Hitman World of Assassination hits iPhone/iPad: full-fat sandbox, mobile-sized questions

Hitman’s full sandbox lands on iPhone and iPad-here’s the real story

This caught my attention because Hitman is a systems-driven stealth toybox that lives or dies on precision, and IO Interactive is dropping the entire World of Assassination-25 locations-onto iPhone and iPad today. We’ve seen big-name native ports hit Apple devices (Resident Evil Village/RE4, Assassin’s Creed Mirage, Death Stranding), but Hitman is different: it’s slower, fussier, and unforgiving if the controls aren’t right. So, does this mobile move feel like a serious new way to play, or a pricey experiment?

Key takeaways

• It’s the full sandbox: all 25 locations are here, with a free ICA Facility and a Dubai Escalation to test-drive.
• Touch-first design plus full third-party controller support; MetalFX aims to keep visuals sharp.
• Pricing is flexible: $69.99 for the full game, or $2.99 per location if you want to go piecemeal.
• Freelancer mode and Apple silicon Mac release are “later this year,” not day-one.
• Device limits apply (A17 Pro or M-series iPads/iPhones), and it’s not available in France at launch.

Breaking down the announcement

IOI is launching Hitman World of Assassination on iPhone 15 Pro/Pro Max, all iPhone 16 models, iPad Pro/Air with M1 or later, and the A17 Pro iPad mini. That’s Apple’s high-end silicon club—no surprise given the game’s scope. The package includes the unified World of Assassination content (Hitman 1-3 rolled together), Contracts, Escalations, Elusive Target Arcade, and live features. You can trial the ICA Facility and a Dubai Escalation for free before buying anything, which is exactly how this should be handled on mobile.

On control options, IOI built a bespoke touch scheme with context-sensitive prompts that shift depending on what 47’s near. That matters when “accidentally vault” and “garrote from cover” live dangerously close together. If you’re not a touch believer, compatible controllers are supported—think DualSense, Xbox, and Backbone-style grips. Graphically, the port leans on MetalFX to upscale and clean image quality, which, in theory, means better fidelity without cooking your battery in 20 minutes.

The gamer’s perspective: precision vs. portability

Hitman’s best moments hinge on tiny inputs and timing: blending into a crowd without bumping a guard, placing a coin lure just-so, or lining up a fiber wire in tight spaces. That’s where touch controls usually fall apart. IOI says this scheme is “smart” and “flexible,” and if any studio can map stealth nuance to glass, it’s the one that’s been iterating on Glacier for years. Still, I suspect most players chasing Silent Assassin ratings will reach for a controller—especially on the smaller real estate of a phone.

Performance is the other big question. MetalFX has helped other recent iOS ports look surprisingly close to console while staying smooth. But we won’t know how stable long sessions are until the community puts Dubai or Mendoza through marathon runs. Thermal throttling and battery drain are the usual iPhone boss fights. The encouraging bit is that these levels were designed around dense simulation more than twitch reactions, so even a locked 30 fps—if that’s what IOI targets—can feel great in this genre.

Pricing that actually fits mobile play (mostly)

IOI went with a two-lane strategy: $69.99/€69.99/£69.99 for everything, or $2.99/€2.99/£2.99 per location (24 paid locations; the training area is free). I like this. Hitman levels are self-contained sandboxes you can live in for hours, so buying Sapienza or Paris for a coffee’s worth makes sense if you only want a killer commute game. Completionists will end up near the full price anyway, but there’s real value in letting people assemble a favorite-map playlist.

There’s a bonus Black Turtle Streak Suit for launching on iOS/iPadOS, which is a fun freebie but not a reason to buy. The one caveat I’m watching: Hitman has historically tied progression to online servers. If that’s unchanged here, folks planning offline flights or subways might lose unlocks while playing disconnected. IOI hasn’t detailed this in today’s notes, so we’ll need clarity.

Freelancer later, 007 vibes now

Freelancer, the roguelike-ish, campaign-length endgame that turned WOA into a forever game, isn’t day-one on mobile—it’s coming later this year. That stings a little because Freelancer is the best way to learn and re-learn maps under pressure. On the flip side, the current “Season of the High-Stakes” brings back the Le Chiffre Elusive Target through September 14, which is a clever tie-in while IOI builds its James Bond project. First Elusive Target on iOS is a strong start for live content cadence.

Why this matters beyond Hitman

Hitman previously hit Switch via a cloud version; this is a fully native mobile port. If it holds up, it’s another proof point that Apple’s A17 Pro/M-series devices aren’t just “can it run a benchmark?” toys—they’re handheld-class consoles when a studio actually optimizes. That’s good for players who want real games on the go without a streaming caveat or hotel Wi‑Fi roulette.

Caveats and open questions

• Storage footprint wasn’t detailed. Hitman’s a big boy; expect multi‑gig installs per location or a hefty base download.
• Cross-buy with the upcoming Apple silicon Mac release wasn’t mentioned. Don’t assume your iOS purchases carry over.
• Control customization depth matters. Can we remap common accidents (holster, vault, throw) cleanly on touch?
• Regional note: not purchasable in France at launch. IOI says an update is coming when that changes.

TL;DR

IOI just shipped the full Hitman sandbox to iPhone and iPad with proper controls and flexible pricing. If the touch scheme works and performance holds, this could be the best “real game” on mobile right now. Try the free Dubai escalation, bring a controller if you care about Silent Assassin runs, and keep an eye out for Freelancer later this year.