Hitman 3 will be releasing on January 20, but before then IO Interactive released a pre-launch guide for players to see some of its new content and features. The next game will follow Agent 47's journey as part of the franchise's World of Assassination trilogy, and players will see a number changes made to the game.

The pre-launch guide reveals some of the new changes and features Hitman 3 will have upon release and afterward. One of the additions includes a progression carryover to let players' progress from Hitman 2 transfer over to the sequel alongside several tools and weapons. However, among the items that will not carry over is the ICA Electrocution Phone.

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The ICA Electrocution Phone was considered controversial because it made assassinating targets too easy for many Hitman players. Essentially, the phone was an unlockable item in Hitman 2 that is dropped by Agent 47, so the target can find and pick it up. After that, the player can call the phone and it electrocutes the target. While the tool was effective, it reportedly took away some of the difficulty found in the game's assassination challenges.

hitman 3 promo art

IO Interactive will be retiring the phone, but the pre-launch guide doesn't say if the tool will be replaced with another item or weapon. The game will also not carry over items or rewards unlocked through Hitman 1 Game of the Year Escalations because they are linked to purchases. However, those same items can become available in Hitman 3 if players redeem access to the associated content.

While Agent 47's arsenal may have lost this feature, the game will still utilize many tools and items to assassinate targets in the game. The progression carryover process will also include players' profile, experience, rank, location mastery levels and unlocks, and Hitman Elusive Target suits. According to the guide, game save files will not carry over into Hitman 3.

Players' progress from the previous Hitman games will automatically carry over into Hitman 3 on Stadia, but it will not be possible to transfer progress onto the Nintendo Switch since it's not available on the platform as a standalone game. The process will require players to have an IOI Account, review their progress in Hitman 2, and then confirm the carryover to Hitman 3.

However, the carryover can only transfer within the same console "family," e.g. Xbox One to Xbox Series X/S, PS4 to Ps5, or PC/Steam to PC/Epic. Aside from the ICA Electrocution Phone, the guide doesn't reveal any other specific items that will not carryover into Hitman 3, so players will just have to jump in and see what comes back.

Hitman 3 will release on January 20 for PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.

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Source: IO Interactive