Skip to main content [aditude-amp id="stickyleaderboard" targeting='{"env":"staging","page_type":"article","post_id":1893871,"post_type":"story","post_chan":"none","tags":null,"ai":false,"category":"none","all_categories":"business,games,media,","session":"B"}']

Hitman maker launches ‘Kill this ad’ video campaign

Wolfshark

Image Credit: Square Enix

Agent 47 sure gets around.

The main character of Hitman, the assassination game for the PC and consoles that debuts today, appears in a new ad campaign today that the creators hope will go viral. Dubbed “Kill this ad,” it’s is a clever way to publicize this release from developer IO Interactive and publisher Square Enix in the $99.3 billion gaming industry. Square Enix partnered with creative agency Omelet to create the marketing campaign.

[aditude-amp id="flyingcarpet" targeting='{"env":"staging","page_type":"article","post_id":1893871,"post_type":"story","post_chan":"none","tags":null,"ai":false,"category":"none","all_categories":"business,games,media,","session":"B"}']

The ad features a corrupt rich guy — the usual target for assassination in Hitman games — who goes by the name Wolfshark. The video ad starts playing, and you see various scenes with Wolfshark in it. The phrase “Kill this ad” appears on the right hand side.

Depending on when you click on the ad, you’ll see Agent 47 appear in a still photo scene with Wolfshark assassinated in a gruesome way. So each time you view the ad, you’ll see a different death scene. It’s macabre, but so very Hitman.

VentureBeat's mission is to be a digital town square for technical decision-makers to gain knowledge about transformative enterprise technology and transact. Learn More