Hitman targets Top 5 with surprise pre-order attack

Square Enix thinks its new Hitman: Absolution pre-order deal can help the game become one of 2012’s top five game releases

Today the publisher unveiled Sniper Challenge, a download available from Tuesday to those who pre order the game, which launches on November 20th.

The clever digital game trick is just one part in an ‘aggressive’ plan to reassert Hitman’s status in the market.

Explained Jon Brooke, marketing director at Square Enix Europe: "Our ambition is to make this a top five title. We seriously believe in this brand and this franchise and think we have a chance to be up there this year.

"Hitman is a huge franchise that has reviewed well for us over the years and has a hugely iconic character. It’s a long-running success for us, but we haven’t done it year on year so there’s no fatigue amongst our audience.

"So we have a lot of the pieces there to make this a top franchise which we are going to be really aggressive with."