THE BUZZ: Del Rey have announced that a new novel based on the “Hitman” games will be released this summer.

EGM’s TAKE: Written by Raymond Benson — who wrote the books “Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell” and “Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Operation Barracuda,” and co-wrote the novel inspired by the game “Homefront” — “Hitman: Damnation” is set between the games “Hitman: Blood Money” and the upcoming “Hitman: Absolution.”

“Hitman: Damnation” is the second novel to be based on the game series. The first, “Hitman: Enemy Within,” came out five years ago, about a year after the game “Hitman: Blood Money.”

As for “Hitman: Absolution,” it is slated to be released this year, and in light of this novel news, we’re thinking summer or early fall might be a good bet.