Sony has begun cancelling all digital pre-orders for the PS4 version of Hitman after being told by Square Enix that the “configuration of the product… has changed significantly”.
In a message sent to pre-order customers last night, Sony explained that it had been notified by the publisher “that the configuration of the product you pre-ordered has changed significantly. As a result we have withdrawn the current pre-order from PlayStation Store and will cancel all pre-orders.
“A revised pre-order for Hitman will be available on the store soon.”
The cancellations follow days after the game was removed for pre-order from the European PlayStation Store.
Developer IO Interactive, meanwhile, has asked fans not to panic if their pre-order has been cancelled, and insists that the game is still on track for release this March.
“If your HITMAN preorder is cancelled, don’t panic,” said an update on the game’s Twitter account. “Release date is still March 11. We’re adjusting a few things & will update in a few days.”
Hitman was made available to pre-order from the PlayStation Store shortly after its announcement at E3 last year. It was initially priced at £39.99 but later increased to £44.99. Pre-ordering the game also granted access to a PS4 and PC exclusive beta due to begin next month. It isn’t yet clear how the cancellations may affect players’ access.
The changes to the pre-order are likely linked to the game’s controversial pricing model, which initially asked fans to pay full price up front for a limited amount of day one content, with the remainder of the game rolling out via free updates throughout 2016.
The model left many fans confused and disappointed, forcing Square Enix to revise its launch plans to allow a smaller up-front fee. It isn’t clear whether the plan is being revised even further.
Hitman will only be available digitally at launch, with a boxed release expected on PS4, Xbox One and PC later in the year.
Source: Sony
