HITMAN Developer Confirms a New Game Is Coming, Says 007 Is the Only External IP The Studio Would Work On
HITMAN: World of Assassination has just received a new update, introducing none other than rap icon and GRAMMY and Academy Award winner Eminem as the latest limited-time Elusive Target mission, available in the game from now through December 31st. This mission is available globally for free starting today as part of the Free Starter Pack, so everyone can get a shot at killing the Slim Shady for good.
As part of an interview with Variety on this update, HITMAN developer IO Interactive practically confirmed that a new game will come at some point, despite the studio currently being busy with 007 First Light and the unnamed online fantasy roleplaying game. CEO Hakan Abrak said:
Of course there will be more HITMAN, but right now, I think we need to get to the other side of this year, and next year you’ll get more news about co-op, because I think co-op is a really, really good extension to the universe, and will introduce very interesting mechanics and combinations in World of Assassination. But we will, after that, be talking about the next HITMAN.
It appears that the hiatus IO Interactive placed their beloved IP in two and a half years ago has officially come to an end.
In the Variety interview, Abrak also added that 007 is really the only external franchise that IO Interactive would work on, as it fits with their expertise so well:
We’ve created other original IPs from the ground up — Bond is actually the only external, licensed IP that we’re working on. And I would say that’s probably the only IP we will work on externally that is not ours. Somehow, it kind of made sense after 25 years of rehearsing for the agent fantasy and doing 007. That was a match made in heaven, you could say. But there’s no doubt HITMAN has been our flagship game, our long love for all the time IO Interactive has existed.
007 First Light is scheduled to launch on March 27, 2026. Long-time HITMAN fans should, however, know that the studio’s next game will be a bit more linear, with clear inspiration from the likes of Naughty Dog’s Uncharted. You can learn more in our exclusive Gamescom 2025 interview with Senior Licensing Producer Theuns Smit.