PC gamers will have to purchase Hitman 2 again to unlock their levels in Hitman 3

IO Interactive explained to which levels and progresses are transferred Hitman 3 From previous games in a complicated FAQ on today’s website, and it’s a mess for gamers on PC, apparently thanks to Epic Games Store and Steam not playing well together.

On the console, things are pretty simple. Players who already own Hitman 1 and 2 on PS4 or Xbox One can carry over their progress to the PS4 and Xbox One versions of Hitman 3 as well as redeem both sets of levels as DLC in the new game. But things are not that simple on the PC.

“We have done everything to make this process smooth and player-friendly,” said IO Interactive wrote in his pre-launch post today

. “However, due to various circumstances beyond our control, we would like to acknowledge that the process is different from our original plans for PC gamers.”

who buys Hitman 3 Within the first 10 days of its launch in the Epic Games Store, where it is currently exclusive, it will automatically have access to the Hitman 1, which is also available separately as DLC from the Epic Games Store. However, Hitman 2, which is not currently available from the Epic Games Store, must be re-purchased as DLC in order for PC gamers to access these levels, even if they already have the game on Steam.

“As Hitman 2 is not available at EGS, we have set up a discount of 80% for this access pass for the first 14 days afterwards Hitman 3’s

Start, ”wrote IO Interactive. “There will also be access to the Hitman 2 Expansion pass. “In other words, the studio will give PC gamers who need to buy new Hitman 2 a massive discount to unlock the content in Hitman 3 for the first couple of weeks, although it is not exactly clear how much they will have to pay.

As expected, for many years Hitman Player on the game’s subreddit are upsetThis is in part because IO Interactive had previously stated itself that existing owners could play all of their favorite Hitman levels in a single location at no additional cost.

“[W]We are happy to confirm that PC gamers will be able to continue their current progress and unlock from there Hitman 2 on Steam in Hitman 3 in the Epic Games Store “, the studio wrote last August. “PC gamers can also import locations from the previous two games into Hitman 3 in the Epic Games Store. We want our PC players to enjoy a seamless process Hitman 3 on another PC platform and continue to enjoy the benefits of our World of Assassination. “

Obviously something has changed in the last few months, although it’s not exactly clear what. Epic and IO Interactive did not immediately respond to a request for comment. As Hitman 3 will only be exclusive to the Epic Games Store for 12 months. One option that players have is to just wait for it to finally get to Steam. The other is to simply increase the reduced purchase cost Hitman 2 once again. Both suck.