HITMAN Developer Confirms a New Game Is Coming, Says 007 Is the Only External IP The Studio Would Work On
Agent 47’s world just got a high-profile visitor. HITMAN: World of Assassination has rolled out a fresh limited-time Elusive Target starring Eminem, available now and running through December 31. The contract is open to everyone as part of the Free Starter Pack, giving newcomers and veterans alike a chance to stalk one of music’s biggest icons inside IO Interactive’s signature sandbox.
IO Interactive breaks silence on what’s next
Alongside the update, IO Interactive shared a clear signal that the bald barcoded assassin isn’t done yet. The studio’s leadership indicated that another HITMAN entry will happen—just not before they push through their current slate. Expect the team to focus first on two major efforts already in the works: the James Bond project and an online fantasy RPG.
In the nearer term, the World of Assassination platform is set to evolve with cooperative play. IOI suggested that co-op will add fresh tactics and systemic wrinkles to the existing design, with more concrete details planned for next year. Once those plans are in motion, the studio intends to open up about the future of HITMAN as a full-fledged game.
That effectively marks the end of the franchise’s recent pause and sets the stage for Agent 47’s next chapter.
Why Bond fits—and why nothing else does
IO Interactive emphasized that it builds its own worlds and prefers to keep creative control. The notable exception is James Bond, which the team says aligns perfectly with its decades-long expertise in crafting elegant infiltration, spycraft, and high-stakes stealth. Beyond 007, the studio doesn’t intend to take on other licensed properties. Despite the Bond detour, HITMAN remains IOI’s flagship—its longest-running passion and the foundation of the studio’s identity.
007 First Light and the shape of IOI’s next game
IO Interactive’s Bond adventure, 007 First Light, is slated to launch on March 27, 2026. While HITMAN fans wait, there’s one more clue about the studio’s next game: expect a more guided, cinematic approach than the sprawling open-ended missions the series is known for. IOI has signaled a structure closer to story-forward action adventures, with tighter pacing and set-piece-driven design. It’s a different flavor from the clockwork sandbox of HITMAN, but one rooted in the studio’s strengths—immersion, tension, and meticulous encounter design.
What this means for HITMAN players
- New content now: the Eminem Elusive Target is live for a limited time and free via the Starter Pack.
- Co-op on the horizon: World of Assassination will expand with cooperative mechanics, with updates expected next year.
- HITMAN isn’t going anywhere: IOI intends to return with a new entry after current projects hit key milestones.
- Bond is the outlier: 007 is the only licensed franchise IOI plans to take on; everything else will be built in-house.
For now, it’s open season on a rap legend within one of gaming’s most intricate stealth sandboxes. And once the calendar turns and the co-op plans start to crystallize, don’t be surprised if Agent 47 steps back into the spotlight with his trademark quiet confidence—fiber wire in one hand, barcode gleaming in the other.
