Since his first appearance in Hitman: Codename 47 in 2000, the antihero of the Hitman franchise has often been a man of mystery. Since that first title, there have been half a dozen Hitman games, spin-offs, and soft reboots, with a Hitman 3 recently revealed at a PlayStation 5 event as a next-gen title. The newest game is slated for a release sometime in 2021, meaning the Hitman franchise has officially spanned two decades.
The protagonist, Agent 47, is the forty-seventh clone in a long line of assassins. He also has a barcode on the back of his head, which may seem odd to people who haven't played any of the games or to Hitman beginners. Even people who've only played one or two of the games in the Hitman series may be a little confused, because not every title recaps the character's backstory. So, why exactly does Agent 47 have a barcode tattoo on the back of his head?
The Hitman franchise has been highly successful, and even spawned a couple of movie adaptations. The games are also known for their string of celebrity cameos, with actor Sean Bean most recently portraying a character in Hitman 2. Combining stealth and action, Hitman is all about Agent 47, a paid assassin who works for a clandestine organization. Often portrayed in a nice suit and with a bald head, Agent 47 has one strange identifying mark, but thankfully none of the people he attempts to fool seem to notice.
Where Agent 47's Barcode Comes From
To understand the full meaning of Agent 47's barcode tattoo, players have to consider the antihero's backstory in Hitman. Agent 47 is a clone, and his title is just a numeral assignment meaning he's the forty-seventh clone in a long line of assassins. The barcode ends with the numbers 47, which additionally explains how he got the title. Agent 47 received this barcode tattoo to allow him to access certain areas in the facility where he was cloned and trained.
The barcode tattoo, like all real barcodes, can be scanned for information. Agent 47's tattoo is scanned and lets him through security checkpoints inside the facility where he was made. It's not a necessary feature or piece of equipment to use in the field; instead, it's purely indicative of Agent 47's backstory. It's a curious detail to his features that sheds some light on his creation as a clone. During the events of Hitman: Absolution, 47 even attempts to cut this barcode off.
When Hitman 3 releases on next-gen consoles like the PlayStation 5, it may explain more about Agent 47's barcode tattoo. The franchise is always growing and changing and deepening its lore, so the barcode may have a more important role in the future. For now, it's simply a way to indicate Agent 47's backstory of being a clone in the Hitman franchise.