PC gamers will need to purchase Hitman 2 again to unlock his levels in Hitman 3

IO Interactive explained how levels and progress will carry over Hitman 3 previous games in a complicated FAQ on its website today, and it’s a mess for PC gamers apparently thanks to the Epic Games Store and Steam not playing well with each other.

On console, things are pretty straightforward. Players who already have Hitman 1 and 2 on PS4 or Xbox One will be able to continue their progression to the PS4 and Xbox One versions of Hitman 3 respectively, as well as swapping out the two sets of levels as DLC in the new game. But on PC, things aren’t that simple.

“We’ve done everything we can to make this process smooth and user-friendly,” IO Interactive written in his pre-launch article today. “However, due to various circumstances beyond our control, we want to recognize that the process is different from our original plans for PC gamers.”

Anyone who buys Hitman 3 within the first 10 days of its launch on the Epic Games Store, where it’s currently a timed exclusive, will automatically have access to the Hitman 1, which is also available for purchase separately from the Epic Games Store as a DLC. however, Hitman 2, which is currently not sold on the Epic Games Store, will need to be repurchased as a DLC for PC players to access these levels, even if they already have the game on Steam.

“As Hitman 2 is not available on EGS, we have implemented an 80% discount on this access pass for the first 14 days after Hitman 3 launch, ”IO Interactive wrote. “It will also give access to the Hitman 2 access pass to the extension. In other words, the studio will give PC gamers who need to redeem Hitman 2 a massive discount to unlock content in Hitman 3 during the first two weeks, although it is not clear how much they will still have to pay.

As you would expect, for a long time Hitman players on the game subreddit are upset, in part because IO Interactive itself previously stated that existing owners could play all of their favorite Hitman levels in one place at no additional cost.

“[W]We are pleased to confirm that PC players will be able to continue their current progress and unlock Hitman 2 on Steam into Hitman 3 on the Epic Games Store ”, the studio written last August. “It will also be possible for PC players to import the locations of the two previous games into Hitman 3 on Epic Games Store. We want to make it a seamless process for our PC gamers to enjoy. Hitman 3 on a different PC platform and continue to enjoy the benefits of our world of assassination. “

Something obviously changed in the months that followed, although it’s unclear exactly what. Epic and IO Interactive did not immediately respond to a request for comment. As Hitman 3 will only be an Epic Games Store exclusive for 12 months, one option for gamers is to simply wait for it to finally arrive on Steam. The other is just to charge the reduced purchase cost Hitman 2 again. These two types of sucking.