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New Hitman Patch Improves Load Times, Fixes Bugs, Adds New Challenges

Latest update arrives with a host of changes and fixes.

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Hitman developer IO Interactive has released a new update for the stealth game that, among other things, improves load times, fixes bugs, and adds the new Vampire Magician challenge pack.

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The update, 1.03, is launching today (March 31) for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. It should come to PC in the "very near future," IO said in a statement.

As announced previously, the Vampire Magician challenge pack adds 10 new, community-inspired challenges. As its name suggests, each challenge mandates that you were the Vampire Magician disguise. Here's what that looks like:

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As for the load time improvements, this should be most notable for the Showstopper mission in Paris, IO said, adding that it hopes to improve load times even further in the future.

Today's update also restores the Requiem Pack items that a previous patch removed for some players. Finally, this update fixes "numerous" problems that led to crashes.

You can see the full Hitman patch notes below, as written by IO.

Hitman March 31 Patch Notes:

  • The Vampire Magician Challenge Pack: includes 10 new challenges that were inspired by how our community have been playing the game.
    • Each challenge requires you to wear the Vampire Magician disguise while taking down targets using a range of different methods.
  • Continued improvements to load times: The improvements will be most notable when loading The Showstopper mission in Paris and we're already working on improving all loading times even more.
  • Improved responsiveness for in-game menus and image loading: We've implemented an image caching system that will improve responsiveness and loading times for all images in the game menu.
  • Fixed issues with scoring: Primarily, this fixes an issue that resulted in many players earning a “0 second” time bonus and an incorrect score of 210,000. A leaderboard reset will be implemented at a later date.
  • Continued improvements to connectivity: Server stability improvements.
  • Missing "Requiem Pack" items have been restored: For those affected, these items will now be available to choose from the planning screen again.
  • Fixed numerous issues that were causing crashes: General improvements to game stability.

In other news about Hitman, the game's "Elusive Targets," a series of missions playable for a limited time only, have been delayed to April. They should now launch sometime close to the release of the Sapienza chapter in April, IO recently explained.

GameSpot's Hitman Episode 1 review scored it a 7/10.

"Hitman's opening act isn't ground-breaking, with a host of tiny problems lending it a dated feel," reviewer Peter Brown said. "When you drop a body into a freezer, there's no animation connecting the process together; there's a hard cut from dragging the body to hiding it. Load times are frustratingly long, lasting just under a full minute when reloading saves. This alone is especially disappointing, given how fun it can be to iterate on your methods by reloading saves and experimenting, a process that's tainted by extended downtime.

"However, Hitman's a veritable playground that will delight you with its open-ended design, comical NPCs, and contract creation tools. These qualities, and the flexibility to be as hardcore or laid back as you want, are much appreciated, even if they don't disguise Hitman's lesser qualities."

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