By Jacob Miller | Oct 16, 2026
A Divisive Classic Returns
Hitman: Absolution first launched in 2012 on PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 as the follow-up to Hitman: Blood Money. Unlike its predecessor and other great entries in the series, it disappointed many players by moving away from the franchise's focus on freedom and stealth strategy. It offers a more action-first, linear approach instead. It remains a divisive title in the Hitman community, but it has since been ported to PS4, Xbox One and, in 2025, Nintendo Switch. Now it is landing on another console with several visual upgrades.
What the Switch 2 Version Offers
Publisher Feral Interactive has confirmed the October 22 launch. This version supports Joy-Con 2 mouse controls and has a higher output resolution, reaching 1620p in docked mode and 1080p in handheld mode, well above the Switch edition. Handheld mode can also run at up to 60 FPS. Other improvements include the return of dynamic shadows, along with better clothing and crowd animations. Feral also highlighted increased detail in textures, mirrors and distant objects. The popular Contracts mode will be available on day one, letting players take on challenges made by others and compete on an online leaderboard.
From October 22 to November 4, the Switch 2 edition costs $29.99, a 25% discount, and it rises to $39.99 afterwards. Players who already own the game on Nintendo Switch can get a free Upgrade Pack on launch day for a limited time. After November 4, the pack costs $9.99. Since the discount only lasts a few days, fans who want to play one of the best Hitman stories on a modern console shouldn't wait too long.
Controversial but Influential
Absolution may be the series' most controversial entry, but it is arguably one of Square Enix's most influential releases too. It introduced Contracts mode and stood out for AI that made NPCs react more realistically to player actions than in other stealth games of the time. Some players still argue it has more downsides than strengths.
IO Interactive is currently focused on post-launch content for 007 First Light, but the Hitman saga is far from over. Hitman: World of Assassination still gets new DLC from time to time. Its latest major cameos were Mads Mikkelsen as Le Chiffre in April 2026 and Sean Bean as Mark Faba in late 2025. It will be interesting to see what Hitman content comes next.
