Hitman: Absolution Pre-Order Bonus is a Whole Mini-Game

Nick Price, Community Manager for IO Interactive, announced a new preorder bonus for Hitman: Absolution on the PlayStation blog today. Players will receive a separate minigame called Hitman: Sniper Challenge where Agent 47 will be tasked with taking out the CEO of a multimillion dollar corporation and his body guards.

Though he only mentions the minigame’s release on the PS3, Push Square‘s scan of a Game Informer advertisement reveals that it’s available on the Xbox 360 as well and players will also receive an exclusive sniper rifle, likely the one in the minigame. The top scorers will also win a special package, though it is unspecified as to what.

Price says that the minigame will be available starting on May 15 but Hitman: Sniper Challenge codes are already being released to players who have preordered the game. The minigame is a single-mission challenge where players must snipe enemies in the most efficiently silent way possible to get the highest score. 

The PC version is expected to be released on August 1st according to IO Interactive’s official Twitter page. No word on why such a long delay but it’s likely to do with finalizing which methods of distribution they’re aiming for seeing as how Hitman: Absolution isn’t available for preorder on PC anywhere yet but we’ve reached out for details.

The preorder bonus is exclusive to Gamestop in the US but has also been confirmed for Amazon in the UK. IO Interactive states that the preorder exclusivity is region specific, so keep an eye out in your local trading posts.

The game is set to release November 20, 2012 for Xbox 360 and PS3.