New details for next-gen Hitman game

In an open letter to fans, developer IO Interactive shared a slew of new details regarding its new AAA Hitman game currently in development for Xbox One, PS4, and PC.

For starters, you'll be playing as "a globetrotting Agent 47 at the prime of his career." Supporting Agent 47 will be his long-term handler Diana Burnwood and the entire International Contract Agency (ICA). The "core" Hitman mechanics will be a focus — with players using a "wide range" of tools to take out a diverse group of targets across exotic locations around the world.

The new Hitman is being built using the Glacier 2 engine, the same one that powered Hitman: Absolution, while drawing inspiration from past titles like Contracts and Blood Money. This will allow IO Interactive to build some of the largest levels ever for a Hitman game — open, non-linear, and check-point free.

"Our aim is to create living, breathing and believable levels which will allow gamers to play around with the AI to create those unique moments every fan of the Hitman franchise loves," IO Interactive said.

The popular Contracts Mode will also be returning. You'll be able to create and build challenges which you can then share with the world. Agent 47's "magic pockets" are also be removed.

"As we get further into 2014, we will reveal more and get into much closer contact with all of you," IO Interactive concluded. "There are so many things we have planned and we are extremely excited for the future of Hitman."