IO Interactive has stated that they really want to return to the Hitman series—more precisely, they CAN’T WAIT to get back to its development!
They want to return and fully focus on the Hitman franchise, but they are currently focused on 007 First Light and a new project called Project Fantasy. A new Hitman game hasn’t been officially announced yet, but it’s basically confirmed—especially after what the developers have said. They are planning a big upgrade and innovations for the next entry.
So yes, Hitman is coming back—but not yet.
For now, there is still no official announcement of Hitman 4, at least not yet. The studio has been busy with 007 First Light (the James Bond game) and a completely new IP, Project Fantasy. That’s why the gap between games is longer than usual.
The CEO said they want to upgrade, reinvent, and innovate the series. This suggests that the next Hitman won’t be just another sequel, but a much bigger evolution of the franchise.
IO Interactive doesn’t want to release just another safe sequel—they want to build a new foundation with the engine and systems, not just add new missions. Otherwise, it becomes too repetitive. And since they’re working on 007 First Light and Project Fantasy, they’re learning new mechanics that they can later bring into the next Hitman game.
All of this means the next Hitman could be the biggest leap in the series so far.
The last main game was Hitman 3, released in 2021, while World of Assassination is still receiving content. IO Interactive is now an independent studio, so it’s developing multiple big projects at once. But it’s logical that they’ll always want to return to Hitman, since it’s their main IP—their identity.
This confirms that Hitman is far from over, but the wait has already been long—5+ years. AAA games are becoming more complex due to new technologies, so development takes longer because of ambition. And most importantly, IO Interactive is trying to raise quality instead of just spamming sequels.
Hitman is definitely coming back—but there’s no date and no official announcement yet. Their focus is currently on other games.
Now the question is: will the new Hitman be a reboot-ish title, or a true sequel?
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