As you'll probably be aware, we're very excited about the launch of Hitman: Absolution next week. Hopefully you are too... and one of the best bits of the games - CONTRACTS mode, where you get to create your own customised hits and challenge your friends to beat them - is going to be free for everybody who plays the game.

Here's the official statement about it below.

We’re so excited that Hitman: Absolution is launching next week! In particular, we’re looking forward to all of the amazing ways players can challenge each other in the innovative CONTRACTS mode – where you get to call the shots.

We’d actually planned to have this mode accessible via a code in the game’s box, but we really want to make it available to anybody that plays the game – so we want to take a new approach.

If you’re in North America you’ll see the mode automatically appear in the game menu.

If you’re elsewhere, you can redeem the code inside the box, or you can simply select the BUY CONTRACTS PASS option. From there, head to the store where CONTRACTS will be free to access.

The only thing you need to worry about then is just how challenging your CONTRACT will be.

See you online!

So that's good then. No excuse for everybody not to get cracking as soon as the game's out in Europe and other PAL regions next Tuesday - we'll be talking more about the some of the cool CONTRACTS being created post-launch, so make sure to check back often.