game was going to be 35 for the base game and an extra 30 for everything else that would release. But now the game is going to release at 15 and each expansion will be 10.

[etebitan]

So kaleb.. A 15 dollar demo?

[_-EDMIX-_]

...you might be one of the reasons many have no clue whats going on, on this site.

Its not $60 upfront. Its $15 for the first part, $10 for the packs as they release.

You can pay $60 and just wait for the rest of the content at no extra charge.

or you can buy the final game on disk this fall.

Many options exist. Zero reason to be afraid of this.

[Simmo3D]

I was looking forward to the games release, but my PSN order got cancelled for the episodic game and I lost interest now. I dont wanna play a game in parts, I want the whole damn game

[_-EDMIX-_]

...wait this fall, your pre-order wasn't even for the full game as it was never releasing in full in the first place so I don't now what your talking about.

Also its releasing as a final game this fall if you actually want "the whole damn game".

Its starting to be come very apparent that those who are upset, also know the least regarding this game.

Which doesn't really help much of their points being uneducated about it in the first place.

The more you know....

[Deividas]

Dude...everyone understands whats going on about the game, chill the hell out! Everyone here understands you can buy the game in parts or wait till the very end and buy it whole...what everyone is saying is that the whole concept is BS and the majority hates it and doesnt want it. Get over it. No one but you likes it! Its complete garbage.

You sound like a damn religious nut that freaks out on people who dont believe what you do. I get you think jesus is your savior...how about you keep it to your damn self?

[_-EDMIX-_]

@Deiv- "concept is BS and the majority hates it and doesnt want it. Get over it. No one but you likes it! Its complete garbage"

Also marked as personal attack.

Also..Why?

I mean..if you have a solid reason why, I would love to hear it as it sound like many don't like it...but also have nothing to back up why other then not liking it.

Sooooooooo sounds like most of you have no clue what your talking about anyway lolz. Yet your entire post states zero real reason why its actually a bad thing, merely feelings and emotional stuff.

I actually don't think its me that needs to "chill" your entire post is emotional and pretty much off topic.

[Averyashimself]

Episodic releases have generally only worked for telltale games. What is this trend among developers to spoon feed gamers bits and pieces of the game?

[WellyUK]

Worked fine for Life is strange which is also published by Square Enix. It could work for hitman but who knows.

[Averyashimself]

I'm very interested to see if this sort of strategy works out or not for this type of game. I do want the best for square enix afterall.

[Iltapalanyymi]

well not for me. episodic hitman kinda makes sense, they said ages ago that they would add new missions in the game over time.

[N0TaB0T]

Since this is the plan I cannot hold onto hope the gameplay is closer to Blood Money. It's going to have more open areas, but tons of boring filler content like Absolution I bet.

Disappointing. Welp, I'm going to buy Blood Money soon so, there's my 'new' (and better) Hitman this year.

[Kalebninja]

You're dissapointed at nothing. You're speculating you're dissapointment on what might happen, you have no clue if its going to be boring.

[N0TaB0T]

And you're complaining about complaining, which is why companies only listen to the likes of you, and just sling out whatever garbage because your rectum is loose.

[bigboss20]

I will wait till it comes out on disc

[DanielEndurance]

I wouldn't mind if they cancelled plans to release locations one at a time and just brought them all out at once later in 2016 like a normal freakin' game.

[_-EDMIX-_]

Again...another uneducated poster.

How many of you legit don't know this is releasing this fall as a full priced game?

http://www.gamespot.com/art...

" brought them all out at once later in 2016 like a normal freakin' game."

LMFAO! That is happening this fall buddy..., where have you actually been?

So don't release them at all, just release them this fall? Not both?

Why would BOTH hurt you? You don't need to buy it one at a time, merely buy it the way you like. If you want it in 1 sitting as a full game, then wait.

No one is actually stopping oyu from doing this.

I did this with Life Is Strange where I actually waited til EP4 to buy them all and played all 4, then 5 the day it released right after I finished 4.

So for me, I didn't actually buy each EP then wait....I merely got them in 1 go and played it.

No one is forcing you to play it any damn way, wait this fall. You would have been waiting this fall anyway bud.

Why are others playing it in a different format bothering you? Or can we chalk this up to you didn't know everything about this games release?

Further more, why would it releasing this fall while not releasing in parts even help you? If anything without the user feed back, it would actually like hurt you, not help.

The people playing it as episodes are also play testing and giving feed back on hits the want to see, this actually helps you when it finally releases this fall. Its a easy win win.

Again, like I've said many, many times....MOST on here don't actually have a concrete reason on why this is a bad thing.

You still get the final game in the fall...with all the fixes from user feed back.

OH wait, but thats bad? Lets release it JUST in fall and let you the consumer sort out some of the design issues?

What would you playing it in fall and others NOT playing it this year even do for you? Oh to make you feel better about yourself or something? Legit bud, help me understand why this is a bad thing, even despite it releasing as a full game in fall like normal? You still get what you want in fall bud...

If you didn't know that and take it back, disregard what I'm saying as I don't mean to assume what you might mean in your post as I'm not sure you've heard its still releasing as a final game.

