Manual
Welcome to the Hitman: Absolution web manual.
You can use the Contents menu on the left to skip directly to the section you're looking for. Alternatively, click the Enter button to access the manual, and use the Next and Previous buttons to navigate page by page.
Can't find what you're looking for? There's even more information in the FAQs and ReadMe: you can view them using the buttons at the top of the screen.
A very small percentage of people may experience a seizure when exposed to certain visual images, including flashing lights or patterns that may appear in video games. Even people who have no history of seizures or epilepsy may have an undiagnosed condition that can cause these “photosensitive epileptic seizures” while watching video games.
These seizures may have a variety of symptoms, including lightheadedness, altered vision, eye or face twitching, jerking or shaking of arms or legs, disorientation, confusion, or momentary loss of awareness. Seizures may also cause loss of consciousness or convulsions that can lead to injury from falling down or striking nearby objects.
Immediately stop playing and consult a doctor if you experience any of these symptoms. Parents should watch for or ask their children about the above symptoms—children and teenagers are more likely than adults to experience these seizures. The risk of photosensitive epileptic seizures may be reduced by taking the following precautions: Sit farther from the screen; use a smaller screen; play in a well-lit room; and do not play when you are drowsy or fatigued. If you or any of your relatives have a history of seizures or epilepsy, consult a doctor before playing.
As part of the Steam download process, the game has already been installed on your computer. To start playing the game, read the Getting Started section.
Double-click on the Steam application icon. By default this is located in the Applications folder on your computer's hard drive.
If you are not already signed in, the Steam Login dialog will appear. Enter your account name and password, then select Login.
The Steam application will launch. Select the Library tab.
In the library, highlight Hitman: Absolution in the list of games on the left-hand side of the window, then select Play.
The Hitman: Absolution pre-game Options window will appear. Click on the Play button. The game will launch.
After the loading screens, the game selection screen will appear. Select Absolution.
The Main Menu will appear. Select New Game.
The difficulty selection screen will appear. If this is your first time playing, we recommend you select either Easy or Normal.
After the opening video, you'll find Agent 47 outside his former handler's mansion, where he's pursuing a personal contract…
You can play Hitman: Absolution using either a keyboard and mouse or a gamepad.
The default keyboard controls are detailed below. You can customize your keyboard configuration by selecting Options → Mouse and Keyboard → Controls Layout from the Main Menu.
The instructions in this manual refer to the default keyboard controls; if you have customized your controls or are using a gamepad, the controls listed here will not apply.
NOTE: You cannot customize your controls in Hitman: Sniper Challenge.
| Move | W / A / S / D |
| Sneak | C |
| Run | Shift (⇧) (hold) |
| Camera | Mouse |
| Switch camera | V |
| Select weapon | 1 - 7 |
| Holster | Tab (⇥) OR Middle Mouse button |
| Aim | Right Mouse button (hold) OR Alt (⌥) (hold) |
| Shoot | Left Mouse button OR N |
| Drop item | G |
| Reload | R |
| Cover | Space |
| Instinct | Control (ctrl) (hold) |
| Use | E |
| Pick up | F |
| Notebook | F1 |
| Drag body | B |
| Melee | Q |
| Take disguise | T |
| Human shield / Surrender | X |
| Toggle silencer | Y |
| Previous / next weapon | Mouse Wheel up / down OR - / = |
| Precision aim | Shift (⇧) (hold while aiming) |
| Zoom in / out | Mouse Wheel up / down |
| Mark target (Contracts) | M |
| Show weapon selector | ` |
| Change cover | Z |
| Pause menu | Escape (esc) |
You can play Hitman: Absolution using a dual analog stick gamepad. The diagram on this page is based on a standard controller layout; all gamepads have similar buttons but some may differ in layout from the gamepad shown here. For more information see Can I play Hitman: Absolution with a gamepad? in the FAQs.
You can customize your controls in the Controls Layout menu (Main Menu → Options → Gamepad → Controls Layout) using the pre-set options on the left-hand side of the screen. However, you cannot re-assign individual controls.
NOTE: You cannot customize your controls in Hitman: Sniper Challenge.
| Move | 9 |
| Camera shoulder switch | 9 (click) |
| Camera | 10 |
| Sneak | 10 (click) |
| Aim | 7 (hold) |
| Precision aim (while aiming) | 8 (partway) OR ← OR → OR 4 |
| Shoot / Throw / Drop item | 8 |
| Run | 5 (hold) |
| Reload | 6 |
| Instinct mode / Blend in | 6 (hold) |
| Interact | 4 |
| Pick up | 4 (hold) |
| Take cover | 3 |
| Drag body | 3 (hold) |
| Melee | 1 |
| Activate items | 1 (hold) |
| Agility actions | 2 |
| Take disguise | 2 (hold) |
| Holster weapon | ↓ |
| Silencer on / off | ↓ (hold) |
| Pistols & revolvers | ← |
| Melee weapons & explosives | ↑ |
| Automatic guns, shotguns & sniper rifles | → |
| Notebook | Select |
| Pause menu | Start |
Parts of this file are classified as confidential and have been redacted before release.
