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

Fuck you Square. At least Hitman ends on a high note though. They need to find a way to buy the rights back.

This is terrible news, Hitman is one of the most unique games on the market. What other Hitman alternative do you even have ? The last Splinter Cell was a commercial failure and is probably dead now. Thief was rebooted, but it wasn't received very well, probably dead too. And now Hitman itself is in trouble.

[QUOTE=zakedodead;52214543]this is why intellectual property is a dumb concept[/QUOTE] you clearly don't understand what ip is then. it's a great concept in theory, but it's abused by money hungry companies. on topic, this fucking sucks, i was actually looking forward to seeing what they would do with season 2 but squenix has other plans apparently. Deus ex is fucking dead, hitman is fucking dead, just cause 3 is a shell of its former self, FF VII is split into episodes EA might be questionable but at least they don't kill devs anymore, and they don't drop a successful series for no good reason. past titles not withstanding (rip mercenaries)

[QUOTE=LZTYBRN;52215848]EA might be questionable but at least they don't kill devs anymore[/QUOTE] EA announced they're looking to downsize parts of Bioware and put off another Mass Effect title for a year or so. It's already begun. [editline]•[/editline] I seem to remember they were pretty upset about Titanfall 2 as well, don't be surprised if Respawn gets swallowed in.

This has got to be a tremendous blow to IO. Afaik the new Hitman was episodic because of the shaky ground IO is standing on financialy. Loosing their flagship franchise to the publisher would, imo severely cripple IO's identity and any chances to make future entries into the series. I can only hope Square will give them back the license. However such actions would only happen in an "ideal world", and considering the recognition Hitman and Agent 47 can still pull. It would be highly unlikely that we live in an "ideal world"

[QUOTE=Steel & Iron;52215875]EA announced they're looking to downsize parts of Bioware and put off another Mass Effect title for a year or so. It's already begun. [editline]•[/editline] I seem to remember they were pretty upset about Titanfall 2 as well, don't be surprised if Respawn gets swallowed in.[/QUOTE] [quote]bioware and respawn[/quote] you mean those two studios that are both working on star wars titles right now? [editline]11th May 2017[/editline] for one bioware has multiple branches, montreal getting downsized is inconsequential because they proved that they can't mainline a game so they're pushed back into support studio status - both of respawn's games have come out to intense critical acclaim, they just need to apply their skills to the right marketable title

[QUOTE=coolgame8013;52215886]I can only hope Square will give them back the license. [/QUOTE] I suspect we'll see a new Hitman style game done by IO under a new name and without 47 or Diana.

[QUOTE=GrizzlyBear;52215946]I suspect we'll see a new Hitman style game done by IO under a new name and without 47 or Diana.[/QUOTE] I mean, it'd be a massive blow to lose such iconic characters and all, but simultaneously, Agent 47's already fulfilled the equivalent of any personal story arcs already and the series probably wasn't even meant to be continued with Absolution the way it was.

[QUOTE=coolgame8013;52215886]This has got to be a tremendous blow to IO. Afaik the new Hitman was episodic because of the shaky ground IO is standing on financialy. Loosing their flagship franchise to the publisher would, imo severely cripple IO's identity and any chances to make future entries into the series. I can only hope Square will give them back the license. However such actions would only happen in an "ideal world", and considering the recognition Hitman and Agent 47 can still pull. It would be highly unlikely that we live in an "ideal world"[/QUOTE] My only hope is that, well, IO is not worth as much without Hitman, so if Squenix wants to make some money with this sale Hitman IP should be included in the package. [QUOTE=RikohZX;52215985]I mean, it'd be a massive blow to lose such iconic characters and all, but simultaneously, Agent 47's already fulfilled the equivalent of any personal story arcs already and the series probably wasn't even meant to be continued with Absolution the way it was.[/QUOTE] Let's be honest here, with Absolution they didn't know what the hell they were doing. It was supposed to be what Max Payne 3 was, they even made Agent 47 have alcohol issues, that's where the scar comes from, he was all messed up and drunk, but they removed that cut-scene in final release and just showed him making the cut. The development was a mess. Still sold probably most copies in the franchise.

[QUOTE=GrizzlyBear;52215946]I suspect we'll see a new Hitman style game done by IO under a new name and without 47 or Diana.[/QUOTE] Honestly, that wouldn't be a huge loss. 47's look is iconic, but he's a non-character.

[QUOTE=Ager O'Eggers;52216142]Honestly, that wouldn't be a huge loss. 47's look is iconic, but he's a non-character.[/QUOTE]I think the biggest loss would be David Bateson. His voice is so iconic as 47. Never hearing him play that role again would suck.