[Jonnyquest321]

Hey Edmix, see where you're coming from. Do you know if people who buy them episodically will end up paying the same as the price it will be when the full game comes out? My fear is people buying the episodes will be charged more once it all adds up. Cheers

[davemyrose92]

Yea this episodic thing is deff not for me, I hope it's a trend that dies in the next few years, anyway I will def not get this at launch and will prolly wait till next year to finally buy the full game

[quaneylfc]

hype isn't real. It is something that can be blamed by people whn they disappoint themselves.

[WellyUK]

Exactly it's people that hype games up and then blame their hype on trailers etc rather than themselves...

[Hold_It]

Hitman's release plans never killed any of the real Hitman fans hype. The only hype it killed were the people looking to jump on the Hitman bandwagon, and I will be buying the game regardless of what some fake fan has to say. You're either a fan of the series or not. Call it a $15 demo, it doesn't really matter, you're getting a level of the game that can be replayed tons of different ways as that's one of the main fundamentals Hitman is designed around.

You could do a lot in Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes and that was more than $15, and arguably better than the full game. Speak for yourself when you say that you don't like the release plan for Hitman, but don't say the actual community doesn't like it, because hardly anyone on the Hitman forums is complaining about it. It's like everywhere I look on this site there is some wanna be SJW trying to speak out against a company because of something negligible.

[jfcdoomblade]

Pay $15. If I don't like it I take the loss. If not buy the whole thing. Win-win to me. Absolution was okay but the gameplay for this one already looks better so I'm excited.

[dip01]

You buy episodes scattered around the year or you wait and play them all at once at the end of the year. Either way you are getting the full experience at the same price. I really don't understand how a release plan determines a game's merit . If anything it will help them polish each level more.

[Hold_It]

@dip

Exactly. Their reasoning for doing this is to get feedback from the fans so they don't make a disappointing game. They want to use our feedback to tailor the Hitman experience to our liking. I don't understand that people can and will complain about a company actually wanting their input to make the product better for them.

[comebackkid9891]

I'll pick it up when it's finished.

[persona4chie]

Yeah this really aggravated me because the game was scheduled to release on my birthday. Come to find out only PART of it will be released. Like most people I'd like to wait until the whole thing is released, but SE basically killed the hype for me. I'm starting to think that for SOME companies this is just away to "Release" their game and still be able to make sure each part, or the game as a whole is complete. I'm all for complete games, but not if it's going to be broken up into pieces.

[slappy508]

Actually don't mind dropping $15 bucks in the initial episode to see if I will like it

[cash_longfellow]

So wait...you don't mind paying $15 for a demo then?...because that is what demos are used for, a glimpse at the game to see if you like it.

[slappy508]

Pretty sure I know how I want to spend my money. If you dont want to play the episodes then wait for the full game. People who dont want to wait get to pay earlier to play it. Nobody loses out in the end

[FN4GM]

I lost all interest in it, shame.

[cash_longfellow]

Episodic crap needs to be reserved for Telltale type games, and those games only...this is a terrible idea to do it with games that are normally full retail releases.

[skratchy]

What DON'T gamers bitch about these days? Let's all jump on the "FUCK THIS" bandwagon, without giving anything a shot ever.

[Psychotica]

Seems like a risky way to do it. For each episode they will need to create the hype for it to get people to buy it. I almost never buy DLC for games after the initial release because I am no longer hyped up for it. I know what the game is all about so there is no mystery and I am ready to move on to other games.

[Der_Kommandant]

Thank you Square Enix, i'll stick to Hitman GO

[Jonnyquest321]

Hey Edmix, kinda see where you're coming from. Do you know if people who buy them episodically will end up paying the same as the price it will be when the full game comes out? My fear is people buying the episodes will be charged more once it all adds up

[esmittystud101]

What the difference between episodes and what CoD does with its map packs?????????

Nothing. Why they had to pin the "episode" tag on it was a dumb move on there part.

On top of everything else that trailer they had for it about six months ago.......it looked so good.....to good to be true.......da*n, another graphic downgrade incoming. Which is no different from any other game these days. Especailly ones with those type of trailers.

[Kyizen]

Im more interested in spending 10 bucks to see of I like a game and get really into it, than $60 for a game I hate. The game has to be good people won't but the next epospde.

[brokenbracket]

LOLOL. I'll buy it, once all the episodes have been released. I don't want portions of a game. Seems dumb to me, even after they changed the pricing. There's no reason for releasing part of a game versus waiting until it's all complete.

[47]

IDK, I went out and pre ordered the CE from Amazon when this was announced, so it hasn't killed my hype. I don't prefer the episodic release schedule, but if it means a better game at the end of the "season", then hey im cool with that. I also don't understand why when TellTale does this, no one whines, but Hitman does it and theres a problem? I don't get it.

[theFAYEsorceress]

the devs can say whatever they want about their reasoning behind it and how it's initially going to be a full game, but really, it's a dick move at the end of the day. if it turns out to be a blatant money grab, i HOPE it fails like evolve.