IO Interactive outlined how levels and progress will be transferred Hitman 3 of the previous games in a complicated FAQ on his website today, and it’s a mess for gamers on a computer, apparently thanks to Epic Games Store and Steam not playing nicely with each other.
On the console, things are pretty simple. Players who already own Hitman 1 and 2 on PS4 or Xbox One will be able to transfer their progress to the PS4 and Xbox One versions of Hitman 3 respectively, as well as both sets of levels as DLC in the new game. But on computers, things are not that simple.
“We have done everything possible to make this process smooth and player-friendly,” said IO Interactive wrote in his pre-launch today. “However, due to various circumstances beyond our control, we would like to acknowledge that the process is different from our initial plans for computer players.”
Anyone who buys Hitman 3 within the first ten days of its launch in the Epic Games Store, where it is currently exclusive, automatically gain access to the Hitman 1, which is also for sale separately on Epic Games Store as DLC. But, Hitman 2, which is not currently sold in the Epic Games Store, will have to be purchased again as DLC to give PC players access to these levels, even if they already have the game on Steam.
G / O Media can get a commission
‘As Hitman 2 is not available on EGS, we set up 80% discount for this access pass for the first 14 days thereafter Hitman 3’s launch, ”wrote IO Interactive. ‘It will also provide access to the Hitman 2 access pass for extension. In other words, the studio will give computer players who have to buy again Hitman 2 a massive discount to unlock the content Hitman 3 the first few weeks, but it’s not clear how much they still have to pay.
As you would expect, long Hitman players over on the game’s subreddit is upset, partly because IO Interactive itself said earlier that existing owners can play all of their favorite Hitman levels in one place at no extra cost.
‘[W]We are pleased to be able to confirm that computer players can convey their current progress and unlock Hitman 2 on steam in Hitman 3 on Epic Games Store, ”the studio wrote last August. ‘It will also be possible for computer players to enter places from the previous two games Hitman 3 on Epic Games Store. We want to make it a seamless process that our computer players can enjoy Hitman 3 on another computer platform and continue to enjoy the benefits of our world of murder. ‘
Something obviously changed in the months that followed, but it’s not exactly clear what. Epic and IO Interactive did not immediately respond to a request for comment. As Hitman 3 is only an Epic Games Store exclusive option for 12 months, but one option players have is to just wait until it finally hits Steam. The other is to simply increase the discount cost of the purchase Hitman 2 again. Both kind of suck.