IO Interactive Confirms New 'Hitman' Game Announcement In 2018

Video game developer IO Interactive has confirmed that it’s working on a new “Hitman” game. No information was given on when the new entry in the “Hitman” series will arrive, but fans and gamers should expect some announcements to arrive sometime next year.

“Your support will directly help us to continue on our independent journey towards the next ‘Hitman’ game and beyond. We’re in this together and we promise that we will channel our passion and skills to shine through in everything that comes from this studio,” IO Interactive CEO Hakan Abrak said as part of the company’s celebration of the launch of “Hitman - Game Of The Year Edition.”

“One last thing about our next 'Hitman' game; I want to let you know that we’re making great progress and we have exciting new features and some franchise firsts, which we can’t wait to tell you all about. You’ll have to wait a little longer as we don’t plan to start talking about that until some point in 2018.”

Unfortunately, that’s all the IO Interactive CEO was able to share about the upcoming new “Hitman” game. The good news here is that IO Interactive appears to be maintaining a state of normalcy after unexpectedly becoming an independent game studio earlier this year.

Back in May, Square Enix announced that it was parting ways with IO Interactive as part of its plan to focus its resources to its other franchises and studios. At the time, fans were worried about the future of of the “Hitman” franchise. In June, IO Interactive announced that it has become an independent studio and has complete control over the rights to the “Hitman” IP.

Since then, the studio has released new monthly content for the 2016 “Hitman” game from August up until October. Also in October, IO announced “Hitman - Game Of The Year Edition,” which was just released yesterday. “Hitman - GOTY Edition” includes the complete first season, the brand new Patient Zero campaign, new Escalation Contracts, new weapons, suits and challenges.

In Abrak’s blog post, the IO Interactive CEO took the time briefly talk about what’s been happening behind the scenes ever since the company became an independent studio.

“We’ve kept intentionally quiet since then, because we needed to focus inwards at what we want IOI to stand for, in terms of our employees, our culture and our ambitions and dreams for the future. It’s been hard and challenging work, but also incredibly exciting as we lay the foundations for a new start for this special studio,” Abrak said.

“Today feels like a good opportunity to update you on how and what we’re doing as we have passed 7 million players in the game and we are releasing the first new content since the conclusion of Season One, in the form of our Game of the Year Edition of ‘Hitman.’”

Abrak also said that the release of the GOTY Edition of “Hitman” 2016 was IO Interactive’s way of showing appreciation for all its fans and players that have continued to support the game. “More and more players are joining HITMAN every day and we want to keep delivering on the promise of our ever expanding World of Assassination,” Abrak said.