When the first season of Hitman concluded it seemed like a certainty that a second season would arrive. IO Interactive’s latests efforts with the Hitman series are not only their best to date, but most ambitious in the delivery structure of the content. When it was announced that Square Enix would part ways with the developer, this certainty started to sound more like a possibility.
News recently hit the web that IO was downsizing after the announcement, but it appears that, at least from Square Enix’s perspective, they want the series to live on. The way this happens is through finding an external investor that will carry the torch.
The english transcript of the recent financial disclosures for Square Enix reveals a little more about the future for Hitman and the prospects for Season 2.
“Lastly, I would like to comment on our withdrawal from the IO Interactive A/S business. Our decision to withdraw from the IO Interactive A/S business was the result of a review of our portfolio that we conducted as part of our effort to concentrate our resources in order to strengthen our development capabilities. Because the firm is engaged in the development of “HITMAN” and other renowned titles, we are negotiating with prospective external investors capable of ensuring that these titles carry on.”
So just who could be these prospective investors? Perhaps a big publisher might be able to take on a leaner version of IO and the Hitman license, the likes of EA, Ubisoft, Activision, or someone else entirely? Maybe a first-party platform holder will bring Hitman into the fold as an exclusive game for their system.
We could be staring down the barrel of an E3 announcement come press conference time that reveals a new partnership between someone and IO Interactive.
