Hitman Studio Cuts Nearly Half Its Workforce

[Andy Chalk]

Hitman Studio Cuts Nearly Half Its Workforce

IO Interactive has also canceled all projects in development so that it can focus on the creation of a new Hitman title.

Danish developer IO Interactive has become the latest studio to be gutted by staffing cuts, as parent company Square Enix has confirmed "significant changes... as we align our business against a changing and challenging market."

"The studio will focus resolutely on the future vision for the Hitman franchise and is in pre-production on a new AAA Hitman project," Square Enix said in a statement. "However we have taken the difficult decision to cancel other studio projects and initiatives at IO and reduce the workforce in this studio, which will impact almost half of the employees currently at IO, as we make internal adjustments to face the challenges of today's market."

The publisher said it was "extremely grateful for the hard work" put forth by all those who no longer have jobs, and that it is trying to reallocate staff to other Square Enix studios where possible and looking for "outplacement opportunities" with other companies where it is not. Former Production Director Hannes Seifert will take over as head of the studio.

Square Enix didn't clarify what projects have been canceled but along with the Hitman franchise, IO Interactive is also responsible for the Kane and Lynch games and, from way back in 2003, the sadly-underrated Freedom Fighters.

Source: GamesIndustry [http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2013-06-17-hitman-developer-cuts-half-of-staff-refocuses-on-series]

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[Irridium]

Sells 3.6 million copies.

Still not enough.

Videogames, ladies and gentlemen.

I suppose this means there's pretty much no hope for another Freedom Fighters. A shame.

 

[josemlopes]

They really cant use all their resources in a game that is niche as fuck.

The tech and gameplay elements are already done so use it in big levels that dont have cutscenes or flashy setpieces, just an enviorment with NPCs doing their shit, that is all (and replace the way costumes work with the way they previously worked, otherwise its a Splinter Cell game all over again). So basicly just use a few programers (to tie everything together and fix previous issues) and artists (to create levels and some new required animations) and you can have a good Hitman from the mess that Absolution was, no need to bring everyone from other projects for this.

 

[gigastar]

All things considered im going to assume that the next Kane & Lynch just got cancelled in favour of focusing on what IO made thier name in developing.

I consider this a good thing.

They really cant use all their resources in a game that is niche as fuck.

How "niche" is 3.6 million sales anyway?

 

[Sehnsucht Engel]

Hitman is one of my favourite series of games, and I was kind of fearing something had happened to it when I read the title. Even if this is bad, it's better than I expected... For now.

 

[Ryan Hughes]

Sells 3.6 million copies.

Still not enough.

Videogames, ladies and gentlemen.

I suppose this means there's pretty much no hope for another Freedom Fighters. A shame.

Yeah, as Capcom (RE6 5m+), Square (Tomb Raider 4m, Hitman 3m+) and EA (Dead Space 3 ~4m) have proven, AAA business models are completely unsustainable. But, instead of trying to use new techniques to lower production costs, administrative costs, and marketing costs, they go after used games. Lovely.

 

[josemlopes]

All things considered im going to assume that the next Kane & Lynch just got cancelled in favour of focusing on what IO made thier name in developing.

I consider this a good thing.

They really cant use all their resources in a game that is niche as fuck.

How "niche" is 3.6 million sales anyway?

How many of the people that bought it thought that it was an action shooter or a stealth game and realising that it never managed to be either wont buy the next game? This one tried to appeal to everyone and sure, it sold 3.6 million but from what they have said it wasnt a profitable game, all that effort for a game that trying to appeal to everyone ended up being made for no one in particular.

If it tries to pull the same thing it will probably sell less then those 3.6 million (most of the fans of the previous games wont buy this one if they see that it follows the same style and the action fans already tried out this one and while the action is cool its not comparable to other games more action focused).

 

[Doom972]

What else were they doing? Another Kane and Lynch? If so, it's better for them to focus on the franchise that people actually like.

I hope Squeenix got over their tablet obsession and won't announce that the next Hitman game is for the iPad.

 

[Vegosiux]

And we all know what happens when you put all your eggs in one basket.

If you are going to put all your eggs into one basket, you might as well use an exploding basket. Just for a good measure, I suppose.