Hitman 3 - 3.120 - July 26th Patch Notes - (the Ambrose Patch)

LandirtHome · July 26, 2022, 1:06pm

The Patch Notes for 3.120 are out.

HITMAN 3 – July Patch Notes

July 26, 2022 HITMAN 3, Updates

Here we go! Another patch for HITMAN 3 Year 2 is here and this one is a bit different. As well as the usual fixes and live content, we’re also releasing a new and FREE sandbox location for all HITMAN 3 owners. Ambrose Island is undoubtedly the highlight of this patch, but there’s plenty more to dig into. Let’s get started with the core patch details.

On July 26th, 2022, HITMAN 3 will be updated to version 3.120 on all platforms; PS5, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Stadia and Switch. Note: there’s no download required for our cloud-based players on Stadia or Switch, simply wait for maintenance to be concluded and you’ll have the latest version of the game ready to play.

HITMAN 3 - July Patch Details and Timeline

Maintenance Start

12pm UTC / 2pm CEST / 5am PT.

All HITMAN 3 game servers will be taken offline and players will be unable to connect. Ongoing updates will be posted to the official @IOInteractive Twitter account.

Patch Release

1pm UTC / 3pm CEST / 6am PST.

You’ll start to see the patch available for download, clocking in at between 3GB and 6GB, depending on your platform.

Maintenance End

4pm UTC / 6pm CEST / 9am PST

Once each platform has been checked and verified, we’ll end the maintenance. The above times are an estimate for when all platforms will be back online

NEW CONTENT: Ambrose Island

Ambrose Island is a new location that is free for all HITMAN 3 owners.

Embark on a new adventure with Agent 47 to a secluded island in the Andaman Sea, where rogue thieves and a dangerous pirate syndicate are plotting a daring heist.

Uncover more secrets on our [Ambrose Island blog post](http://: HITMAN 3 - Ambrose Island - IO Interactive).

NEW ADDITIONS

Game Settings Preview
We’ve added a visual preview widget to all Gameplay settings in the Options menu, including HUD, minimap and interactions.
As you toggle between on/off and other choices, the widget will update for each individual selection. Where it makes sense, there are also animations to mimic the gameplay experience.

PC: Nvidia DLSS 2.4.3
We’ve officially deployed DLSS version 2.4.3 with the July patch. We were intentionally using version 2.3.2 since the May Patch because we were aware of some visual issues with version 2.4.3.

Elusive Arcade Tweak
We’ve made a back-end change to Elusive Target Arcade, which allows HITMAN 3 owners to play all existing and future Arcade contracts, regardless of their ownership of HITMAN 1 or HITMAN 2. Previously, players were required to own an ‘Access Pass’ for HITMAN 1 or HITMAN 2 to access the relevant Arcade Contracts.

This change allows us to create Arcade Contracts that are not restricted to targets from the same game. We’re now able to pick and choose from the full roster of available Elusive Targets to create more variety and themes. You’ll see the first of these appear in-game starting in August.

PS5 Activities
We’ve made changes to the ‘Activity Cards’ for PS5 users, so that more relevant ones are shown based on what you own.

FIXES AND IMPROVEMENTS

Stability Improvements
We’ve improved general stability across all platforms by addressing several issues that could cause the game to crash or freeze.

Unlock Access
We’ve resolved an issue where players would be unable to obtain level mastery or item unlocks if they encountered a server disconnection whilst transitioning between levels, restarting, replanning, exiting to menu or finishing a level. We’ve tweaked several things to prevent this in previous patches and this additional change will make the chances of it happening even smaller.

AWOL HUD
We’ve resolved an issue that could cause some elements of the HUD to disappear if players save their game whilst the mission name / location is displayed on-screen in the opening seconds of a mission.
Note: This fix will only impact Steam and Epic players, whilst the issue remains for other players. Our next patch will fix the issue for everyone else.

