IO Interactive apologizes for Hitman: Absolution’s “Assassin Nuns” trailer

My question is, apologize to who?

Hitman: Absolution Game Director Tore Blystad spoke to IGN during this week’s E3 Expo and the subject of the “Attack of the Saints” trailer naturally came up. It’s true, Blystad did apologize, but it was the kind of non-apology apology that the public usually finds infuriating. However, in this case, I think it was the right thing to say.

“We’re sorry that we offended people – that was truly not the intention of the trailer,” Blystad said.

Of course that wasn’t the intention of the trailer. Yes, they were nuns. And yes, they were wearing stripper heels and leather bodysuits underneath their habits. I can understand how that could offend someone. But the fact that the discussion looped around to “IO hates women,” when the scene is clearly aping imagery Quentin Tarantino has been putting in his films for decades was just bizarre. Blystad even says as much later in the interview:

“The Hitman games as a series has always been extreme in many ways. The religious themes have been there from the very beginning, along with outlandish party scenes. And there are a lot of movie influences in Hitman: Absolution, like Tarantino and Rodriguez. The grindhouse theme is something that we’re using throughout the game. It tends more towards sixties exploitation movies – these were a fascination [for us] because they were so extreme.”

Hitman: Absolution will be available for the PC, PS3, and Xbox 360 on November 20.

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John Scalzo is Warp Zoned's Editor-In-Chief and resident retro gaming expert. You can email him at john AT warpzoned DOT com.