The official Hitman channels just uploaded a new cinematic trailer for their upcoming rogue-like mode called Freelancer that'll become available to all Hitman: World of Assassination owners this January 26, and along with said trailer, developers IO Interactive posted a press release on their website that explains a bit more of what this new mode will entail.
Freelancer was first announced back in early 2022 and was set to release soon after. IO later delayed the game mode due to positive internal feedback that made the studio want to make sure it reached its full potential. Now, we are but a few weeks away, and IO has a bit more to say about it.
What shall set this mode apart from Hitman's more traditional missions is complete player independence. In a standard mission, Agent 47, and thus the player controlling him, are provided with the gear and supplies needed to complete the mission, as well as detailed briefings about their target. In Freelancer, players are meant to "build and maintain an arsenal of gear," and decide what gear they will bring to missions.
They need to make sure they aren't packed to the brim, as they will risk not being able to pick up equipment that they could use on other missions. Hitman players will also have the choice of selecting which crime syndicate they'll go up against, which will vary the level's gameplay style, location, etc. You must also do your own recon and investigation work, "identifying targets in Showdown missions."
The success or failure when playing levels in this mode will seemingly depend heavily on player preparation, as IO states that the tools you have when starting a mission are very important. However, improvising on the fly when something unexpected happens within a mission is just as relevant.
One of the most interesting things the IO blog post reveals is that "there's no guarantee" that completing a specific objective is even possible after the mission starts, as the mode relies on randomized elements. Though the mission will give the player all available information, given that planning for it is in their hands, it could be that they don't prepare properly, and thus the mission is unwinnable.