Feral Interactive has narrowed the release window for its native Hitman: Absolution upgrade pack on Nintendo Switch 2 to summer 2026, and the studio says the previously announced Contracts mode for the Switch build will arrive as a complimentary update "very soon." The announcement follows Feral’s earlier confirmation that Hitman: Absolution would be adapted for Nintendo’s next hardware, positioning the title as a native Switch 2 release rather than a simple emulation.
Hitman: Absolution originally launched in 2012 from developer IO Interactive and has since developed a reputation among the series’ entries for emphasizing cinematic storytelling over the open-ended stealth gameplay later celebrated in IO Interactive’s World of Assassination trilogy.
Feral Interactive produced the Nintendo Switch port, which our review scored 7 out of 10, calling it "a decent port." In that critique we noted that Absolution is often viewed as the franchise’s "black sheep" due to its story-driven structure, but that perspective can make it easier to appreciate the game on its own terms today.
In direct statements about the Switch 2 upgrade, Feral Interactive confirmed the native upgrade pack is scheduled for summer 2026.
The studio also clarified that Contracts mode — the competitive, user-driven target challenge feature that allows players to set objectives and chase leaderboards — will be delivered to the Switch version as a free update in the near term.
Rewritten for clarity: Feral said players should expect Contracts mode to be added shortly via an at-no-cost update, enabling friends to create challenges and compete for high scores on the platform.
Separately, IO Interactive continues to support its Hitman World of Assassination experience, announcing a new elusive target featuring rapper Wiz Khalifa as "The Wizard." The publisher also announced a Hitman "Classic Remastered Trilogy" for platforms beyond Nintendo hardware.
Those developments underline ongoing activity across the Hitman franchise even as Feral prepares the Switch 2 upgrade.
With a summer 2026 window set for the native Switch 2 release and a Contracts mode update arriving soon for current Switch players, Feral Interactive is moving to bring additional content and parity to Nintendo’s ecosystem for Hitman: Absolution.
Follow official Feral and IO Interactive channels for precise release dates and update notes as they are published.
Hitman: Absolution originally launched in 2012 from developer IO Interactive and has since developed a reputation among the series’ entries for emphasizing cinematic storytelling over the open-ended stealth gameplay later celebrated in IO Interactive’s World of Assassination trilogy.
Feral Interactive produced the Nintendo Switch port, which our review scored 7 out of 10, calling it "a decent port." In that critique we noted that Absolution is often viewed as the franchise’s "black sheep" due to its story-driven structure, but that perspective can make it easier to appreciate the game on its own terms today.
In direct statements about the Switch 2 upgrade, Feral Interactive confirmed the native upgrade pack is scheduled for summer 2026.
The studio also clarified that Contracts mode — the competitive, user-driven target challenge feature that allows players to set objectives and chase leaderboards — will be delivered to the Switch version as a free update in the near term.
Rewritten for clarity: Feral said players should expect Contracts mode to be added shortly via an at-no-cost update, enabling friends to create challenges and compete for high scores on the platform.
Separately, IO Interactive continues to support its Hitman World of Assassination experience, announcing a new elusive target featuring rapper Wiz Khalifa as "The Wizard." The publisher also announced a Hitman "Classic Remastered Trilogy" for platforms beyond Nintendo hardware.
Those developments underline ongoing activity across the Hitman franchise even as Feral prepares the Switch 2 upgrade.
With a summer 2026 window set for the native Switch 2 release and a Contracts mode update arriving soon for current Switch players, Feral Interactive is moving to bring additional content and parity to Nintendo’s ecosystem for Hitman: Absolution.
Follow official Feral and IO Interactive channels for precise release dates and update notes as they are published.
