Hitman series is most likely dead as Square Enix looks to sell. - Press F to strangle it with piano wire.

[Ruin]

Square Enix has yet to say what exactly this means for the future of Hitman (we've asked for comment), but it doesn't look good. The £33m writedown may be the result of canning development on a second season for the game.

IO's troubles will come as a shock to many, given last year's Hitman turned out to be one of the best Hitman games ever and certainly one of Square Enix's best games in recent memory. But did it sell well enough for the suits at Square Enix? The new Hitman was sold as an episodic title before being bundled together on disc. IO has also continued to support Hitman with a raft of updates and in-game events (May marks the 14th consecutive month of new content releases into the game), and players had expected season two to kick off sooner rather than later.

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2...find-a-buyer-for-io-future-of-hitman-in-doubt

 

[_blank_]

When I first heard about this, I was fucking pissed. Hitman is easily one of my favorite vidya franchises, and the latest teration which released last year was phenomenal, despite the hate it got for being episodic. I got it day one and I had loved watching it grow and get more and more fine tuned throughout the year. Easily in my top 3 for 2016, if not my GOTY.

At this point, I'm just about done with Square-Enix's horseshit. Let's go down the line and look at see how well they've handled their other properties that aren't FF-related...

Sleeping Dogs - Shuttered develop United Front
Crystal Dynamics - despite selling 4 million copies, still said TR 2013 didn't live up to expectations. Made Rise of the Tomb Raider a timed X1 exclusive, which I'm sure fucked up their sales as well
Eidos Montreal - Unceremoniously shut the lid on Deus Ex and the studio is now has them working on some stupid Marvel tie-in game.
Avalanche Studios - Severely hampered Just Cause 3 production and nearly made it a FTP multiplayer-only cluster.
...and now, IO Interactive is the latest victim of these shitheads.

Good news though, IO Interactive apparently still owns the rights to the Hitman franchise, and rumor is that Season 2 of Hitman is actually already halfway done, so hopefully another publishing outfit will pick them up. I know Deep Silver saved a ton of THQ studios, so maybe they'll be willing. Or as a longshot, maybe Bethesda could pick them up, as they dd some awesome work with other European studios like MachineGames (Wolfenstein)...

...but yeah... I just don't want Hitman to fade into obscurity.

 

[Ruin]

When I first heard about this, I was fucking pissed. Hitman is easily one of my favorite vidya franchises, and the latest teration which released last year was phenomenal, despite the hate it got for being episodic. I got it day one and I had loved watching it grow and get more and more fine tuned throughout the year. Easily in my top 3 for 2016, if not my GOTY.

At this point, I'm just about done with Square-Enix's horseshit. Let's go down the line and look at see how well they've handled their other properties that aren't FF-related...

Sleeping Dogs - Shuttered develop United Front
Crystal Dynamics - despite selling 4 million copies, still said TR 2013 didn't live up to expectations. Made Rise of the Tomb Raider a timed X1 exclusive, which I'm sure fucked up their sales as well
Eidos Montreal - Unceremoniously shut the lid on Deus Ex and the studio is now has them working on some stupid Marvel tie-in game.
Avalanche Studios - Severely hampered Just Cause 3 production and nearly made it a FTP multiplayer-only cluster.
...and now, IO Interactive is the latest victim of these shitheads.

Good news though, IO Interactive apparently still owns the rights to the Hitman franchise, and rumor is that Season 2 of Hitman is actually already halfway done, so hopefully another publishing outfit will pick them up. I know Deep Silver saved a ton of THQ studios, so maybe they'll be willing. Or as a longshot, maybe Bethesda could pick them up, as they dd some awesome work with other European studios like MachineGames (Wolfenstein)...

...but yeah... I just don't want Hitman to fade into obscurity.

They also killed the planned Sleeping Dogs MMO which I personally would have played the shit out of.

 

[Cato]

Hitman: Absolution was absolutely terrible and the marketing for it was even worse. It wasn't a Hitman game. I abandoned the series after it and never looked back in spite of hearing that the most recent title was much better and returned to their roots. When I vaguely heard about the episodic release for that one, it further validated my thoughts and I didn't want to bother with it.

It wouldn't surprise me at all if a good chunk of other Silent Assassin/Contracts/Blood Money players bailed on the series over these decisions and that contributed to poor sales. I can't say I particularly care about the series dying since it has been completely mishandled regardless.

 

[Coster]

I'm praying so hardcore that IO can get saved by this. I finally got around to playing the new Hitman and I am floored in how well it's handled. It took the best aspects of Absolution (blending in, instinct wallhacks, certain people being able to recognize you even if you're in disguise) and combined it with the design philosophy of Blood Money. I'm not a fan of the whole episodic thing and it seems hard to market a game on six levels alone (as content-heavy as they are) but every level thus far is built so well and so fun to play multiple times. Throwing shit is the best mechanic period, I can pick up an entire arsenal of hammers, Dr. Peppers, and bricks to just clock the fuck out of people with when they aren't looking.

 

[Trans Fat 41g]

I was hoping they'd retcon Absolution or at least retell it in a way that actually fits the Hitman story, or rather, make it an actual HITMAN game with a HITMAN plot. None of this Uwe Boll action-drama bullshit.

 

[Secret Asshole]

Square Enix is one of those companies where if it sells less than 10 million copies, its time to shutter the studio, fire everybody and sell the IP. Their expected sales figures are fucking insane and unrealistic. They really should sell off their IPs, stick to Final Fantasy and join Konami in the pachinko machine business.

 

[AnOminous]

Square Enix is one of those companies where if it sells less than 10 million copies, its time to shutter the studio, fire everybody and sell the IP. Their expected sales figures are fucking insane and unrealistic. They really should sell off their IPs, stick to Final Fantasy and join Konami in the pachinko machine business.

They really should try real hard, hunt down a fire, and die in it.