Target presents significant challenge XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX extensive training and comprehensive knowledge of ICA operational protocols. XXXXXXXXXXX recent events regarding ICA-PF-54718/BURNWOOD (MISSION CODE:XXXXXXXXXX) could present opportunities for emotional leverage, experience suggests more motivated, dangerous adversary. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX operation XXXXXXXX without precedent XXXXXXXXXXXXX
See attached pages, taken from file ICA-XA047, for detailed information on target's abilities.
To complete a silent, close-combat kill, approach target from behind with an item or silenced weapon equipped and press the Q key.
To subdue a target, holster your weapons and approach them from behind, press the Q key and then repeatedly tap the Q key (or press the W key when prompted to kill target).
To use someone as a human shield, either approach target from behind with a single-handed weapon equipped and press the X key or hold the X key down while held at gunpoint to initiate a fake surrender (when prompted). Press the Q key to knock out your hostage once they are no longer needed.
To fire at multiple targets in quick succession (“point shooting”), hold down the Control (ctrl) key to enter instinct mode, then press the Q key. Hold down the Right Mouse button, move the mouse to aim at your targets, and click the Left Mouse button to “tag” them. Finally, press the Q key to take the shots.
To steady your aim when shooting, hold down the Shift (⇧) key. Then, click the Left Mouse button to take the shot.
To snipe a target, hold down the Right Mouse button to take aim, use the Mouse wheel to zoom in, hold down the Shift (⇧) key to steady your aim, and click the Left Mouse button to take the shot.
To enter cover, press the Space bar. To leave cover, press the Space bar again or move directly away from it. To vault over cover, use the W/A/S/D keys to turn to face the the object you're hiding behind, then press the E key. To move from cover to cover, face a new object and press the Z key.
Subject is the shining light of our combat training program. He shows no obvious weaknesses in either close- or ranged-combat scenarios and is equally formidable whether armed or unarmed.
Items can be used as weapons (e.g crowbars), distractions (e.g. radios) or both (e.g. fuel cans) in order to gain a tactical advantage.
There are many ways to remain incognito, including creating distractions and hiding bodies. To hide a body, press the B key to pick it up, use the W/A/S/D keys to drag it, and press the E key to dump it when near a suitable hiding place.
To adopt a disguise, hold the T key when next to a body or clothing bundle.
Use instinct mode to blend in. This will temporarily fool enemies with the same type of outfit as yours.
Use instinct mode to see usable items, locate objectives, predict enemies' walking paths, blend in when disguised, initiate “point shooting” and more.
To enter instinct mode, hold down the Control (ctrl) key (note that using instinct drains the Instinct meter).
You can fill the Instinct meter by completing objectives, creating distractions and taking out enemies stealthily.
You can learn more about your surroundings by pressing the Control (ctrl) key to activate instinct mode when prompted. Instinct hints can be disabled in the Hints and Instinct menu (Main Menu → Options → Hints and Instinct).
Many years of service have imbued subject with a well-developed “mental toolkit”. He displays extreme ingenuity when placed in high-stress scenarios, an innate capability to remain under-the-radar and finely honed instincts that furnish him with an unmatched insight into his tactical situation.
Although we are in possession of recently acquired CCTV footage of the target (attached), we have good reason to believe he has since moved on from this location. We are currently working on a number of leads and you can expect updates in due course.
Carry out - and create your own - custom hits on any level in Contracts mode. Challenge friends or take on assassins throughout the world in regional competitions and earn money to upgrade weapons and buy disguises.
To access Contracts mode, select Contracts from the game selection screen that appears when you launch Hitman: Absolution.
Detailed instructions on how to create and complete contracts can be found in the Tutorials menu, accessible from the Contracts mode Main Menu.
To create a hit, enter a checkpoint, mark your targets, make the kills and make your escape. You can target anyone on any available checkpoint and use any weapon, tool or disguise to customize the hit and shape the contract. When saving, decide how others should complete your hit. Will you challenge them to mimic your methods or allow them some freedom of approach?
The race is on to find the world's ultimate assassin. Good luck, agent - the clock is ticking!
Every effort has been made to make Hitman: Absolution as compatible with current hardware as possible. However, if you are experiencing problems when running Hitman: Absolution, please read on.
The latest version of the FAQs can be found by selecting the View FAQs button in the Support tab of the Hitman: Absolution pre-game Options window (this is the window that opens when you launch the game), or by going straight to the Feral website: http://support.feralinteractive.com
Contacting Feral
If the FAQs and/or updates do not solve your problem, then please feel free to contact us. The following information must be obtained before contacting Feral Technical Support:
All the information required can be obtained by opening Hitman: Absolution and clicking on the Support tab in the Hitman: Absolution pre-game Options window. In the Support tab, click on the Generate Report button. Once the report is generated it will appear as a file in your ~/Downloads folder (the “~” symbol refers to your home directory). Now click on the Create Email button. Remember to attach the Hitman: Absolution Report.txt file to your e-mail.
In your e-mail, please include a brief description of the problem you have experienced with Hitman: Absolution. We will do our best to help you.
E-Mail: support@feralinteractive.com
Please check the warranty information provided by Steam.
