Square Enix has made good on its 'super secret' pre-order announcement which was leaked a couple of days ago with the addition of a release date reveal today.
Hitman: Absolution will be available on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC on November 20. Those who preorder the game from GameStop are eligible to pick up a free standalone experience called the Hitman: Sniper Challenge starting May 15.
The sniper challenge puts you in the role of Agent 47, who's tasked with taking out a CEO along with his entire staff of bodyguards from the safety of a rooftop overlooking a party where the targets are gathered. You'll be able to score multipliers, discover hidden secrets and unlock euqipment upgrades within the mission.
IO Interactive has also set up an online leaderboard for participating players, with monthly prizes to give away through the game's launch. The winner will receive a trip for two to Copenhagen, Denmark, where they'll get to spend some time with the Hitman developers and have their likeness incorporated into the next game.
All the weapons and equipment players unlock in the sniper challenge will be carried over into the main game when it is released.
"HITMAN: SNIPER CHALLENGE sets a new industry standard for pre-order incentives," said Mona Hamilton, vice president of marketing at Square Enix, Inc. "For all those HITMAN fans that just can't wait to play HITMAN: ABSOLUTION, they can immediately take part in an exclusive competition featuring the original assassin when they pre-order at GameStop."