[QUOTE=Ager O'Eggers;52216142]Honestly, that wouldn't be a huge loss. 47's look is iconic, but he's a non-character.[/QUOTE] He may not have the fame of Solid Snake, but to dismiss his standing as a recognizable character in gaming would be foolish. [B]edit[/B] Hell even with IO's portfolio ranging from.. Freedom Fighters Kane and Lynch Mini Ninjas IO will always be remembered for creating Hitman.

anxiously awaiting hitperson, starring spyster 48 and his mission control, dana

Don't get me wrong as I agree that only IO could do Hitman right, but here is hoping that if Squenix does keep the property that they do actual games with it. It would be an incredibly painful kick in the balls if it just amounts to Hitman cosmetics for Final Fantasy XIV, Or Agent 47 having a throwaway cameo in Kingdom Hearts.

ngl if 47 showed up in kingdom hearts that would be the funniest shit

what the fucking fuuuuuuuck [editline]12th May 2017[/editline] hitman tm was an oasis for me

[QUOTE=Steel & Iron;52215875]EA announced they're looking to downsize parts of Bioware and put off another Mass Effect title for a year or so. It's already begun. [editline]•[/editline] I seem to remember they were pretty upset about Titanfall 2 as well, don't be surprised if Respawn gets swallowed in.[/QUOTE] I can't tell you how tired I am of having to explain that Titanfall isn't owned by EA and Respawn is an independent studio who could at any time switch publishers. [editline]11th May 2017[/editline] [QUOTE=SteakStyles;52216419]Don't get me wrong as I agree that only IO could do Hitman right, but here is hoping that if Squenix does keep the property that they do actual games with it. It would be an incredibly painful kick in the balls if it just amounts to Hitman cosmetics for Final Fantasy XIV, Or Agent 47 having a throwaway cameo in Kingdom Hearts.[/QUOTE] They're gonna make a Hitman game that takes place in an alternate dimension with zombies and a bow-and-arrow and stuff called Hitman: Survive, obviously. That seems to be the latest trend for publishers who burn bridges with the people who built one of their most famous franchises.

legally speaking, could IO just raise the funds and buy back the rights? or are locked into some coporate contract meaning they've lost the rights forever?

[QUOTE=Ellistron;52216521]legally speaking, could IO just raise the funds and buy back the rights? or are locked into some coporate contract meaning they've lost the rights forever?[/QUOTE] Squeenix would have to be willing to sell it in the first place.

According to a German site IO will retain the rights to Hitman: [url]https://www.reddit.com/r/Games/comments/6arzuk/rumor_io_interactive_will_retain_hitman_rights/[/url]

[QUOTE=Chrille;52219668]According to a German site IO will retain the rights to Hitman: [url]https://www.reddit.com/r/Games/comments/6arzuk/rumor_io_interactive_will_retain_hitman_rights/[/url][/QUOTE] Please. I can take a lot of things but losing Hitman isnt one of them.

[QUOTE=simzboy;52216204]David Bateson[/QUOTE] He's even bald like 47

[QUOTE=Van-man;52219855]He's even bald like 47[/QUOTE] Seeing him in other media is amazing. [media]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9W4UC61_6I[/media]

[QUOTE=Van-man;52219855]He's even bald like 47[/QUOTE] He could have been the perfect actor for the Hitman movies, but no, had to bring someone else and turn them in cheap action flicks.

[QUOTE=Chrille;52219668]According to a German site IO will retain the rights to Hitman: [url]https://www.reddit.com/r/Games/comments/6arzuk/rumor_io_interactive_will_retain_hitman_rights/[/url][/QUOTE] thank god, taking hitman away from them just seems wrong. I wonder if sega or bethesda would buy them out, they seem like good publishers

Bump, sad news from IOI: [media]https://twitter.com/IOInteractive/status/866997673412501506[/media]

Okay, vage as fuck, nebulous tweets don't mean much.

[QUOTE=Storm12230;52268685]Okay, vage as fuck, nebulous tweets don't mean much.[/QUOTE] Pretty clear they're downsizing. Layoffs isn't good news.

[QUOTE=Dick Slamfist;52214857]..it gets a strange distribution system that hurts its sales..[/QUOTE] I'm really disappointed that Hitman's episodic distribution system is being rejected by the community. It's my favourite part of the game. I bought the first episode on a whim because it was just a few € and played it for a few hours, but then other games came along and I didn't have time to play more episodes. It saved me a lot of money that way while still allowing me to play a lot of Hitman.

It's true, they are downsizing. Someone I worked with at school got laid off. He had not been working at IO for long, but he's taking it rather well it seems.