IO Interactive Shelves Hitman Series In Favor of 007 and Fantasy RPG

As IO Interactive shelves the Hitman series, it will focus on 007 and its fantasy role-playing game, and we've got the details here!
By: - Published:
Hitman 3 Agent 47 Looking At Castle
Image: IO Interactive

After concluding the World of Assassination trilogy with Hitman 3, IO Interactive is putting the iconic Agent 47 on an indefinite hiatus. CEO Hakan Abrak and creative lead Christian Elverdam discussed shelving the assassin in a recent interview with Edge magazine.

In a recent interview, the Danish studio confirmed the decision, stating their desire to pursue other creative avenues while acknowledging the franchise’s lasting legacy. They don’t want to leave Agent 47 alone forever, but they do want to focus on other projects that they’ve got lined up.

“There’ll be more chapters written in the Hitman story, that’s for sure, but for now, we’re excited to explore new worlds and gameplay experiences.”

Christian Elverdam

The decision to leave Hitman alone is a significant change for IO Interactive, which has been synonymous with Hitman for over two decades. The series established the studio as a leading developer in open-world stealth games, with Hitman 3 receiving positive critical reception for its expansive levels and intricate assassination puzzles. Even still, Hitman seems to be going into a holding period.

IO Interactive has long expressed intentions to broaden its portfolio. Their upcoming slate features two ambitious projects: Project 007, a reimagining of James Bond’s origin story, and Project Fantasy, an online RPG venturing into an entirely new genre.

“The success of the World of Assassination trilogy allowed us to take risks and build upon our expertise. With Project 007 and Project Fantasy, we’re aiming to deliver immersive worlds and compelling narratives that cater to different types of players.”

Hakan Abrak

The developers have left the door open for future installments of the Hitman series. The franchise is too popular to quit, but their opportunities to create more worlds must be prioritized. For now, IO Interactive is embarking on a new chapter, leaving gamers and critics anticipating their next daring ventures.

Jorge A. Aguilar

Jorge A. Aguilar

Jorge A. Aguilar, also known as Aggy, is the current Assigning Editor.

He started his career as an esports, influencer, and streaming writer for Sportskeeda. He then moved to GFinity Esports to cover streaming, games, guides, and news before moving to the Social team where he ended his time as the Lead of Social Content.

He also worked a writer and editor for both Pro Game Guides and Dot Esports, and as a writer for PC Invasion, Attack of the Fanboy, and Android Police. Aggy is the former Managing Editor and Operations Overseer of N4G Unlocked and a former Gaming editor for WePC.

Throughout his time in the industry, he's trained over 100 writers, written thousands of articles on multiple sites, written more reviews than he cares to count, and edited tens of thousands of articles. He has also written some games published by Tales, some books, and a comic sold to Telus International.

Comments

Leave a Comment

All comments go through a moderation process, and should be approved in a timely manner. To see why your comment might not have been approved, check out our Comment Rules page!

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.