You’ll be able to open up lasting level shortcuts in Hitman 3

Unlocked shortcuts will carry over to future playthroughs

Hitman 3 is building on the foundation of the last two games in many big and small ways, but that’s not to say there aren’t plenty of new elements, too. IO Interactive is experimenting with shortcuts in levels that, once unlocked by the player, will remain accessible from one sneaky session to the next.

You’ll know them when you see them: there’s even a “shortcut unlocked” pop-up on the screen.

An early example of the shortcut feature was shown off in a PC clip captured by Game Informer. If you’re wary of spoilers, note that the footage comes from Hitman 3‘s first level: the Dubai skyscraper.

IO Interactive told the outlet that persistent shortcuts are meant to “encourage exploration, reward curiosity, and incentivize replayability.” In other words, they’re partially for Hitman players who – bless their hearts – rush through levels and never come back to explore areas from every vantage point.

I like well-positioned shortcuts in other games, and in theory, I’ll like them in Hitman 3. They might be the kind of change of pace that some fans will find iffy, but it’s too early to call it one way or the other.

If you’re curious to see a tad more, Game Informer also has footage of the first five minutes.