Hitman: Absolution drops online pass

This week's Hitman: Absolution will not include an online pass. Publisher Square Enix has announced that the game's Contracts mode was planned as being accessible only through a download code in the game's box, but the company has had a change of heart.

Gamers in North America will automatically see the Contracts game mode from the title's menu. Those in other regions can either redeem the code in the box or select "Buy Contracts Pass" where it will be available for free.

It is not clear what Square Enix had originally intended to charge for the Contracts game mode, though similar offers from other publishers run around $10.

Hitman: Absolution's Contracts mode has players creating their own customized assassinations and challenging friends to beat them. For more on Hitman Absolution, check out GameSpot's review.