Hitman Franchise Surpasses Milestone, Cements Gaming Dominance

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

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

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 games into one package, while maintaining 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's Twitter announcement celebrated this "monumental" achievement, highlighting the studio's robust current business state. While specific contributing factors weren't detailed, Hitman 3 likely played a significant role, given its strong sales performance in markets like the UK and its faster return on investment compared to previous iterations.

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

The game's two-year presence on Xbox Game Pass, concluding in January 2024, significantly boosted player numbers. Equally impactful was the free starter pack offered since the game's 2021 launch, alongside free demos for the first two trilogy entries. These initiatives broadened the game's reach considerably.

Hitman Franchise on Hiatus, New Projects Underway

While Hitman: World of Assassination continues to receive regular updates (including elusive targets), IO Interactive's current focus on the franchise appears limited to smaller content drops. The studio is currently diverting its resources to two new projects: Project 007, a James Bond game in development since 2020, and Project Fantasy, a new IP announced in 2023 that explores a fantastical setting.