Hitman: Absolution has stealthy "hardcore" mode

Hitman: Absolution producer Hakan Abrak has said the game will feature a hardcore difficulty mode for fans of the series, and and it's a stealth-based mode.

Speaking in an interview with Eurogamer, Abrak said the inclusion is a nod to the gameplay of previous Hitman titles.

"We will get into more details at a later point, but obviously it's linked to the playing style," he said. "It's more pacify your enemies, be undetected, maybe solve the challenges in a smarter way. That will probably give you a stealth assassin achievement.

"We have a lot of difficulty levels in the game as well. Rest assured, the hardcore fans that like to have replayablity value in the game or want to have this stealth assassin - you know, I'm the ultimate stealth assassin - that playing style, those Achievements, are very much in the game.

"There's a huge replayability value in it and we have some features in the game I cannot speak about that will enhance this and make this easier, and heighten the replayability value for the hardcore players as well."

Abrak said the hardcore mode even has its own "very special name," and while he wasn't at liberty to divulge it at the time, it is "going to please the hardcore fans."

Absolution is out next year for PC, PS3, and Xbox 360.