Agent 47's Encore: IO Interactive Says 'Of Course' More Hitman Is Coming (Eventually!)
AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer ·
IO Interactive has confirmed that Agent 47 isn't going anywhere, assuring fans that more Hitman games are planned for the future, with a co-op mode featuring Stone and Knight coming first. This news arrives amidst the studio's focus on the upcoming *007 First Light* and a mysterious *Project Fantasy*, signalling a wildly diverse and ambitious roadmap for the acclaimed developer.
Right, so you know how sometimes a wizard gets a bit too busy brewing potions for an upcoming festival and forgets about their favourite, eerily silent familiar? Well, it seems IO Interactive (IOI) had us Hitman fans feeling a bit like that neglected cat, what with all the buzz and development focus around their upcoming James Bond origin story, *007 First Light*. But fear not, fellow assassins and chaos-causers, because the word from the top is in, and it's music to our impeccably tailored ears.
IOI’s head honcho, Hakan Abrak, in a chat with *Variety*, practically scoffed at the idea of us never seeing Agent 47 again, declaring with an air of absolute certainty that “of course” there’ll be more Hitman in the future. “Of course,” he says! You’d think after years of subtle nods, rumour-mongering, and the general unpredictability of the gaming industry, we’d be a bit more cynical, wouldn't you? But honestly, a little part of my digital heart just did a happy little jig. It's like finding a hidden chest full of gold after painstakingly solving a ridiculously obscure puzzle; you knew it was there, but the confirmation still hits different. This isn't just about another game; it's about the continuation of a legacy, a style of gameplay that's become almost singular in its excellence.
Now, before you go dusting off your fibre wire and planning your next impeccably disguised, accidental-looking demise, there's a slight magical detour to navigate. Abrak made it clear we'd have to get through “this year and next year” before proper news on the *next* Hitman drops. Fair enough, I suppose. These things take time, especially when you're busy crafting the origin story for one of the most iconic spies in fiction. But what he *did* tease for the nearer future is something rather spicy: *Hitman co-op*.
“Co-op is a really, really good extension to the universe,” Abrak told *Variety*, promising it would “introduce very interesting mechanics and combinations in World of Assassination.” And get this, mates: the co-op mode will feature two names you might recognise if you dabbled in *Hitman Sniper*: Stone and Knight. These two were always a bit of a background mystery, weren’t they? Now, they're stepping into the limelight to tackle “exciting missions” from the Hitman world with a pal by your side. This isn't just a simple add-on; it's a fundamental shift in how we approach the carefully constructed sandbox levels we've come to adore. Imagine the possibilities! Two agents, two distinct sets of skills – or two absolute numpties trying to coordinate a synchronized takedown and ending up in a hilarious, bullet-riddled mess. That's the beauty of it, isn't it? The sheer, glorious, optimistically chaotic potential of a plan gone sideways with a mate by your side. It’ll challenge players to rethink everything, to truly experiment with how two sets of eyes and hands can manipulate the intricate clockwork of a Hitman level. Will it lead to emergent gameplay moments we've never seen before? I'm betting my lucky dice it will.
Of course, all this Hitman goodness is bubbling away in the background while IOI pours its considerable talent into *007 First Light*. This Bond origin story is set to land on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2 (yes, that's still a thing we're waiting for!) and PC on March 27th next year. From what Eurogamer's Alex got to glimpse, it's “so much more than Hitman,” with a “breathing” structure that makes it sound like “the ultimate composite video game.” High praise indeed, and it certainly piques the curiosity. It's always a good sign when a studio, even one as consistently excellent as IOI, is trying to push boundaries and not just rest on its laurels.
But wait, there's even more bubbling in IOI's alchemist's lab! Beyond Bond and the future Hitman escapades, they're also cooking up something known only as *Project Fantasy*. This unrevealed, multiplayer fantasy project is described as “extremely ambitious and really cool and is something [other] than a gun in a suit.” Bloody hell, that’s a pivot, isn’t it? From impeccably tailored suits and silent assassinations to... dragons and broadswords? It's like discovering your favourite barista is also a world-renowned opera singer. Unexpected, but potentially brilliant. It really underscores the idea that IOI isn't content to be typecast as 'just the Hitman studio,' even if Hitman is what many of us love them for. It shows a genuine drive for creative exploration, which, for us gamers, can only mean good things in the long run.
So, while we’re all eagerly awaiting Bond’s first steps into espionage and then a whole new dimension of Hitman co-op chaos, it’s genuinely reassuring to know that Agent 47’s story is far from over. It’s a classic case of 'good things come to those who wait,' isn't it? And if the wait means more innovative gameplay across multiple franchises, then I reckon it’s a small price to pay for what promises to be a very exciting few years from IO Interactive. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to brainstorm some two-person stealth scenarios that will inevitably end in utter disaster.
Original insights and reporting by Victoria Phillips Kennedy for Eurogamer.
Tags: Hitman, IO Interactive, 007 First Light, Game Development, Co-op Gaming
Original article: Eurogamer