The recent revamp of the Hitman series was a bold, new approach to a formula that had started to feel a little rote and stale. The sequel, Hitman 2, is, very much more of the same wacky stealth action as the 2016, but it also added a new co-op feature: co-op sniper maps. You and a buddy (online) could play as two other ICA agents - Stone and Knight - to take down three targets from afar. To date, there's only been one of these Co-Op Sniper Maps, but a new one was added a couple weeks ago and another one is on the way.

With all the craziness surrounding this fall's game releases, it's easy to forget that Hitman 2, the sequel to one of the most unexpectedly good games of 2016, will also be available.  More importantly, it'll have its very own co-op mode!

IO Interactive announced yesterday that everyone's favorite silent assassin (if you're doing it right), Agent 47, will be returning in a brand new "world of assassination" in Hitman 2. This is a direct sequel to the episodic and extraordinarily fun quasi-reboot of Hitman that dropped in 2016. What's particularly exciting this time around is that a new co-op mode, called "Sniper Assassin," has been added, and it's available to play right now.

Welcome to Beyond Co-Op, the weekend column that rounds up some of the interesting stories from the week outside of the co-op sphere of interest.

I have a secret.  For many years now I've secretly desired a game like Hitman that allowed multiple players to plan and execute a kill.  In fact, almost 3 years ago I thought about starting a column here on Co-Optimus with the premise of having the community contribute to co-op game design ideas, with the first column being about the very topic.  Sadly, it looks like a true Hitm​an game with co-op isn't coming anytime soon - mostly due to the fact that Agent 47 as a character is a bit of loner.