The following text was sent by me to IO Interactive’s email address on September 25 of this year, and I am duplicating it here.
"Good day, IO Interactive. One of the Russian fans of your Hitman series has contacted you. I am speaking on my own behalf, without anyone behind me asking me to do so.
Around 2023, you removed the original 2016 Hitman from sale because you added the levels and mechanics it featured to World of Assassinations. My question is: is it possible that you might decide to organize a free giveaway of the original HITMAN (preferably the GOTY edition)? I know the question is strange and even financially unprofitable, but the first season is my favorite, and my laptop probably wouldn’t be able to run WoA even if I bought the “Part One” edition.
Your series, particularly Contracts and Blood Money, gave me a lot of emotions as a child — both joyful ones, like the joy of earning the Silent Assassin rank, and angry ones, like the anger I felt when my assassination plan failed because of my own stupid mistake. I watched all sorts of reviews and, to be honest, walkthroughs of the 2016 game. I love Hitman, and I genuinely understand that you had no other choice but to block sales in Russia back then. Yes, my lone voice as a fan is unlikely to trigger a free download, but perhaps this letter will be the first, albeit tiny, step.
Thank you for Hitman. And I wish you good luck in your future projects."