The Hitman World of Assassination Harbinger Elusive Target is now live, and it is one of the most ambitious limited-time missions IO Interactive has released to date. Starring actress Milla Jovovich, the mission brings together a brand new story, a returning gameplay mechanic not seen in nearly ten years, and a tie-in to a fan-favourite part of the game’s lore. Whether you are a long-time Hitman player or someone thinking about jumping in for the first time, here is every detail you need.
What is the Harbinger Elusive Target?
The Harbinger is the 47th Elusive Target mission in the Hitman series, and it is available to play through March 24. The mission is officially titled Patient Zero Requiem, placing it within the game’s larger Patient Zero storyline.
In this mission, Agent 47 is tasked with the elimination of Lilith Devereux, the ambitious prospective CEO of Ether Corporation. A relative newcomer in the world of the wealthy, Devereux’s rapid ascent has also witnessed the mysterious deaths of her predecessors and rumoured relationships with her biggest supporters.
The mission takes place at the Dartmoor estate from Hitman 3, where the original level had players acting as a detective in a murder mystery. Patient Zero Requiem sends Agent 47 back to the same mansion to attend a fundraiser, with a much darker twist waiting beneath the surface.
What are Elusive Targets, and why do they matter?
If you are new to Hitman, Elusive Targets are the series’ most high-stakes content format. You get one shot at taking out a single target in a manner of your choosing, often with their own strengths and weaknesses that make different approaches difficult, if not outright impossible.
The unique angle to these missions is that they are one-and-done. If you fail, it is gone for good, with no restarting or reloading. That is what makes them so compelling. Every choice matters, every mistake counts, and the pressure is unlike anything else in the game.
Elusive Target missions in Hitman date back to the original 2016 game. Past celebrity missions have starred Sean Bean, Jean-Claude Van Damme, rapper Eminem, and MMA fighter Conor McGregor. More recently, the series has included a mission built around a James Bond villain and the surreal scenario of Eminem hiring Agent 47 to kill his own alter ego, Slim Shady.
After completing a certain number of Elusive Targets, players unlock new suits for Agent 47 to wear across most of the game’s modes. Completing this one with a Silent Assassin rating will earn you the Urban Maverick with Gloves suit.
Who is Milla Jovovich, and why is she in Hitman?
Milla Jovovich is a highly regarded international actress, model, and spokesperson, best known as the star of the Resident Evil film franchise. She appeared in the sixth and final chapter of that billion-dollar series, making her the only actress to play the same character across that long-running film saga.
Her connection to the Resident Evil brand makes her a natural fit for a Hitman mission rooted in viral outbreak fiction. IO Interactive looks at everything a celebrity has made when designing missions around them, shaping the content to feel consistent with the talent involved.
Lead Designer Martin Ansdal described working with Jovovich as one of the best recording experiences the team has had, noting that she worked through one of the longest scripts ever written for an Elusive Target and even stayed overtime to make sure the lines landed properly.
Jovovich herself said: “I am very excited to join the World of Assassination. I am stepping into an amazing character with Lilith. She is dangerous, she has ambition, and a dark secret. I cannot wait for Hitman fans to step into this new mission and uncover her story.”
Who is Lilith Devereux, and what is the story?
Lilith Devereux is a ruthless pharmaceutical executive with plans to ascend to the CEO position at Ether Corporation, recently vacated following the mysterious death of her predecessor, as well as quite a few other people. Members of the powerful Carlisle family, who own Ether Corporation, are unhappy with this ambitious newcomer angling for the top job and are willing to pay to remove her.
Agent 47’s task is to infiltrate a gala at Thornbridge Estate in Dartmoor, England, and eliminate Lilith before she can take control of the company. When he arrives, the situation turns out to be far more complicated than it appears.
The mission is also described as serving as a conclusion to the long-running Patient Zero storyline, which has been part of the franchise since 2016.
What is the Patient Zero connection?
The Patient Zero storyline is one of the most beloved parts of Hitman lore. Patient Zero is a bonus campaign originally introduced in the Game of the Year Edition of the 2016 Hitman game. Following the assassination of a cult leader, Agent 47 races across the globe to prevent disaster after a dead man’s switch activates a network of sleeper agents, all of whom are planning to unleash a global pandemic.
The Harbinger brings back the infection mechanic from that original campaign, in which a virus spreads between NPCs as they move around the map, adding to Agent 47’s target count as he works to prevent the outbreak from escalating. This mechanic had not appeared in the series since the original Patient Zero mission. Lead Designer Martin Ansdal says the team has taken it much further this time.
As Devereux moves around the map during the mission, more characters become infected, and therefore become part of Agent 47’s growing list of targets. This creates a dynamic, evolving challenge that is meaningfully different from a standard assassination mission.
What platforms is the Harbinger Elusive Target available on?
The Harbinger is available on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PlayStation VR2, Xbox Series X and S, Xbox One, PC, PC VR, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, iPhone, iPad, and now on Apple silicon Macs via the Mac App Store and Steam.
Players who already own the game on iPhone or iPad can download the Mac version through the Mac App Store at no additional cost. IO Interactive has also introduced cross-progression across platforms, meaning players share their progress on all devices where they play.
