When io interactive released this year’s HITMAN (2016) sequel they also signed up for an exclusivity deal that locked the Windows version into the Epic Games Store. That’s fine, but unfortunately it also meant that HITMAN (2016) 3 (2021) players didn’t have an easy way to import their purchases of the previous games in the series from Steam into the new game. Finally, that’s been solved. Click this link to find out more.
Unfortunately the complete version of HITMAN (2016) 2 (2018) remains a completely ridiculous $100 purchase if you don’t own it already:
It’s a fantastic series, I loved HITMAN (2016) 2 (2018) but it ends up approaching being a very expensive series of games to own if you don’t own any on Windows already. The HITMAN (2016) Access Pass for HITMAN (2016) 3 (2020) is slightly more reasonable at $30 and has been free for Epic Game Store customers in the past. All told you could end up spending $190 on having the base $60 version of the third game, the complete $100 version of 2 (2018), and the gold $30 version of 1 (2016) if you own none of the games and missed getting HITMAN (2016) on sale.
HITMAN (2016) 2 (2018) was on sale for a discounted price for the first two weeks after HITMAN (2016) 3 (2021) was released, so I don’t doubt that some people felt pushed to buy that pass after the confusing launch when:
- io interactive initially said that players would not need to re-buy the games:
..we are pleased to confirm that PC players will be able to carryover their current progression and unlocks from HITMAN 2 on Steam into HITMAN 3 on Epic Games Store. It will also be possible for PC players to import locations from the previous two games into HITMAN 3 on Epic Games Store. We want to make it a seamless process for our PC players to enjoy HITMAN 3 on a different PC platform and continue to enjoy the benefits of our World of Assassination.
io interactive, August 2020
- Closer to the launch of HITMAN (2016) 3 (2021) io interactive said they had no way to make the old games available in 3 for Windows players who had bought them on Steam and instead announced various discounts and other schemes in their Pre-Launch Guide
We’ve done everything possible to make this process smooth and player-friendly. However, due to various circumstances out of our control, we want to acknowledge that the process is different to our initial plans for PC players. We also want to share some of the initiatives we’ve set-up to make sure that PC players the chance to keep enjoying the benefits of the World of Assassination.
io interactive, January 15th 2021
- Before finally changing their mind again and announcing this import process two days later in a tweet:
We are continuing to work on a solution with our partners to allow PC players who own HITMAN 1 or HITMAN 2 to import locations from those games at no additional cost.
We guarantee that players will NOT need to repurchase the games.
io interactive, January 17th 2021
- HITMAN (2016) 3 (2021) launched three days after that tweet, on January 20th, with those discounts ticking down and no clear path in sight for no-doubt confused players on Windows.
This new import process should give automatic refunds to players who bought HITMAN (2016) 2 (2018) content on the Epic Games Store before the import process was available, but at this time it does not.
I have sent a request to io interactive to ask if customers who bought those editions and owned the games on Steam will be refunded during the import process.
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