A string of mysterious clues supposedly relating to the next Hitman game have surfaced online today, which could be hinting at an imminent E3 reveal for the long-awaited next instalment in IO Interactive's most eagerly-anticipated project. IO has been devoting time to Kane & Lynch in recent years, but could it be time for Agent 47 to finally step back into the spotlight?

A series of images documented by HitmanForum.com, apparently with contributions from IO's community manager, started off with a bizarre advertisement in the Sundance Film Festival catalogue, depicting a box of doughnuts bearing a barcode ending in 47 and the brand 'Hitman Series.RU' in the corner.

A forum member followed up the image by enquiring about it to the advertiser, which resulted in the sending of a second image of what appears to be a script - again bearing a barcode ending in 47 - and Agent 47's signature black leather strangling gloves. A third and final image then turned up, showing storyboards of some description, featuring the Hitman logo, and - yes, you guessed it - another barcode.

IO Interactive and its community manager are remaining tight-lipped about all of this, declining to confirm anything despite the unsubtle clues and hints in the images. Barcodes ending in 47, black gloves, paperwork, doughnuts... What does it all mean? Speculation suggests that it could all be an elaborate nod towards an E3 unveiling, but until we hear something official, we'll adopt our usual stance of caution on this one. Have a look at the three tell-tale Hitman images below.

Source: http://www.xbox360achievements.org

It's just a coincidence. :P