IO Interactive Is An Independent Studio Again


IO Interactive Is An Independent Studio Again

IO Interactive has reached an agreement with Square Exix to become an independent studio again, while at the same time retaining the rights to the Hitman franchise.

The news was announced by Hakan Abrak via the IO Interactive website.

"I am proud to announce today that IOI is now officially an independent studio," Abrak stated. "We have successfully concluded our negotiations with Square Enix and have agreed to a management buyout. Crucially, we will keep all of the rights to the Hitman IP.

"This is a watershed moment for IOI. As of today, we have complete control over the direction for our studio and the Hitman IP – we're about to forge our own future and it's incredibly exciting. We are now open to opportunities with future collaborators and partners to help strengthen us as a studio and ensure that we can produce the best games possible for our community.


"I would like to say a big and sincere thank you to all of our players, community, friends in the media and everyone else connected to the studio for the messages of support that we have received in the last few weeks. I would also like to thank Square Enix; it has been a great family to be a part of and we are proud of what we have achieved together in the last eight years.

"IOI started as an independent studio and we will now return to those roots with an extremely passionate and talented team."

This all started back in May when Square Enix announce it was withdrawing from IO Interactive which they purchased in 2009, on March 31, 2017.

Though later that month, Square noted that they were negotiating with investors to ensure Hitman titles would "carry on". And here we are.

This is great news for Hitman fans and IO Interactive. Now we just need a Blood Money remaster and we will be set!