sixteen-bit
Member
I hope those affected land on their feet
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Layoffs at IO Interactive
- Thread starter Dinjooh
- Start date
How are players and reviewers at fault?
alfredofroylan
Member
And that passion project will be remembered for the creation of Giantbomb.
Piston Hyundai
Member
also the sequel was fucking cool
EvilKatarn
Member
I regret thinking last year that Square Enix is treating their western stuff well. Deus Ex, Hitman, Tomb Raider all seemed to be going up and up. Sleeping Dogs should have been a sign.
Now the studios are getting sold off or tossed into the Marvel sweatshop. Ugh.
Now the studios are getting sold off or tossed into the Marvel sweatshop. Ugh.
witchedwiz
Member
Sigh..
Damn shame, the last hit man was REALLY, REALLY good
Damn shame, the last hit man was REALLY, REALLY good
rockman zx
Member
Such a same, someone should take care of them, Hitman is an awesome game.
I don't think the game sold well. I doubt SE would pull their funds if the game did well.
FrontalMonk
Banned
As I noted on twitter, this is the second worst piece of news I've heard in the last 24 hours, next to Manchester, and I haven't even had my second cup of coffee yet. It's too early for this shit. Godspeed to all those affected, I hope they land on their feet. This is a black day. 
More_Badass
Member
This is depressing. They make one of the best games of 2016, one of best franchise comebacks ever in gaming, and now this
FrontalMonk
Banned
Yeah. This is a classic case of "no good deed goes unpunished". HM2016 was more of a return to form than Human Revolution was.
MosquitoSmasher
Member
Please don't say this. Dishonored 2 didn't do too well but they still let them make Prey. I really really don't want to see Arkane go.
There were rumors that IO would keep Hitman. But I wonder if a buyer has been found already.
Boss Doggie
all my loli wolf companions are so moe
So the rumor of IO keeping the hitman copyright is false?
Inded. While it's sad to see people losing their jobs, potential customers aren't a charity. It's not their responsibility to support the studios making games. Likewise with reviewers, it's not their job to sell games. People will buy whatever they want to play. It's unfortunate that these games aren't in enough demand in today's market, of course, but that's the risk every developer takes.
Alpha Phoenix
Member
The difference is Arkane isn't under SE. SE is the problem here.
Interfectum
Member
Aangster
Member
FFS Square: all the individual talent contributed to what HitmanTM so great. I'm incredibly concerned for Hitman's future but alas, survival first for its only (and deservedly so) maker.
While those gimps at Square Europe/UK are at it, have they considered firing their marketing heads? Niche products will never sell volumes like popular series, but the fact they didn't use marketing strategies to overcome these obstacles, leaving IOI to do most online communication, is fucking embarrassing. Like the publisher work done for Deus Ex, they should take a good and hard look at the qualityTM content they pumped out for both franchises, especially the stuff they put out on their YouTube channel: the pack of embarrassing fucks.
On a side note, I think Arkane are in a much better position with publisher Bethesda Softworks, although the complete lack of narrative DLC says a lot about Dishonored 2's sales performance.
While those gimps at Square Europe/UK are at it, have they considered firing their marketing heads? Niche products will never sell volumes like popular series, but the fact they didn't use marketing strategies to overcome these obstacles, leaving IOI to do most online communication, is fucking embarrassing. Like the publisher work done for Deus Ex, they should take a good and hard look at the qualityTM content they pumped out for both franchises, especially the stuff they put out on their YouTube channel: the pack of embarrassing fucks.
On a side note, I think Arkane are in a much better position with publisher Bethesda Softworks, although the complete lack of narrative DLC says a lot about Dishonored 2's sales performance.
ElBoxyBrown
Banned
This is probably the only way a season 2 gets made.
Huge shame. Best game of 2016 to this.
It's been in development since mid last year.
It's been in development since mid last year.
I understand the game didn't sell as SE wanted. Financially, I understand it was a moderate success but sadly, that means nothing for these publishers.
What Square Enix doesn't understand is that Hitman isn't a franchise that moves big numbers like Final Fantasy or Kingdom Hearts.
xrnzaaas
Member
This is probably the only way a season 2 gets made.
Yep. They probably have some stuff for season 2 ready, now they need to finish it as a smaller studio and hope that the good word about the game will continue to spread so hopefully they can become bigger again in the future.
I'm interested if they're going to keep the episodic model and the always online requirement for season 2. I wouldn't be surprised if they released season 2 as one package so they could immediately offer it in retail form as well.
More_Badass
Member
I wouldn't say it's dead as a concept. This seems very typical of a company like Square Enix to just give up and a fairly successful project like this one, because it didn't sell to their insane expectations.
Muffin1611
Banned
Wow, I didn't know so many thought the last Hitman was one of the best games of 2016. I never finished it, because the technical issues were horrible, but I can see how it is that good for some.
Hope they'll still be able to continue the series.
That too.
Hope they'll still be able to continue the series.
That too.
Demoskinos
Member
Ugh. That sucks. This industry is cut-throat. Sucks that a game as amazing and polished as Hitman apparently didn't do that well sales wise.
Hope these people land on their feet and I also hope IO get to finish at least season 2 of Hitman.
Hope these people land on their feet and I also hope IO get to finish at least season 2 of Hitman.
EnlightenedMint
Member
Such a bummer, they made one of the best games of 2016 and this is what happens.
Best of luck to all the employees let go, hope they manage to land on their feet.
Best of luck to all the employees let go, hope they manage to land on their feet.
MosquitoSmasher
Member
Oh damn, that I didn't know. They really can't cancel that!
Comrade Crunch
Member
Edit: Topics were merged, original post no longer makes sense.
Spukc
always chasing the next thrill
Pretty impressive
Screaming Meat
Unconfirmed Member
That happened after Absolution too, I think. Man, I hope they all find work soon. Good luck, faceless developer people!
lordfuzzybutt
Member
I've said this before in a previous DE:MD thread and I will say this again:
Fuck you SE, you incompetent shitpile of a publisher.
Fuck you SE, you incompetent shitpile of a publisher.
Interfectum
Member
That wasn't IO.
It was there game. EO caused the firing ut they also benefitted from the game gettinf better sales. Either way hope EO goes belly up someday too.