IO Interactive Put Up for Sale, Hitman’s Future Uncertain

The developer of the popular Hitman game franchise is facing an uncertain future as Square Enix has decided to place IO Interactive up for sale. Square Enix issued a statement to shareholders that indicated IO Interactive has posted an “extraordinary” loss of $42 million for the financial year that ended on March 31, 2017.

That massive loss pushed Square Enix to focus on key franchises and studios. The statement Square Enix issued read in part, “To maximize player satisfaction as well as market potential going forward, we are focusing our resources and energies on key franchises and studios,” it said in the statement. “As a result, the company has regrettably decided to withdraw from the business of [IO Interactive], a whollyowned subsidiary and a Danish corporation, as of March 31, 2017.

“This decision has resulted in booking of the extraordinary loss amounting to 4,898 million yen, including disposition of the content production account related to the business and impairment loss of intangible assets, in the financial results for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017.”

As IO interactive goes up for sale, production has ceased on all ongoing projects reports Gamespot. That means that more Hitman content from the popular latest game in the Hitman franchise that offered players serial content where new targets had been offered up frequently is now stalled.

Square Enix says that it is negotiating with investors on a potential purchase of IO Interactive that might allow the game studio to continue operations. It’s unclear if the Hitman IP is part of these negotiations at this time. IO Interactive had previously stated that it was looking to offer two more seasons of content for Hitman, but it’s unclear for now if that will ever happen.