Side Flash
We’ve resolved an issue with the HWK 21 Covert pistol, where the muzzle flash was extremely bright and not aligned with the barrel.

She’s Stopped Gurgling
We’ve resolved an issue where NPC’s could get stuck in an endless animation loop after being injected with a sedative syringe.

Ashen Six
We’ve updated the description of the Number Six with Gloves suit. Just in time.

Tropical Sheen
We’ve resolved an issue where the Tropical Suit (Haven Island unlock) was waaay to shiny.

Chongqing Conceal Crash
We’ve fixed a crash that could occur when concealing an item in a trash can, whilst taking cover in a particular location in Chongqing.

Anti-Social
We’ve resolved an issue where the lawyer in Mendoza was holding his phone upside down and the wrong way around.

Photographic Destruction Prevention
We’ve resolved an issue that could prevent players from earning the Silent Assassin rating in the Dubai campaign mission. Specifically, players who were spotted by a camera and then disabled the cameras via the server room terminal would then be unable to ‘erase recordings’ through the ‘normal’ camera recorders.

Meeting Room Master
We’ve resolved an issue where players would be immediately spotted when starting at the Meeting Room in Dubai on Master difficulty level.

Lust Keys
We’ve resolved an issue where players were unable to pick up keys during the Lust Assignation Escalation [7DS].

Most People Never Notice
We’ve ended the conspiracy theories in Berlin and removed the barcode from the back of GuestList Man’s head, aka Ziegler. He was never part of Ort-Meyer’s army and now, he never will be.

FSP Audio
We’ve resolved an issue where the menu music would not resume after viewing a cinematic in the Free Starter Pack.

World of Assassination Fixes

Hokkaido: Snow Festival Suite
We’ve resolved an issue where it wasn’t possible to start the mission in Tobias Rieper’s Suite. Now, this starting location will be unlocked by default.

Stingray: Villa Vision
We’ve resolved several issues that could cause NPCs and (especially!) targets in Haven Island to see through several walls and floors. This was a complicated and tricky issue to address but it seems to have been caused by an AI vision blocker in the door template for this level.

Essentially, whenever NPCs opened a particular door type, they were able to see everywhere within the mansion, regardless of how many floors or walls were in the way. This was especially troublesome if Tyson Williams was involved, because his character animation has him looking down frequently, which meant he could spot 47 several floors down.
Note: Unfortunately, this issue will only be resolved on PC with this patch, and will be included in our next patch for all other players.

Whittleton Creek: Bitter Pill
We’ve resolved an issue where the laser security wires could trigger an alarm, even after players disabled the alarm system. This was occurring after players performed a save/load cycle.

LandirtHome · July 26, 2022, 1:11pm

In addition, an article specific to Ambrose was posted.

Ambrose Island is a brand new location for HITMAN 3, and a major release as part of our ‘Year 2‘ plans. It’s available now as a free download, included with the July Patch.

Embark on a new adventure with Agent 47 to a secluded island in the Andaman Sea. Located north from the Strait of Malacca, Ambrose Island is an isolated harbour packed full of dense vegetation, hidden coves, twisting paths and perilous bridges.

From the lit torches that illuminate narrow passageways, to the neon lights that flicker over the bustle of Farah’s bar, there’s a sense of discovery around every corner.

Taking place before the events of HITMAN 3 – and filling in some of the untold events of HITMAN 2 – this new location will see the return of well-known characters in the World of Assassination and wrap up some narrative threads. In addition, Ambrose Island will introduce new challenges, unlockable items and support for RayTracing, VR and Contracts Mode.

This new location is OUT NOW and available at no extra cost for all HITMAN 3 owners, including Xbox Game Pass subscribers.

OPENING CINEMATIC

Prepare for your arrival on Ambrose Island with a cinematic briefing from your long-time handler, Diana Burnwood. For this mission, you can also expect the help of an old friend…

TARGET INFORMATION

When Agent 47 arrives on Ambrose Island, he’ll have two targets keenly in his sights. Eliminating both of them will be critical to calling his mission a success. Watch the Opening Cinematic above or in-game and read full character bios on each target on the Mission Planning page in-game.

