Released on 25/06/2010

• Hitman 5 revealed by accident?

  Hitman 5 revealed by accident?

  Rumour time! Are you a fan of the brilliant stalk-'em-up Hitman series? Of course you are. Well you'll be glad to hear that the voice actor who plays the mysterious Agent 47 has confirmed the existence of the long-awaited Hitman 5 in an interview.

  Speaking to The Gaming Liberty - thank you for the tip, Eurogamer - David Bateson said, "I have been overwhelmingly gratified and humbled by the sheer dedication to the Hitman franchise that the fans have expressed." So far, so actor. But check out what he says next: "For all the kind things that have been said, I am truly thankful. That kind of dedication and appreciation of the game deserves repayment... with an even more gob smacking instalment in Hitman 5. I don't envy IO Interactive for the pressure they must be under to deliver. I am utterly convinced they will!"

  Um, the only problem is, the Hitman developer IO Interactive, isn't willing to confirm the game actually exists yet.

  So is there another Hitman game on the way? It seems increasingly likely. IO just finished work on Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days, which is available now for the PC, PS3, and Xbox 360, and a return to the studio's most famous franchise seems likely. For the time being, though, we'll just have to keep our eyes open, and our ears to the ground. You know, like Agent 47.
  

• Hitman: Absolution to receive tie-in novel

  Fans of the Hitman series will be able to experience a new story starring Agent 47 in a forthcoming tie-in novel from Del Rey.

  The publisher has teamed up with Io Interactive to produce Hitman: Damnation, a new novel from author Raymond Benson that links in to the story of the forthcoming videogame Hitman: Absolution.

  Launching in summer 2012, the book follows the iconic bald-headed assassin as he embarks on a mission to take out a series of high-level political figures in the US, unravelling a sinister conspiracy in the process.

  The story bridges the gap between Absolution and its predecessor Hitman: Blood Money, making it a must-read for enthusiasts of the multimillion-selling series.

  Gamers everywhere are looking forward to the 2012 launch of Hitman: Absolution on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC, which sees Agent 47 on the run from the police and his former comrades.

  The game utilises Glacier 2 graphics technology to deliver spectacular visuals and genuine cinematic flair, meaning it promises to be one of the most absorbing Hitman adventures to date.

  Published: 25/01/2012

• Heroes Reborn!

  
  

  2012 sees the return of four iconic heroes to our screens - Master Chief in Halo 4, Lara Croft in Tomb Raider, Agent 47 in Hitman: Absolution, and Max Payne in, er, Max Payne 3. But why is this exciting? Read on...

  

  Max Payne

  
  

  In a nutshell: Vengeful cop turned vengeful vigilante.
  Last seen in: Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne (2003)
  Returns in: Max Payne 3 (May 18th 2012) on Xbox 360, PS3 and PC

  Why this excites us: The man who really puts the "Homicide" into "Homicide Detective", Max has been missing in action for nearly a decade (unless you count the Mark Wahlberg movie. We don't). The series was famed for its film noir elements and its use of bullet time action, and for Max's own increasing inner darkness.

  When he returns in Max Payne 3 he's still just as miserable; the years have not been good to Max, who's now working private security for a less than scrutable employer in South America. Needless to say, a certain substance soon hits the fan and Max finds himself smack in the middle of criminal wars, teaching them all a lesson in his own brand of angry justice. And we couldn't be happier.

  

  Agent 47

  
  

  In a nutshell: Bald-and-barcoded clone built for assassination
  Last seen in: Hitman: Blood Money (2006)
  Returns in: Hitman: Absolution (TBC 2012) on Xbox 360, PS3 and PC

  Why this excites us: Gaming's best-dressed killer has always been cool, calm and genetically superior, and this year he's back to remind everyone just how this assassin thing is done. He's famed for his increasingly ingenious methods of eliminating his targets, from poisoning punch, to pushing off balconies, to sneaking about in disguise, to plain old shooting, with a real emphasis on tactics, planning and skill.

  Betrayed by the agency who built him, and those he's gone on to trust, Hitman: Absolution sees 47 on the run once more and at the heart of a dark conspiracy, and on a journey that's more personal than professional. The developers are promising big technological advancements to enhance your instincts and abilities - and those around you, too. Just remember, it's not just about killing, but killing outside the box!

  

  Master Chief

  
  

  In a nutshell: Silent Spartan super-soldier. John-117 to his mates.
  Last seen in: Halo 3 (2007)
  Returns in: Halo 4 (6th November 2012) on Xbox 360

  Why this excites us: The UNSC may not like him, but we sure do. It didn't matter that he didn't really get a personality until Halo 3, this intergalactic badass has been doing his job and saving the Earth from alien conquests (with no showboating or stopping for, ahem, conquests of his own) since the launch of the Xbox. The responses to Halo: ODST and Halo: Reach showed that it was really the Chief that we wanted to see, and Cortana's cry of "I need you! Wake up John! Chief!" in the Halo 4 trailer echoed the sentiment of Halo gamers the world over.

  Halo 4 promises to delve further into who Chief is and what makes him tick, as well as his relationship with Cortana. Getting to know the Chief a little better can only further our relationship with him, especially as his new armour seems to only further his relationship with badassery. November can't come soon enough.

  

  Lara Croft

  
  

  In a nutshell: Posh British adventuress with enormous... skills
  Last seen in: Tomb Raider: Underworld (2008)
  Returns in: Tomb Raider (TBC 2012) on Xbox 360, PS3 and PC

  Why this excites us: Lara Croft is one of THE icons of modern gaming. She arrived in time to launch the original PlayStation and drew mainstream press to gaming like none before her. Since 1996 she's raided many a tomb, fought tigers, sharks and dinosaurs, and survived more than one reboot - as well as more than one subpar movie. But now she's back, younger than ever in a Batman Begins-style reboot (minus, we hope, the gravelly voice).

  In this year's new Tomb Raider Lara is 21, fresh out of "the academy" and shipwrecked on an island. This game promises not only a back-to-basics setting but more challenging gameplay than recent outings, with the stress on exploration to survive over exploration for kicks. A reboot like this is a little risky - and we'll miss Keeley Hawes' voice acting - but Lara has certainly proved she can endure pretty much anything.
  

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