According to an unnamed source the german Gamestar reports that the IP rights for Hitman will stay with IO Interactive and not with the publisher Square-Enix.
They also report that season 2 is half way through development.
Currently they look for new investors.
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If it's a S. Enix mandate, I hope IO does patch it out.That was a publisher decision.
I imagine if IO could keep the IP and make the intended two additional Seasons, this always-online thing would be the first thing patched out.
If it's a S. Enix mandate, I hope IO does patch it out.
If it's a S. Enix mandate, I hope IO does patch it out.
That would actually be good for Nintendo. Make IO Interactive develop mature ips.
I hope they drop the mandatory Online to progress BS for season 2.
I don't think you have any grasp on this game at all if you're going to make value judgements based on the content, only to then dismiss what this game offered. Numerous large, replayable maps with tons to explore. Elusive targets, escalations, and user-generated maps. This game easily justified its full price tag.
The price tag is not justified by the effort you put in a game but by the sales it generates. That's just business.
Selling sub-800 000 units for a very well-known IP like Hitman says something clear about whether the model was successful or not, especially since players and critics generally liked the game.
Another thing to factor in (which few here seem to be doing) is whether an IP like Hitman is a viable AAA product at all. It was at some point (Hitman 2), but the market has changed completely. Both Absolution and now HITMAN have been black holes for all the money put into them.
I like the Hitman ip, or at least the potential it has, but it isn't going to survive unless it undergoes a major re-think. Apparently, Square just don't see a future in it as a AAA title, or in any other form or they would shut down the studio and move the IP elsewhere.
A major re-think is the last thing Hitman needs. IO already tried that with Absolution. Let's not forget what happened to series like Dead Space, trying to rethink and recalibrate a seris into something it's really not to try and draw in the masses. Hitman may be a relatively niche IP, bit trying to twist and chsnge it to make into what counts as a super marketable seller for the general audience would hurt more than helpI like the Hitman ip, or at least the potential it has, but it isn't going to survive unless it undergoes a major re-think. Apparently, Square just don't see a future in it as a AAA title, or in any other form or they would shut down the studio and move the IP elsewhere.
A major re-think is the last thing Hitman needs. IO already tried that with Absolution. Let's not forget what happened to series like Dead Space, trying to rethink and recalibrate a seris into something it's really not to try and draw in the masses. Hitman may be a relatively niche IP, bit trying to twist and chsnge it to make into what counts as a super marketable seller for the general audience would hurt more than help
A major re-think is the last thing Hitman needs. IO already tried that with Absolution. Let's not forget what happened to series like Dead Space, trying to rethink and recalibrate a seris into something it's really not to try and draw in the masses. Hitman may be a relatively niche IP, bit trying to twist and chsnge it to make into what counts as a super marketable seller for the general audience would hurt more than help
A major re-think is the last thing Hitman needs. IO already tried that with Absolution. Let's not forget what happened to series like Dead Space, trying to rethink and recalibrate a seris into something it's really not to try and draw in the masses. Hitman may be a relatively niche IP, bit trying to twist and chsnge it to make into what counts as a super marketable seller for the general audience would hurt more than help
Gut feeling Deep Silver would like to jump in, but they're probably burnt from Homefront.
This would be a huge acquisition for them, and honestly a very dangerous one. I doubt they would do it.How much cash does Deep Silver have? Don't they generally only fund things in the low millions?
Gamespot said:When Square Enix first revealed its plans to explore a sale of IO, it did not indicate whether the Hitman IP would be sold off with it; it wasn't out of the question that Square Enix could hold onto the rights and allow the franchise to become dormant. But that doesn't appear to be the plan, based on a newly released English transcript of Square Enix's post-earnings results briefing.
That last bit is where the promising news comes in. Whether it sells the Hitman IP rights along with IO or is willing to license them out, there's apparently a willingness on Square Enix's part to allow Hitman to continue. As for the other "renowned titles," IO is also the developer of the Kane & Lynch series. It is--or was--also at work on a new IP.Yosuke Matsuda said:Our decision to withdraw from the IO Interactive business was the result of a review of our portfolio that we conducted as part of our effort to concentrate our resources in order to strengthen our development capabilities. Because the firm is engaged in the development of Hitman and other renowned titles, we are negotiating with prospective external investors capable of ensuring that these titles carry on.
I was actually thinking the opposite: to stop pretending that Hitman is a mass-market ip capable of selling 6 million + copies. Keep the heart of the game: murder sandbox with a globe-trotting assassin theme (make the gameplay even more hardcore even) ...but strip away the AAA dressing that requires an army of outsourcing studios to make. I know: many fans probably want their cake and eat it too. But it doesn't appear to be working.
Was Season One that expensive? I suppose there were a decent number of CG trailers and cutscenes, but there wasn't a massive marketing push.