IO Interactive is launching the GOTY Edition of its 2016 Hitman action adventure today, and the independent studio is using this as an opportunity to update fans on the state of franchise. IO left Square Enix this past summer after the publisher announced plans to sell the studio. Now out on its own, IO wants fans to know that more Hitman is on the way.
In a blog post on the IO Interactive website, chief executive officer Hakan Abrak explained that the company has remained quiet since spinning off from Square Enix to examine itself and to determine its identity. Abrak says that through producing the new GOTY Edition content, IO has established a foundation for the future. He also noted to fans that buying the new content is the best way to help it accomplish the goal of making more Hitman.
“Your support will directly help us to continue on our independent journey towards the next Hitman game and beyond,” reads Abrak’s blog post. “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.”
While the Abrak post talks about the “next Hitman,” this could refer to Hitman Season Two. The 2016 game rolled out through the course of that year in five major episodic content drops with regular, smaller weekly updates. A new Hitman could continue that model, build on it, or abandon it for something else. We won’t find out exactly what the followup looks like until next year.
“One last thing about our next Hitman game,” added Abrak. “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.”
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