Hitman returns with Blood Money

Eidos has confirmed it will release the fourth Hitman title next Spring, subtitled Blood Money - and intends to deliver the IO-developed stealth shooter on PC, PS2 and Xbox.

In a statement issued to the press this morning, Eidos speaks of Agent 47's contract agency, the ICA, coming under attack from a powerful rival agency - with several agents eliminated.

Losing contact with the ICA, and getting the distinct impression he might be the next on their list, the bald-headed Agent 47 travels to the USA to "make a killing". Paid in "cold, hard cash" it's up to the player how that money is spent, which, according to Eidos will affect the player's passage through the game as well as the weapons available.

Fans of the best-sellling series can expect a graphical overhaul, with a new version of the Glacier engine being used for Blood Money - apparently delivering "the most brutal and realistic simulation of life as the world’s deadliest assassin".

Janos Flösser, managing director of Io-Interactive said in the statement: “Considerable time and effort has been spent developing a new version of the Glacier engine that enables us to implement many new and exciting features.

"The quality of the graphics and A.I. surpasses even our own expectations and this combined with a gripping narrative and the introduction of some really inventive characters makes us confident that Blood Money will be the greatest Hitman title to date.”

With the release date not far off, we'll be looking to get an early hands-on as soon as we get the nod from Eidos.