IO Interactive say that Hitman: Absolution isn’t a follow-up to Hitman: Blood Money and that it doesn’t necessarily take place in the same timeline as previous Hitman titles either.
Del Rey’s upcoming Hitman novel, however, is supposed to take place between Blood Money and Absolution, and the says it’s an “official prequel”. Titled Hitman: Damnation, the novel, penned by Raymond Benson, will be published this summer. Benson has worked on six original James Bond novels, and three Bond film novelizations.
In Hitman: Damnation, Agent 47 is asked to assassinate high-level American political figures, but notices partway through the mission that some of the aspects of his assignment don’t add up.
Hitman: Absolution itself will be released sometime in 2012.
