IO Interactive’s Hitman series appears to be taking a bit of a backseat while the studio works on its upcoming James Bond game 007 First Light. However, while the spotlight is on bond for now, IO is making plans for a Hitman 4.
Speaking to Variety, IO Interactive CEO Hakan Abrak explained that the studio is definitely not leaving the series behind to make Bond. Right now, the Hitman team is working on additional Elusive Targets for the current World of Assassination, but a brand-new game is also planned.
“Of course there will be more Hitman,” the CEO told the outlet. “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 Hitman coop, because I think co-op is a realy, really good extension to the universe, and will introduce very interesting mechanics and combinations in World of Assassination.”
Abrak then said, “we will, after that, be talking about the next Hitman—because, of course, there’s going to be a next Hitman”, confirming that the fourth game will be announced sometime later in 2026.
IO Interactive left the Hitman series behind for a spell after the release of Blood Money, but the modern series has proven significantly more popular than the older games. With the sheer success of the World of Assassination trilogy, IO doesn’t want Agent 47 to take a backseat, but the now larger studio is working on more than just Hitman 4.
Alongside the upcoming stealth game, IO Interactive is also working on Project Fantasy, an unannounced new IP that was described by Abrak as a “multiplayer fantasy project”. Very little is known about the game at the time of writing, but the IO Interactive CEO explained that it’s “really cool and is something else than a gun in a suit”.
At the time of writing, IO Interactive has just launched its latest elusive target for Hitman: World of Assassination, the platform that combines the entire modern trilogy into one package. Dubbed Eminem vs Slim Shady, the new target tasks players with eliminating the 90s alter ego of the iconic rapper.
For more stealth gaming news, read about the latest update on Ubisoft’s long in-development Splinter Cell Remake, which still doesn’t have a release date.
