Hitman World of Assassination devs say Elusive Targets are captured from studying talent over many hours and 'bespoke craftsmanship' rather than scans — 'You can have the 3d mesh completely right and still not feel like it looks like the person'

IO Interactive reveals that Hitman World of Assassination Elusive Targets are handcrafted, not scanned. Senior level designer Marin Ansdal explained that the creation process doesn't involve any scanning or motion-capture techniques. Instead, the team starts with a hand-drawn concept for each character before a character artist models and textures the model.

Ansdal emphasized that creating a likeness often requires striking a balance between realism and caricature, which a scan just can't achieve. Junior concept and character artist Lovisa Österman shared that she spends hours studying references of the talent to understand their facial features from every angle before beginning the design process.

She stressed the importance of getting the textures right, including freckles, spots, and flaws, to truly recognize the person. Even if the 3D mesh is perfect, the texture details are crucial for making the character look like the real person. The studio's target selection process involves level designers and writers once a celebrity or public figure is on board.