Hitman Franchise Reaches Monumental Player Milestone

Hitman: World of Assassination Reaches 75 Million Players, a Monumental Milestone for IO Interactive

IO Interactive proudly announced that Hitman: World of Assassination has surpassed a remarkable 75 million players. This achievement solidifies its position as potentially the studio's most successful title to date. The impressive player count encompasses those who downloaded the free starter pack and those who experienced the game through Xbox Game Pass during its two-year tenure on the service.

It's important to note that World of Assassination isn't a single game, but a compilation of the latest Hitman trilogy. Following the release of Hitman 3, IO Interactive cleverly bundled the three titles into one package, while retaining the option for individual purchases. This combined trilogy relaunched on PC and consoles in January 2023 and expanded to the Meta Quest 3 in September 2024.

On January 10th, IO Interactive celebrated this "monumental" achievement on Twitter, highlighting the studio's robust current business standing. While specifics regarding individual game contributions remain undisclosed, Hitman 3 is likely a significant factor, given previous sales data showing its outperformance in key markets like the UK, and faster recoupment of development costs compared to its predecessors.

Xbox Game Pass and the Free Starter Pack: Key Drivers of Success

The game's availability on Xbox Game Pass for two years (until January 2024) significantly contributed to this impressive player count. Equally impactful is the free starter pack offered since the game's 2021 launch, along with free demos for the first two trilogy entries, which broadened the game's reach considerably.

Hitman Franchise on Hiatus, New Projects on the Horizon

While Hitman: World of Assassination continues to receive regular content updates (including Elusive Targets), IO Interactive's current focus on the franchise appears to be limited. The studio is actively developing two separate projects: Project 007, a James Bond game in development since 2020, and Project Fantasy, a new IP announced in 2023, which explores a fantastical setting and marks a departure from the studio's established style.