Hitman Will Return to ‘Non-Linear, Sandbox’ Gameplay IO Reveals

IO Interactive has promised that the next game in the Hitman series will go back to its roots in an update on the series' website.

In an open letter to the franchise's fans the development team commented: 

"The game concentrates on the core Hitman fantasy of using a wide range of tools to take out a diverse group of targets across expansive, exotic locations around the world."

The title is being produced on Absolution's Glacier 2 engine and IO are using what they have learned from the development of Hitman: Absolution. 

We’ve adopted an open, non-linear level design approach to the game, ensuring the game will play out across huge, checkpoint-free, sandbox levels. Our aim is to create living, breathing and believable levels which will allow gamers to play around with the AI to create those unique moments every fan of the Hitman franchise loves.

Constracts Mode will be making a return and players can create and share their own assassinations while Agent 47's "magic pockets" have been removed.

IO has promised to reveal more of the game throughout 2014 and the team are "extremely excited for the future of Hitman". 

The next Hitman game, which does not yet have a title or release date, is in development for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.