Square Enix ends business with Hitman developer IO Interactive - Sensationalist Headlines

[quote]Square initially assumed ownership of IO when it bought Eidos Interactive, IO’s parent company. But in a statement released today, the Japanese publisher says “to maximize player satisfaction as well as market potential going forward”, they have “regrettably decided to withdraw from the business of IO INTERACTIVE”.[/quote] Sources: [url]http://kotaku.com/square-enix-splits-with-hitman-creators-io-interactive-1795115574[/url] [url]http://www.hd.square-enix.com/eng/news/pdf/20170511_01en.pdf[/url] [B]Edit:[/B] Square is apparently willing to sell Hitman rights along with IO. [url]http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-05-30-square-enix-willing-to-give-up-hitman-rights-to-ensure-series-future[/url]

But I want season 2 of Hitman.

I've been back playing Hitman again just now, and only a few minutes before this thread was posted I was saying, "I hope they do a Season 2 for this." and looking at the different companies in the Square Enix holdings. I mean literally at most like three or four minutes before this was posted.

[QUOTE=Doctor Zedacon;52213556]I've been back playing Hitman again just now, and only a few minutes before this thread was posted I was saying, "I hope they do a Season 2 for this." and looking at the different companies in the Square Enix holdings. I mean literally at most like three or four minutes before this was posted.[/QUOTE]Yeah, I 'm really worried about Season 2. Who knows if they have enough resources to finish it, or if they'll be forced to scrap it all together. I would hate to have another one of my favorite game franchises ended on a cliffhanger.

And I'm sure any problems Square have with IO are self inflicted - I couldn't imagine IO were the ones who made the decision to have the game be always online, for example. :/

[QUOTE=simzboy;52213564]Yeah, I 'm really worried about Season 2. Who knows if they have enough resources to finish it, or if they'll be forced to scrap it all together. I would hate to have another one of my favorite game franchises ended on a cliffhanger.[/QUOTE] Square Enix owns the Hitman IP, I'm guessing it's not a given that they'll let IO have that back.

And I assume that Squeenix is still going to keep the rights to the franchise, which means on top of probably not making another Hitman game, IO is going to lose the IP that they've been working on for the past 17+ years. This is despite the new Hitman being heralded as "an amazing return to form" by most that have played it. Unless they strike it big with a new concept and a new publisher, this could very well be the end of IO Interactive...

Not even 2 months ago they were teasing season 2, what the christ

This is fucking horseshit. Fuck Squenix, we finally got another Blood Money-tier Hitman game and they go and cut ties with the developer. [editline]a[/editline] I mean look, I understand that they've lost them a [I]shitload[/I] of money but fuck why would you end it [I]after[/I] they started making good content again? Why not cut ties after Absolution?

What shits me is when these companies "own" the IP. Almost as if they're happy hogging it while simultaneously sweeping it under the "forgot" rug. Not saying that it applies with every one of them, but that's what it feels like sometimes.

This is coming from the publisher who thinks the Tomb Raider reboot underperformed because it "only" sold 8 million copies. EDIT: Maybe their profit margin would be larger if they didn't pay for Denuvo DRM, and didn't have the server upkeep for a single-player game. Just a thought.

Save yourselves and make Freedom Fighters 2.

Well, this is a kick in the balls. Square is going to goof this ip up royally, Io's involvement has always been the main ingredient for a Hitman title. There's just a certain atmosphere about their games that can't be replicated. Must suck to lose their baby like that, Hitman is their bread & butter. It's like Team 17 not owning the Worms license anymore, nightmare scenario.

hitman season 1 was amazing what the hell

don't worry guys they're maximizing player satisfaction

I want to know who's side is responsible for this or if both just got sick of eachother. IO losing their primary IP and franchise to Square, who have been trying to ride easy money trains these past few years, is potentially crippling for them as a developer, so I can't imagine they'd just amicably give Square the middle finger in a huff and walk off on their own terms.

[QUOTE=Warborq;52213900] Square is going to goof this ip up royally, Io's involvement has always been the main ingredient for a Hitman title. There's just a certain atmosphere about their games that can't be replicated. [/QUOTE]I just realized how weird it would be for another developer to work on a Hitman game. It would be like if someone other than Valve released HL3. This whole thing is depressing for me. This series has been a favorite of mine for as long as I can remember.

This is so sad hitman is really good rn

This latest Hitman is incredible, it is a true successor and vastly improved. They have such a solid engine and foundation to build on, why square.

this is why intellectual property is a dumb concept

This is what fucking pisses me off about the games market. It seems like if a game is done properly (or at least trying to be - looking at you MGSV) that the developers get punished for it. Every. Fucking. Time. Is it any wonder we get served buggy, unfinished shite time after time in today's age?

I love the new Hitman, this is a kick in the teeth. Unless IO sort things out and can release Season 2 with a new publisher, SQUENIX has shattered my fragile heart.

Oh yeah, they published Deus Ex: Mankind Divided too, didn't they? Square Enix must be pushing all their money onto the Avengers stuff or into the announcement trailer for the FFVII remake.

[QUOTE=Bread_Baron;52214585]I love the new Hitman, this is a kick in the teeth. Unless IO sort things out and can release Season 2 with a new publisher, SQUENIX has shattered my fragile heart.[/QUOTE] Square owns the rights to Hitman, not IO

everytime i see publishers doing shit like this i begin to understand why valve both develops and publishes its own games

[QUOTE=Piciul;52214714]everytime i see publishers doing shit like this i begin to understand why valve both develops and publishes its own games[/QUOTE] What games?

[QUOTE=Piciul;52214714]everytime i see publishers doing shit like this i begin to understand why valve both develops and publishes its own hats[/QUOTE] fixed. honestly this might seem like a bad thing, but square is like the old ea right now i'd say staying away from them is the better choice. ea games actually still own the rights to freedom fighters a sequel could be so good right now let this be the good timeline for once.

There is no fucking justice in this world that I finally get a hitman game as good as Blood Money if not better, it gets a strange distribution system that hurts its sales and then never gets to be completed I never got the briefcase and dual silverballers

Square west are actually losing the plot. Eidos Montreal gets forced to include in-game purchases for Mankind Divided and split the game in half. Now this.

[QUOTE=Skyward;52214685]Square owns the rights to Hitman, not IO[/QUOTE] Yeah, but if they're doing this for the money then it would be in their best interests to sell off the series if a buyer came along.