Hitman WoA Downpatching

What is downpatching?

Downpatching refers to installing an older version of a game to utilize features that are not present in the current version of the game.

For Hitman, its uses include the ability to do things like strafing, molotov accident kills, and generally playing on a stable version of the game to ensure that strategies remain working regardless of the changes IOI makes to the game.

This works on Windows as well as Linux using Wine / Steam Proton. The ability to downpatch is also restricted to PC, namely the Steam and Epic Games platforms.

Important information

SRC submissions allow you to play on all patches excluding those from the first year of the game's release (3.10.0 - 3.70.0), this means you are allowed to submit runs on any patch from 3.100 to current.

As of version 3.230.1, the entitlements were updated, this means that game versions older than this will need a compatible version of Peacock to play the game. The version of Peacock that should work with patch 3.230.0 and older is v8.2.0, while the latest version will work with v3.230.1 and up, as well as the official servers for the game.

Notable patches

If you do not know where to start and you would like to run trilogy, patch 3.230.1 is recommended for its access to strafing, all of the latest strategies, and generally less RNG for said strategies. For individual level runs in general, patch 3.230.1 is again recommended because of the convenience of being able to be used with official servers, but certain levels like Miami and Mumbai would be better served by going further back. Below is a table detailing some notable changes to help you choose a patch to play on.

Downpatching instructions

Steam

Video walkthrough

• https://youtu.be/l80Nvw1DfPo

Text instructions

Setup

• Create a folder on your computer for where you would like to download the game
  • Example: C:\HitmanDownpatch
• Install Steam DepotDownloader from here: https://github.com/SteamRE/DepotDownloader/releases/latest (download the zip for your operating system, e.g. DepotDownloader-windows-x64.zip on Windows or DepotDownloader-linux-x64.zip on Linux, then unzip it to the folder you just created)
• Download the downpatch script for your OS and put it in the folder you just created:
  • Windows: Hitman WoA Downpatch.bat
  • Linux: hitman-woa-downpatch.sh (then in a terminal in that folder run chmod +x hitman-woa-downpatch.sh)
• If you plan to patch the files of your original game install to save disk space, right click Hitman WoA in your Steam Library > Properties > Updates > Wait until I launch the game
  • This will prevent Steam from trying to auto-update the game (in theory)
  • This may not stop Steam from updating to a new version of the game when IOI releases one, and you may need to downpatch again
  • Screenshot for Reference
    

Downpatch instructions

• For the next step, refer to the table below to check the manifest ID's. Alternatively you could use SteamDB or the spreadsheet mentioned at the table below.
• Copy the manifest ID of the patch you would like to download, then run the script in the folder you just created:
  • Windows: open Hitman WoA Downpatch.bat, paste the manifest ID using right click, then press enter.
  • Linux: run ./hitman-woa-downpatch.sh, paste the manifest ID, then press enter.
• Afterwards you will be prompted to put in your steam username and password, if you have any additional 2FA enabled, you will also need to fill that in.
• After DepotDownloader finishes downloading, you're free to either add it to steam as a non-steam game, or overwrite your main game install's files:
  • If you want to keep both the current game install and the downpatched versions, you can simply add the game to steam as a non-steam game by clicking ADD A GAME on the bottom left of your steam client, clicking Browse on the window that pops up, and locating the folder you just installed the game to, going to the Retail folder, selecting HITMAN3.exe, and adding the game to steam.
    
  • If you want to replace your current install game files with the downpatched version to save file space on your system, open your original install (Steam > Hitman > Settings > Manage > Browse Local Files) and drag the contents of the folder you just installed it in to there.
    
• Unlike with Epic, you can launch the downpatched game as normal through the official Steam client as you normally would.

Authentication issues

If the .bat / .sh DepotDownloader method fails to log in, you can download the same depot through Steam itself instead.

• Open the Steam console using a browser or the Windows Run dialog (Win + R) by going to steam://open/console, or in Steam click the console tab if you already have it enabled.
• Run download_depot 1659040 1659041 <MANIFEST_ID> using the same Steam manifest ID from the patch table.
  • Steam will download the files into a folder it creates, usually under steamapps\content\app_1659040\depot_1659041 inside your Steam install.
• Add that download as a non-steam game, or overwrite your original game files, in the same way mentioned above.
• If opening the game then fails with a “Failed to initialize Steam” error, create (or download this file) named steam_appid.txt in the Retail folder and put only the text of 1659040 in it.

