In a move that other developers should follow, IO Interactive unveiled one of the best pre-order incentives in recent memory with Hitman: Absolution's Sniper Challenge game.
For those that don't know, the Sniper Challenge is a pre-order incentive that allows players to play as a sniper to rack up the best score against people all over the world. In turn, participants can earn in-game stuff once the final game ships.
So, could this Sniper Challenge be a standalone game? In an interview with MCV, game director Tore Blystad admits that is a possibility that could happen…if they can find a way to make it work, that is.
Who knows? It turned out really well. If we can find a way to make it work then I guess we will
Aside from that, Blystad has been very happy with the reception the Sniper Challenge has gotten so far and how committed certain players have been to it.
People are playing it a lot…I think the No.1 player in the world has clocked in hundreds of hours so far which is completely crazy, right? We’re very happy because that’s the essence of Hitman; it is made to be replayed. The scores have been ridiculous. The best one has 6.5m – how on earth did they do that?
Could this be the first-step in Hitman having a full-fledged multiplayer component? We certainly don't know for now, but here's to hoping other developers offer this kind of pre-order incentives instead of the usual maps, skins or weapons, no?
