'Hitman' release date: New game has surprise 7th episode; 1st episode to launch later this week

IO Interactive

Previously, it was reported that there will be six episodes that will comprise the new "Hitman" reboot. But it turns out that there will be six locations and seven episodes for the full game.

Games Radar reported that the first location and episode of the role-playing title will take place in Paris. Aside from kill missions, the first episode in Paris will also include the tutorial areas. After Paris, the second to sixth episodes will take place in Italy, Morocco, Thailand, the United States, and Japan. The Japan-focused sixth episode was previously thought to be the finale of the game, as developer IO Interactive previously hinted. However, it is now confirmed that there is a seventh episode that will be the climax of the first season, with the location still unknown.

It is unclear whether IO Interactive and publisher Square Enix plan on announcing details on the final episode or if it will come as surprise expansion content for players.

The new "Hitman" game took the gaming industry by storm when it was announced, as Square Enix said that instead of a full title release, the game will be divided into episodes, each episode rolling out at least a month after the previous one.

However, even with fans needing to wait for the next installments to roll out before proceeding with the game (and the story), the new "Hitman" title has been a much-anticipated release since it was announced. According to Heavy, fans of the franchise will be the most thrilled with the story of the new "Hitman" as the game serves as a prequel and a continuation at the same time.

The "Prologue" story featured in the beta version of the title tells the story of how Agent 47 started at the Agency. Meanwhile, the opening of Episode 1 in Paris, during the Sanguine Fashion Show, takes place right after the events in a previous franchise installment, "Hitman: Absolution."

The first episode of "Hitman" launches later this week, on March 11.