Epic

Video walkthrough

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Uzx9CJf-uk
  • Credits: Tinosaurus

Text instructions

Command line stuff / prereqs

• Just know the very basics
• Right click folder in Windows Explorer > Copy address as text
  • Screenshot for Reference
    
• Type cd <DIRECTORY_ADDRESS> into your command line / terminal to navigate to that directory in the command line
  • <ALLCAPS> in the below documentation should be understood as a stand-in value for your actual credentials / files, please substitute with the correct capitalization, and without angled brackets unless otherwise indicated.
• Right click to paste into terminal / command line
• If for some reason a directory has a space in it (e.g. C:\Program Files...), then please surround it with single quotes for any command line arguments, e.g. cd 'C:\Program Files...', or it won't work

Setup

• Create a folder on your computer for where you would like to download the game
  • Example: C:\HitmanDownpatch
• Legendary is essentially a modded game launcher for Epic that will allow you to downpatch
• Install Legendary from here: https://github.com/derrod/legendary/releases/latest (just download legendary.exe if on Windows, and put it in the folder you just created. On linux remember to use chmod +x on your legendary file, so you can execute the application.)
• See this document on more information on how to install Hitman WoA with Legendary specifically: https://github.com/solderq35/hitman-tech-tips/blob/main/misc/h3legendary.md
• General Legendary documentation: https://github.com/derrod/legendary/blob/master/README.md
• Before proceeding further, open the official Epic Games Launcher, click profile picture in upper right, then go to Settings > Manage Games > Uncheck "Allow Auto Updates". Otherwise, the game will update itself to the latest version automatically again if you ever open the Epic Games launcher later for any reason.
  • Screenshot for Reference
    

Downpatch instructions

• For the next steps, refer to the table below for specific patch manifests. Download the manifest you want.
• In Terminal / Command Line, navigate to the folder you just created with cd <INSTALL_LOCATION>, e.g. cd C:\HitmanDownpatch
• Run the following commands. All of the following except legendary launch should only have to be completed once per downpatch:
  • legendary auth
  • legendary install Eider --manifest <WHERE_YOU_INSTALLED_MANIFEST>
    • EXAMPLE INPUT (with my filepath): legendary install Eider --manifest C:\Users\Legion\Downloads\Eider_Windows_6041891.manifest
    • Eider is a "code name" so to speak for Hitman WoA in Epic / Legendary
    • If you get asked if you want to install offline or if you want to install DLC's, say yes.
    • You might get 403 errors on the download; the Epic / Legendary servers aren't very stable for downloading. Either wait it out, or hit Ctrl C to cancel the download and try again.
  • legendary verify Eider
  • legendary repair Eider
    • The two commands above of verify and repair are needed because often times, at least a few downloaded files will be corrupted. Your game will not launch if files are corrupted, so you should verify and repair always after installing the downpatch files.
  • legendary launch Eider --skip-version-check
    • The --skip-version-check argument is needed on a downpatched game, or it won't launch.
    • NOTE: You can ONLY use legendary to launch the downpatched version on Epic. The official Epic Games Launcher won't let you launch the game when downpatched!



Example of using a multi-patch setup with Heroic for Epic Games versions of the game

• This assumes you already have your desired version(s) of the game downloaded. This tutorial will use the latest retail build at the time of writing (v3.280.0) and the retail molotov accidents build (v3.120) as a baseline, but should be adaptable for any retail + downpatch build setup, including more than two downpatched builds.
• This tutorial will be written specifically for linux, but most of this will also apply on windows.
• Once installed in heroic, go to your library, right click on Hitman 3 and click on settings.
• Next, go to the Advanced Tab, and find "Select an alternative EXE to run".
• Click the folder icon to open your file explorer of choice.
• Next, go to your folder storing the DOWNPATCHED BUILD of choice.
• Go into the retail folder, and find HITMAN3.EXE, and choose that as the alternative exe to run. If you wish to swap from one downpatched version to another, just change the alternative EXE accordingly.
  • Note: The downpatched version SHOULD follow the game settings for your live install of the game, but this has not been confirmed to be 100% true. If you need the launcher for some reason, remove the alternative exe from the advanced settings, and then launch the game normally through Heroic.
• Start the game, through heroic, and it will launch you into the downpatched build of your choice.
• Use the PeacockPatcher, or OnlineTools accordingly to connect to your Peacock instance. While this downpatched build will connect to the official servers as of writing this guide (9/9/26), the menus will look buggy.
  • (LINUX ONLY) If you need to run PeacockPatcher for an older build of the game, Launch the game first. Then go back to Heroic, and access game settings again by right clicking on Hitman 3. Then go to the WINE tab, and click on "Run EXE on Prefix". Run the PeacockPatcher.exe appropriate for your version of the game. When closing the game, if you close the game before the patcher, the patcher might hang, and you will have to terminate it.
  • If you wish to revert your heroic install to use the latest patch, you can just clear the alternative EXE to run option, and it will launch your retail game instead.