As a former operative of Lucas Grey’s militia, Noel Crest has since defected and gone rogue. He now leads a gang of international thieves who have performed several heists, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake.

Crest and his men specialize in the discreet retrieval and/or destruction of valuable items, documents, and data. He was last seen trying to establish a partnership with Akka’s pirate syndicate.

Before she became known as “Akka”, Sinhi Venthan was raised on the streets in a small coastal village south of Chennai.

Demonstrating her strength and strategic prowess, Akka quickly rose from common thug to pirate queen. She and her band of outlaws are known to operate as far as the Pacific Ocean, enriching herself and the ones loyal to her, while striking down anyone who dares to oppose her.

LOCATION MASTERY AND UNLOCKS

Ambrose Island offers a huge variety of specialized items and tools that can be unlocked and then used across the World of Assassination.

Complete gameplay challenges to unlock XP, which will help you progress through 20 levels of location mastery.

With each mastery level that you gain, you’ll unlock new starting locations, item stashes, unlockable weapons, items and eventually the Guerilla Wetsuit and a Molotov Cocktail. Each time you play and complete challenges, you’ll unlock new ways to approach the level.

From an emetic gas grenade with a poisonous frog trapped inside, to the swashbuckling Kukri Machete that is sharp enough to cut down to the bone, there’s a huge variety of pirate-themed items to get your fingers on.

PRACTICAL INTEL

Ambrose Island is available now for all HITMAN 3 owners. Here’s some useful information to make sure you can start your swashbuckilng adventure smoothly.

Is Ambrose Island free?
If you own HITMAN 3 on any platform, you’ll be able to play Ambrose Island on that same platform for free. HITMAN 3 Free Starter Pack players will not have access to this new location.

Is Ambrose Island free for Game Pass subscribers?
Yes, if you have an active Game Pass subscription and can play HITMAN 3, then you’ll be able to enjoy Ambrose Island.

When exactly is it playable?
Ambrose Island is in the July 26 patch for HITMAN 3, which released at 6am PT / 9am ET / 3pm CEST. After the patch has been downloaded, Ambrose Island can be found alongside the other locations in the game.

Is the new location a DLC?
Ambrose Island is included in our July 26th patch, so you won’t have to download anything from the store. Simply make sure your game is up-to-date and you can find the location in the menus, located after the Carpathian Mountains.

What else does Ambrose Island add to the game?
You’ll be able to play the location with full RayTracing support on PC as well as play in Virtual Reality – with support for both PS VR and PC VR. Finally, Contracts Mode is fully supported, allowing you to create your own missions to challenge your friends.

Crewdy · July 26, 2022, 1:16pm

The one night I have to go out and do something. Gah. I’m hyped to play this, can’t wait to get home.

Free fire kill on any NPC? Yikes. Assume it will be illegal to hold and throw but still. Seems very OP, especially for contracts.

schatenjager · July 26, 2022, 1:20pm

They fixed Haven’s sightlines! The map will finally work correctly! PC only this time around though - consoles in the next patch.

BEowen · July 26, 2022, 1:24pm

Maybe they’ll bring back the Electrocution Phone now

Urben · July 26, 2022, 1:25pm

I mean this thing will never be as powerful as the phone, I guess it is okay if handling it is illegal. You usually can pick up a propane and spend an unlock to ignite it or be illegal to shoot it. Now you can cause another accident with an unlock while having no way to legally do it in public.

Foffy · July 26, 2022, 1:27pm

They fixed Haven Island’s viewcones

VRO3886 · July 26, 2022, 1:28pm

Have they fixed this monstrosity yet?

