Hitman 5 gone?

folan

IO Interactive, creators of my favorite game series of all time, seem to be in some trouble. Having already been pushing back the release of the long awaited Hitman 5 from this year, to Christmas 2011 at the earliest, its now uncertain if the company will even exist then.

Article on joe.ie

Niels J&#248 wrote: »

I can confirm that we have made some internal changes at IO Interactive which has regrettably resulted in the loss of some jobs.

It seems that this is 30 jobs gone, but no mention of from where. A bit of speculation is that its down to the poor performance of K&L, which were just dreadful, and that its those teams gone, but since H5 is nowhere in site, can we expect anything to come from them? Is this the start of the end of Hitman?

Grumpypants

So no more Kane and Lynch ? Finally piracy pays off

Krieg

I doubt its the end. The hitman series is what made the company. They might have laid off some staff but they still have 150 people working there and the next hitman is their only announced project. I dont understand why they took a break from making another hitman in the first place, Its one of the few series that got better with every sequel.

Sisko

Fking love the hitman series. Since Hitman 1 on the pc.

Been dying to see what they could do with hitman 5 for ages, dammit.

Retr0gamer

Kane and Lynch has been a bit of a disaster for the developer and I'm not surprised. The first game was one of the worst games I've played in a very long time. It's a pity because Freedom Fighters and Hitman were so good. I'm not sure the current IO could pull off another good hitman game.

cian1500ww

The entire Hitman franchise was fantastic but maybe they'd be better ending it on a high rather than bringing out something that could ruin the franchise's reputation.

gizmo

From a report last week it seems an internal project was cancelled which resulted in the layoffs. Given the lack of more details I highly doubt it was Hitman 5 and was more likely another project from a different team within the studio.

Sisko

Sure hope your right Gizmo

Lukker-

It's because of the cancellation of an unannounced Microsoft project that the 30 people have been let go. Since Hitman 5 was already announced I'm highly confident that this will have no effect on the development of Hitman 5.

Shryke

I don't like that they may change 47's looks and voice to tie in with the film franchise. Don't know where I heard that now...

ProjectColossus

Shryke wrote: »

I don't like that they may change 47's looks and voice to tie in with the film franchise. Don't know where I heard that now...

Given the original voice actor's continued involvment with the series, I doubt they are doing that.

http://thegamingliberty.com/index.php/2010/10/21/agent-47-speaks-an-interview-with-david-bateson/

calex71

The last game on the 360 was awful (imo) so much so I never finished it. I freaking loved Hitman 2 on the ps2, and I was hearing 5 would be a return to form

folan

Really? BM wa possibly my favorite on the first run through. I've finished it several times now.

Anyway, I'm not so sure about the news. H5 has already been puched back by over a year, and thats never a good sign. so im currently waiting to get more news on what project it was that actually got cancelled in the end. And hoping it wasnt one that was costing alot and had no real release in sight, if you get my meaning.

Shryke

ProjectColossus wrote: »

Given the original voice actor's continued involvment with the series, I doubt they are doing that.

http://thegamingliberty.com/index.php/2010/10/21/agent-47-speaks-an-interview-with-david-bateson/

Glad to hear it (didn't read your link), then it would be a strictly cosmetic worry.

BM was good, Contracts was better for having more longevity. 2 Would be my most played but that would have been when I played games more actively anyway. A new game would be good, they've done well with the narratives on the older ones.

Getting up at your own funeral and blowing everything with a pulse away

might have been a bit cliche but it was well done.

eezarthegreat

ProjectColossus wrote: »

Given the original voice actor's continued involvment with the series, I doubt they are doing that.

http://thegamingliberty.com/index.php/2010/10/21/agent-47-speaks-an-interview-with-david-bateson/

THIS

After K&L2, IO will be clutching at every penny due to the sheer investment they put into it.

Shudda' stuck with Hitman and Mini Ninjas

Sisko

ProjectColossus wrote: »

Given the original voice actor's continued involvment with the series, I doubt they are doing that.

http://thegamingliberty.com/index.php/2010/10/21/agent-47-speaks-an-interview-with-david-bateson/

Wow great interview, it truly is disappointing that he didn't get to play the role in the movie, like all fans would have loved.