IO Interactive Confirms Hitman 4 as Studio Eyes Post–007 Future

IO Interactive has a lot going on right now, but the company still made a big announcement: Hitman 4 is happening. Even though Project 007 is still getting a lot of attention, the company has made it clear that Agent 47's story is still not over, even if fans have to wait longer than they thought.

The debate reignited after IO Interactive's most recent comments were found in a new story. This made many fans wonder if this was the first time the studio had officially confirmed the next installment. 

But fans who have been watching for a while already know that IOI has made hints about Hitman 4 before. In fact, the studio hinted at the franchise's continuation as early as 2021, so this new confirmation is less of a shock and more of a relief.

Even for people who knew it was going to happen, it's still big news. Hitman is still one of IO Interactive's most popular and famous games. Even though the studio has been trying new things, it seems likely the famous stealth series will return. Hitman is more than just a product for IO; it's a big part of who they are.

Our best-known game is Hitman..." Hitman will be back.

IO Interactive says that Hitman is still the studio's main project. The team says that the World of Assassination era won't be the last time we see Agent 47, even though they are working on Project 007 and a whole new IP called Project Fantasy.

The people who made Hitman knew that his journey was difficult, especially in the most recent trilogy. Hitman (2016) is praised now, but it had a rough start because it was released in episodes, which hurt sales. But over time, the trilogy turned into the best version of the series. It's now an interconnected sandbox experience that many fans think is the best.

IO also discussed their plans to add co-op gameplay to Hitman, calling it a "really good extension to the universe." They are going to provide more information next year, which suggests the brand is about to try new things it has never done before.

You'll hear more about Hitman co-op next year.

The company was honest about how long it would take to make the movie. Hitman is still getting updates, but IO Interactive is also working on other projects at the same time:

• We're almost done with Project 007
• Hitman changes all the time
• Work on Project Fantasy by a small group
• Early stages of Hitman 4 (probably after 007)

Because of all this work, the next Hitman game won't come out for years. "One and a half, maybe two full things at a time" is what the company can do, but making an AAA IP like 007 takes a lot of their time and attention.

Fans shouldn't expect Hitman 4 until at least the early 2030s, since 007 comes out next year. Based on IOI's production cycle and the way they release big games every other year, a good guess is that Hitman 4 will come out between 2030 and 2032.

Of course, there will be another Hitman.

IO is sure of itself because the World of Assassination series did so well in the end. The games got better, grew, and came together into a single live-service platform. Now, IO Interactive looks ready to make a follow-up that changes things rather than just copying what already worked.

Hitman 4 might not just be an update; it might change what the game is all about. The next game will almost certainly change the formula, just like the last three movies changed the series. Change is built into the show.

Still, Project 007 is the main focus for now. The developers could release Bond and Hitman games back-to-back if that one does well, giving both series room to grow. But if the Bond project doesn't do well, the company might switch back to Hitman before they planned.

Eyes on the prize... The next best thing is 007.

Fans should now be thinking about what IO Interactive wants them to do next: show off all of Project 007's games. The debut is set for this Wednesday, and more thorough breakdowns will follow soon after. It's a big bet for the company that Bond will do well. If so, it could affect Hitman 4.

But even though we have to wait a long time, Agent 47 will come back. And IO Interactive wants fans to know that they're not done with the bald killer who helped make their name.