The good news is that the CelebrET-era may be coming to an end. Looking at the average player counts on Steam, neither of the ones so far this year have moved the needle as much as The Disruptor and The Splitter did last year. And any increase they did achieve was noticeably less impactful in the long run as the others too.
If this next one also fails to pull people in like The Banker and The Infiltrator did, I can’t imagine they’ll continue the scheme into 2026. The time-limited DLC stuff is using FOMO to try get people buying it, because those numbers are probably in the toilet as well.
The CelebrETs were to pull in new players, which it seemingly isn’t doing anymore. Hopefully they’ll try something else next year instead.
True, and you do make other good points like ET Arcade timer changes and “new” mechanics like Kali Sticks, 2-in-one melee holster. Plus PSVR2 support I’m SUPER happy about that.
(Though I’ll also add the sneaky Newspaper non-KO change that is a downgrade from years’ old item logic.)
I do think that the “big headliners” of each roadmap now, tying into big-name actors and artists and such, feels like it’s becoming a bit much. I do appreciate more content and the level changes (and NPC dialogue, good for them!) these new ETs bring, but it feels like year 1 of Hitman 2 (edit Hitman 3 oops) again with big new content drops and constant DLC packs, and I’ve been done with that for a while now…
Wait, I don’t know what you’re referring to there. They added pumpkins around Colorado? Just… for vibes, or a challenge?
Interesting though.
I do hope they can get some similar random-ToD support into Freelancer. PC has got it GOOD with extra features and fixes like that.
We’ll see what happens, but you could be right, especially as 007 launches.
Based on the many cosmetics announced for the Deluxe edition and all that “Wishlist Milestone” fluff, it seems it’ll also be following a live-service online model.
IOi has multiple studios now sure, but I’m sure their focus will gradually shift to prettying up and making their Big New Game very flashy and appealing to new players.
Anyway I guess I’m getting off topic now from Eminem.
I’m interested in whatever the free challenges/unlocks are, though I still need to make a day to complete all the ones I’ve missed so far.
As long as that something else is increasing existing player satisfaction by performing proper and effective maintenance, they can do pretty much whatever else they want.
Boy I wish we got something now like Year 1 of Hitman 2! Two brand new sandbox maps, four Special Assignments, two more Sniper maps, each with their own swath of challenges to complete. And for free content there were 13 challenge packs, 6 new ETs, Hokkaido Snow Festival and The Mills Reverie, and 31 escalations, all released in the span of a bit over 13 months!
The Right in the Pie Hole challenge added in October has you knock down three targets with pumpkins while disguised as the militia cook. They placed several small pumpkins around the map which are meant for the challenge, but they do add a bit to the vibes of the map and fit in well with its Autumn aesthetic.
First you complained it was “too small”, now it’s too big.
The real problem is probably that there’s no good hook for much of anything. They could have put a big MMA ring on the beach, for example, but why would it be there? They could re-dress it as a big beach party, I suppose, clear out most of the grass and put NPCs everywhere, but even that may be too much of a change to the level’s atmosphere.
I won’t be correct, but it would be fun if it was like the Patient Zero mission, and people are infected with a Slim Shady ‘virus’ and take on his look. (And every single person, is a Slim Shady lurking…)
Nearly spat my drink up with that one. It could totally happen too. It’s Halloween in whittleton creek or Halloween in Mumbai. The target is dressed as a beloved children’s character. Then 47 has to figure out is it Elmo, SpongeBob, LambChop, or Barney?
You might be on to something because in the trailer Agent 47 kills or takes down a variety of NPCs, and Shady does say “I come back louder and stronger”.
It’d be cool but at the same time i don’t we gonna get a whole eminem concert because if this happens the target will stay in the same place for minutes and minutes
I got an e-mail from IOI just now with the announce of Enimem and Sean Bean return.
They’re saying about Undying pack, but not a clue on Slim Shady pack.
Weird. Or there won’t be one
Just realized that it’s gonna be a bit awkward for any newcomers drawn to the game by this mission, because Hokkaido doesn’t allow a loadout until Level 20 Mastery. I wonder if they’ll make an exception for the ET or just make it fairly easy to complete with no loadout.
The Undying on Miami doesn’t initially have a loadout either, but you only need level 2 to unlock it not max mastery. And Miami itself is a lot more straightforward for new players than Hokkaido with all its electronically locked doors.
But if IOI goes experimental…
I wonder if it’s possible to create an “empty” bubble gum, to place, and then poison with a second item.
It would break everything, and a mess of prompts, but on a technical level, I am curious.
