Agent 47 is back in action in the next Hitman

A bald man sprinting, Rocky-style, through a blizzard, juxtaposed with sleek images of industry tycoons meeting their demise? That can only mean one thing: Agent 47 is back in town. Announced at the Sony E3 press conference and fleshed out at Square's, the next Hitman game (simply titled 'Hitman') sees the return of the famous hired gun on Dec 8 of this year, and if his handler's commentary is any indication, she's pleased to have him back.

Called "the most ambition Hitman every created," by Playstation Senior Marketing Director Asad Qizilbash, this Hitman is yet shrouded in mystery. It also that 47 has returned to work with the ICA, which falls in line with the events of Hitman: Absolution, but we can't yet say what form the plot will take. Though you might glean some hints about the story from the game's cinematic trailer, which shows 47 assassinating a fashion mogul at his own show while glassy-eyed models look on. However, it's possible all of that is only peripherally related to the plot, like the sexy nuns from the Hitman: Absolution trailer (though a whole lot classier and better put together). We also don't yet know of any release date, so it looks like 47 is keeping to the shadows for the time being.

What we do know for sure is that the game will feature an open-world component, as mentioned by Qizilbash and elaborated on by Square. Missions will only be available for a certain amount of time, and more will pop up as you complete missions and move through the game. You'll also receive bonuses based on your performance during assassination, which will alter the way you can approach different missions.

In addition to all that, a console-exclusive beta will be available as a preorder bonus for PS4 players, and the final product with lead with a digital release. PS4 players will also see 6 exclusive contracts all of them, so if you're a big Hitman fan, PlayStation is looking pretty sweet right now.