BlobSponge · July 26, 2022, 1:29pm

you can find the location in the menus, located after the Carpathian Mountains

Well, I’d rather prefer the mission located at its right place (between WC and Isle of Sgail) within the WoA timeline, rather than after Carpanthian Mountains.

CM ends the WoA story. Putting this mission after would, I don’t know, kind of break the story.
Anyway, I understand that fitting this mission within the H2 timeline would introduce a lot of trouble, notably with the players that don’t own H2.

Spods · July 26, 2022, 1:30pm

those unlocks are certainly unlockable. molotov looks nice though

Urben · July 26, 2022, 1:32pm

Imagine 47 meeting Diana in the … cabin and she noticed 47 has a scar at his finger. “Where is that from?” - “I got stuck on a fishing hook. Do you remember when we went to Ambrose Island?” - “Ah yes…” Diana continues to quote the briefing which blends into a flashback mission

Axwage · July 26, 2022, 1:40pm

(Is it just me or are there some patch notes missing from the first post?)

She’s Stopped Gurgling and Tropical Sheen are big ones for me! Very happy for that. (I also feel like the Guru suit has a similar Sheen problem but y’all let me know if I’m crazy.)

Haven X-ray vision is huge!

BernardoOne · July 26, 2022, 1:42pm

still no banana unlock

scat1620 · July 26, 2022, 1:59pm

Can anyone confirm the patch size?

YellowZR1 · July 26, 2022, 2:00pm

I think it was about 4.2 GBs for PS4.

Rimland · July 26, 2022, 2:08pm

Well this sucks… Hopefully they can move it into its rightful place in the future

TheChicken · July 26, 2022, 2:31pm

Small-ish bug fix patch compared to previous releases, but still some nice stuff here.

Elusive Arcade Tweak
We’ve made a back-end change to Elusive Target Arcade, which allows HITMAN 3 owners to play all existing and future Arcade contracts, regardless of their ownership of HITMAN 1 or HITMAN 2. Previously, players were required to own an ‘Access Pass’ for HITMAN 1 or HITMAN 2 to access the relevant Arcade Contracts.

This change allows us to create Arcade Contracts that are not restricted to targets from the same game. We’re now able to pick and choose from the full roster of available Elusive Targets to create more variety and themes. You’ll see the first of these appear in-game starting in August.

Cross season ETA contracts! Been waiting for this for a while!

We’ve resolved an issue where NPC’s could get stuck in an endless animation loop after being injected with a sedative syringe.

finally. Now this we’ve been waiting on a fix for a long time…

We’ve updated the description of the Number Six with Gloves suit. Just in time.

Just in time? Lucas Grey in Ambrose confirmed woop woop

We’ve ended the conspiracy theories in Berlin and removed the barcode from the back of GuestList Man’s head, aka Ziegler. He was never part of Ort-Meyer’s army and now, he never will be.

Dang. I wonder how that ended up there in the first place? Zeigler looks nothing like 47, so how did he get the barcode tattoo on his model’s texture? Did they just edit 47’s model and change the face? Why not any other NPC?

We’ve resolved several issues that could cause NPCs and (especially!) targets in Haven Island to see through several walls and floors. This was a complicated and tricky issue to address but it seems to have been caused by an AI vision blocker in the door template for this level.

Took a dang while for this but I’m glad people (PC for now) can play Haven in peace. Very glad for the explanation too. NPCs walking through Doors caused this? Bugs are really really weird.

Give us a Sprint Toggle Option for the next patch… Please!..

lukefsje · July 26, 2022, 2:48pm

I feel like the reason there’s a smaller amount of bug fixes is because they wanted to make sure Ambrose Island launched as smooth as possible

lukefsje · July 26, 2022, 3:01pm

I posted this in June of last year, and now they’ve actually made the change so The Raver is in “Casual”!

Patrick_McColloch · July 26, 2022, 4:09pm

Well at least you can’t use it to leisurely eliminate a target with an accident kill at anytime and anywhere with no risk of getting caught which is exactly what the shock phone did.