Misc info

• Both Steam Depot Downloader and Legendary require you to own the game on Steam or Epic respectively to download the required files.
  • Note that the free Steam Demo of Hitman WoA lets you download all the patch files, although you may not be able to do much with them, as explained below.
• The manifest files provided / linked require you to own the game on Steam / Epic to play the game with. Piracy is not condoned.
• In general, any edition of Hitman WoA actually has you install all the game files, buying DLC just unlocks access. No matter what DLC you own, downpatching will similarly give you all game files. But you might not be able to play all of it if you don't own access to them.
• The downpatched files from Steam and Epic are mostly but not completely compatible with each other. Any files ending with .rpkg are cross-platform. However, the Launcher.exe and Hitman3.exe will only work on the platform they are designed for.
  • Due to an inability to get earlier versions of the .exe files from Steam Depot Downloader, Steam Hitman WoA is probably locked onto versions of January 2022 or later.
• "Downpatching" Hitman WoA with the following methods is not true downpatching like you will see in other games.
  • The game server will remain the current version, which can cause some strange interactions (more on this later).
  • Technically you can use an older game version along with an older version of Peacock, but this would mainly just help you avoid some visual bugs. Also some older versions of Peacock are not archived publicly.
  • Generally speaking the current game server is fine for our purposes on patch 3.230.1 and after.
• Some items or missions from later patches are available on earlier patches. Here are some general guidelines regarding compatibility (non-exhaustive list, do not take as universal truths)
  • A suit / item with messed up name but with a thumbnail (insert screenshot later) will work if equipped.
    • In general, a missing thumbnail indicates that an item is unusable on that patch. If you equip it, it will not show up in inventory after you are loaded in (for item), or you will not be wearing it (for suit).
  • A mission (main mission, contract, escalation, etc) will work even if the thumbnail is gone and name is messed up.
    • However, a mission that says "Get Access" will not work
  • In general, some items are internally introduced to the game's servers before they officially become available in a patch. In a downpatched game state, you can access some items earlier than you should be able to (with fully working thumbnails and normal item name).
    • For instance, Molotov can be accessed in the downpatch state as far back as January 2022 (with non-glitched UI / thumbnail), although it was only introduced to the game officially in July 2022.
    • Because of this, while the official game patch notes / roadmaps are a good guideline for when an item would be available, it is not 100% correct.
  • In general, you can unlock items on an older patch. As long as the mission / item involved are playable (following guidelines above), it should work. Even if the item has messed up name and the challenge name UI is also messed up, it will unlock. When you return to current patch, you will retain that unlock you completed on old patch.
  • You will not lose progress, mastery, or challenge completion by downpatching, in general.
    • Exception: Some items / missions will be unplayable, or simply not there on older patches. In this case, your new patch unlocks won't carry over. See guidelines above.

Acknowledgements

• Thank you to Solder for the original site this was based off of as a lot of information was directly copied from that.
• Thank you to Notex for providing the latest manifest files.
• Thank you Tinosaurus for updating the Epic instructions.
• I would also like to include the original acknowledgements from the original site:
  • Thank you Notex for sharing the Legendary manifest files (Legendary manifests are only generated if you played the game on that patch, so you would have to have played the game on every patch on Legendary since launch to have them all otherwise), and also giving valuable advice on this topic
  • Thank you Tinosaurus for troubleshooting this process with me as well, and creating a video tutorial for Epic / Legendary downpatching
  • Thank you Legendary and Steam Depot Downloader once again for making this possible