Hitman developer IO Interactive definitely seems to have busy times on the horizon. In addition to expanding with a newly opened third studio, the developer is currently also working on Project 007, while Hitman – even though it’s currently taking breather – is obviously going to have a future as well. On top of that, it also looks like the developer is working on something new- and something very different from its usual output.
Windows Central’s Jez Corden recently published report which claims that IO Interactive is working on a fantasy RPG in partnership with Microsoft’s Xbox Game Studios Publishing label. Exact details on the game are allegedly not finalized or known very well yet, with Corden stating that what the final game looks like might differ from what it was pitched as, but he does describe it as being set in a connected world, which would suggest online mechanics. Previously, Corden had teased that Xbox was working with a third party developer on an ambitious, connected game.
IO Interactive has, of course, confirmed before that it’s working on a new IP, and as Windows Central’s report points out, the studio has also been on a recruitment drive, with many job listings calling for work on multiplayer. In fact, one listing in particular explicitly mentions that it’s for the “Dragon” department, which is interesting, to say the very least.
It sounds like the project is very early in development, so we may not hear about it for quite some time, but it’s interesting to see IO Interactive branching out to do something so different from their usual work, not to mention the fact that they’ve supposedly partnered with Microsoft for the same. It remains to be seen how it all shakes out, but we’re definitely going to keep an eye on it, so stay tuned.