IO Interactive’s strategies to enable Windows Laptop players of Hitman 3 the “seamless” importation of Hitman and Hitman 2 into the new activity have hit a snag — but the developer and its Computer system distribution lover, Epic Game titles, have promised to determine out a solution.

Hitman 2 is obtainable on Steam but not on the Epic Video games Shop, exactly where the Pc edition of Hitman 3 will be marketed completely for one calendar year following its Jan. 20 start. In August, when IO introduced the timed Epic Online games Store unique for Hitman 3, the studio said that Laptop players would be equipped to “import areas from the earlier two online games into Hitman 3 on Epic Games Retail store,” an option that would also be obtainable on PlayStation and Xbox. (Players will have to export concentrations from 2016’s Hitman into Hitman 2 just before importing them into Hitman 3, and which is the place the problem arises on Pc.)

“Due to numerous conditions out of our regulate,” IO reported in an announcement on Friday, it is at this time difficult for Pc homeowners of the 1st two games to link them up and convey their locations into Hitman 3 as supposed. IO had planned to give a workaround, kind of, for the two months following Hitman 3’s launch: Entrepreneurs of Hitman 2 on Steam would have to re-invest in the game’s amounts, at a discounted, in purchase to import them into Hitman 3.

  • Initial, the Hitman GOTY Accessibility Move will be available, no cost, for any one who owns Hitman 3 on Epic Game titles Keep. It will continue being totally free for the initially 10 days after launch for these who invest in (or pre-buy) Hitman 3.
  • Next, present house owners of Hitman on the Epic Video games Keep — such as those people who picked the game up for cost-free when it was offered in August — get a free Hitman GOTY Entry Move upon buying Hitman 3.
  • Then, the Hitman 2 Conventional and Gold Entry Passes will be offered at 80% off for the 14 times just after Hitman 3’s launch on Epic Game titles Keep “and will go on to be discounted frequently,” claimed IO. The studio has nonetheless to rate any of the access passes, which provide Hitman and Hitman 2’s content material into the 3rd recreation.

But just after a prevalent outcry from Computer players — for occasion, upset supporters on ResetEra who mentioned they prepared to file for refunds and/or hold out the 12 months out till Hitman 3 launches on Steam — IO and Epic introduced on Jan. 17 that they’re functioning to make things suitable.

“We are continuing to get the job done on a solution with our companions to permit Computer system players who individual HITMAN 1 or HITMAN 2 to import destinations from all those video games into HITMAN 3 at no more cost,” stated IO in an update to its announcement submit. “We can assurance that players will NOT want to repurchase the online games.” The studio stated it envisioned to give that resolution “in the coming months.”

Epic Game titles estimate-tweeted IO’s update and extra, “We never want players to come to feel forced to repurchase material on the Epic Match Retail store that they purchased on another Pc retailer so they can obtain options in a new sport.”

As for carrying forward progress and unlocked objects from Hitman and Hitman 2, that is attained by an IO Interactive internet site, and is not impacted by Hitman 2’s unavailability on the Epic Online games Retail outlet.

Polygon has attained out to an IO consultant for extra insight on how substantially this will cost, and added comment about the snafu. Hitman 3 launches Jan. 20 on Google Stadia, Nintendo Change, Computer system, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox A single, and Xbox Collection X. For much more on Hitman 3, check out our arms-on impressions of the 1st two missions.

Update (Jan. 18): IO Interactive and Epic Game titles announced Sunday that they are functioning collectively on a remedy for consumers who own Hitman and/or Hitman 2 on Pc and want to import individuals games’ stages into Hitman 3. “We can assure that players will NOT need to have to repurchase the video games,” reported IO. We have edited the posting to reflect this.

This would convey the Computer system model of Hitman 3 in line with the console variations, exactly where importing concentrations from the past two video games is no cost as extended as you’re staying in just the PlayStation or Xbox platforms.